“I played a very strong character in ‘Pottel.’ It will be very surprising and impactful. The film provides the audience with a different experience.” — Heroine Ananya Nagalla.
The rural action drama ‘Pottel,’ directed by Saihaith Mothkuri and starring Yuva Chandra Krishna and Ananya Nagalla in lead roles, features Ajay in a powerful role. The film is produced by Nishank Reddy under Nisa Entertainments and Suresh Kumar under Pragya Sanidhi Creations. The promotional content has created strong buzz. The songs composed by Shekar Chandra have become chartbuster hits. ‘Pottel’ is set to release worldwide in theaters on October 25. On this occasion, heroine Ananya Nagalla shared details about the film during a press meeting.
How did ‘Pottel’ come to you? What attracted you to it?
“I received a call from producer Nishank about this project. Then director Saihaith narrated the story. The story is really good. However, I had previously done a web series as a mother, and I was concerned it might be similar. But I loved the point about education in this film. Given such a good concept, I wanted to be a part of it no matter what. After doing it, I realized that the role in this film is completely different from the one I played in that series—there’s no comparison at all.”
What is your character like?
“My character is very interesting. The trailer hasn’t revealed much. Everyone will be surprised in the film. My character’s name is Bujjamma. Until now, I’ve been called Ananya in ‘Mallesham’ and ‘Vakeel Saab,’ but after this film, I’ll be known as Bujjamma Ananya. It creates a strong impact. I portrayed this character as the director described.”
“I have a very strong role in this film. There’s a scene where I get hit in the stomach. Initially, I was a bit nervous about how that scene would unfold. However, Ajay is very senior and made it comfortable with his experience. He is a very down-to-earth person. Having an experienced actor like him made that scene so comfortable. His character is a major highlight in the film.”
What have been the reactions since the trailer release?
“Unexpectedly, many friends called to say the trailer is amazing. They said it’s one of the best trailers I’ve done so far, excluding ‘Vakeel Saab.'”
What is the justification for the title ‘Pottel’?
“Pottel is an integral part of the story. Without Pottel, there is no story. When Pottel runs, if a hill blocks the way, it will hit it but won’t stop. That’s Pottel’s nature. Similarly, our hero’s character also embodies that spirit—facing problems head-on without looking back. Thus, the title is justified in two ways.”
“Every role in this film holds significance. Each character has an arc. I can proudly say that every actor in this film will deliver their best performance in their career. Everyone has given their best performances, and I’m saying this after watching the film.”
How was it working with Yuva?
“Yuva is very talented. We both worked at Infosys, where he had started making short films. I had never directly interacted with him before, but I was inspired to enter the industry by his short films and style. He has a very strong character in this film and performed exceptionally well. The audience will definitely like it.”
What are the major highlights of this film?
“The storyline is the main highlight. This film beautifully blends commercial elements, a message, and Telangana culture. The background music is also very appealing. The scenes between Yuva and me are very emotional due to the background music, bringing tears to the eyes. All the actors deliver outstanding performances.”
What is the learning experience from this film?
“I always felt that if the story, character, and director’s approach are good, the film can be made. This film taught me that producers are really important for a film. If producers are involved in understanding what the film needs and how much to invest, only then can a project turn out this beautifully. No one else can take the film to the audience except the producers. This was a realization with this film. A story can reach the audience only if both the director and producer have vision. Suresh and Nishank are a perfect combination, and it’s because of their collaboration that this film turned out beautifully.”
Maitree is releasing this film; what is their reaction?
“The Maitree team is very happy. They mentioned that such a film hasn’t been released in Telugu in recent times.”
Are you happy with the characters you’re getting?
“When I entered the industry, I wanted to do cute characters and love stories, but I didn’t have much understanding back then. After ‘Mallesham,’ the audience started seeing me in a different light. Since I’m doing more mature roles now, it seems they think of me for characters like this. I’m happy about that. Because of this, I connected with the audience in a different setup. If performance-oriented roles are sought among Telugu actresses, my name is definitely among the two or three who come to mind. That’s why stories like ‘Pottel’ are coming up. I believe my mother will feel very proud after watching this film.”
Any upcoming films?
“‘Srikakulam Sherlock Holmes’ is ready for release. I’m also working on Satish Vegeshna’s ‘Kathakali’ and a film titled ‘Lechindi Mahila Lokam.'”
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