Sumanth; a scene from ‘Ananganaga’
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Good roles are rare, not the work,” says Sumanth, who will next be seen in Anaganaga, a heartwarming Telugu film streaming on ETV Win from May 15.
On a laid-back afternoon at his Hyderabad home, Sumanth is relaxed and chatty. Fresh from a Thunderbolts screening, he is the kind who spends hours at the movies, either in a theatre or at home. “I watch films or series for four to five hours a day. I just watched HIT 3 too,” he says.
If he is not watching them, he is reading scripts. “Don’t be fooled by the books around; lately, it’s been all scripts. I prefer reading one over listening to a narration before saying yes to a project.”
Since his debut in 1999, Sumanth has stuck to his script-first instinct. “People used to be surprised I even asked for scripts. But I have always felt they are essential, especially in films that are dialogue-heavy, which most of ours are, except the big spectacle ones like KGF, RRRor Baahubali.”
He says it usually takes him about 10–12 pages to decide if a script has promise. “Honestly, it has been a 10% success rate since my grandfather’s (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) time. I read around 30 scripts and maybe three or four are worth it. I only agree when I believe in the script and trust the director. Luckily, I am not in a place where I need to work just for money.”
A scene from ‘Anaganaga’
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Anaganaga, adapted from the Marathi film Eka Kaay Zala, came to him via producers Rakesh Reddy Gadam and Rudra Madireddy, and ETV Win. “At first, I was not sure. I am not usually up for remakes, especially now when audiences can just stream originals. But three months later, they returned with a reworked version that really landed. It reminded me of how I felt when I read Malli Raava.”
He plays Vyas, a school teacher who turns tricky lessons into stories for students with learning challenges. “He is criticised for his methods but sticks to them. There is also a lovely father-son thread woven in.”
Filmed in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, Anaganaga puts Sumanth back in a school setting after Golconda High School, but this time, he is playing a father, a first in his career. “I do not know why I have not played one before. It was great fun shooting with the kids. I am an introvert, but around them, I can be a complete goofball. It helped the scenes feel real.”
He is also clear about playing age-appropriate roles. “The lead actress, Kajal Choudhary, plays a school principal in her 30s. She’s younger in real life, so I actually asked if they could cast someone older. I have always pushed for mature roles and against being paired opposite actresses far younger.”
Anaganaga was always meant to be a digital film, not a theatrical one. “It is an emotional story, we have made something warm and genuine.”
Up next is Mahendragiri Varahi, a supernatural action thriller directed by Santossh Jagarlapudi. “It is big on scale, with VFX and a proper theatrical release. ThinkVirupakshaor Karthikeya. I play a sceptic who enters a town plagued by strange happenings linked to Goddess Varahi.”
After playing the antagonist in Sita Ramam, did he get more grey-shaded roles? “Surprisingly, no,” he laughs. “But I have always said I am open to playing villains.”
Now 26 years in the industry, Sumanth says he is passionate but not obsessed. “Acting is all I know and I give it my all when something excites me. But when I am not working, I am perfectly content being with my pets or just watching a film. I like my peace.”
Published – May 12, 2025 04:13 pm IST