“Gurram Paapireddy Has a Strong Core Story, and Every Scene Unfolds in a Fun Zone”: Hero Naresh Agastya
Starring Naresh Agastya and Faria Abdullah in the lead roles, Gurram Paapireddy is presented by Dr. Sandhya Goli and produced by Venu Saddi, Amar Bura, and Jayakanth (Bobby). Directed by Murali Manohar, the film is a dark comedy built around a completely fresh concept rarely seen on screen. The movie is gearing up for a grand worldwide theatrical release on the 19th of this month. Speaking to the media today, hero Naresh Agastya shared interesting insights about the film.
“I have never done a film like this before. In my previous movies, my characters were mostly calm and settled. Gurram Paapireddy presents me in a much more energetic and proactive role. I instantly liked the story when director Murali Manohar narrated it. We spent almost a year traveling and working extensively on this project,” said Naresh Agastya.
Recalling a light-hearted promotional moment, he added,
“During promotions, Tejaswini—who acted in Raju Weds Rambai—accidentally referred to our film as Gedela Paapireddy instead of Gurram Paapireddy. Though it was a mistake, the clip went viral and actually helped in spreading awareness about our film.”
Explaining the film’s premise, Naresh Agastya said,
“My character enters the story with a specific mission. To accomplish it, he gathers a few people who are not very intelligent, but are easy to manage. Even the trailer doesn’t reveal what the mission is. The story revolves around a hunt for a dead body—whose body it is and why it is important forms the crux of the film.”
Talking about the genre, he elaborated,
“The film explores what happens when intelligent people behave foolishly and when foolish people act intelligently. We’ve had dark comedies in the past, but they were never explicitly labeled as such. Dark comedy essentially means that while characters are in pain or trouble, those situations become humorous for the audience. In Gurram Paapireddy, the characters face hardships, but the audience experiences it as entertainment. Though every scene carries comedy, there’s a strong storyline running beneath. The interval will definitely shock viewers.”
Praising the producers, he said,
“Our producers never compromised on quality. Amar garu, in particular, ensured that even when the budget increased, the quality remained intact. We waited specifically for Yogi Babu to come on board. While I don’t share scenes with Brahmanandam garu, I do have combination scenes with Yogi Babu. He’s extremely friendly—he even took me around Ramoji Film City on his bike and clicked selfies, saying these moments would be lifelong memories. That genuinely touched me.”
Speaking about the ensemble cast and crew, Naresh Agastya noted,
“No matter how strong a script is, you need the right performers to bring it alive. Faria Abdullah, Rajkumar Kasireddy, and Vamsidhar delivered impeccable comic timing. Working with them in such a friendly environment was a joy. We discussed scenes openly and performed together organically. Music director Krishna Saurabh has given excellent songs, and even the promotional track is receiving a very positive response.”
On audience expectations and response, he shared,
“A film first reaches the audience through its teaser and trailer; after that, the audience takes it forward. Our trailer has been getting a very good response. Since I’m part of the film, I can’t judge it objectively, but everyone who has watched it says it’s impressive. The entire team is confident about the film’s success. We have premieres tomorrow, and I haven’t watched the full film yet. I’m eagerly waiting to experience the audience’s reaction.”
Opening up about his personal interests, Naresh Agastya said,
“I love traveling, and I practice free diving. It involves taking a single breath and diving deep into the sea. I once dived up to 80 feet and stayed underwater for 3 minutes and 40 seconds.”
Sharing his thoughts on cinema choices, he concluded,
“To me, a true commercial film is one that can engage audiences even without songs or fights. It should have sensible and appealing elements. None of my films so far have been purely commercial, which might be why they didn’t reach a wider audience. I’m doing such a film next year, and I have high hopes for it—we’ve already completed 70 percent of the shoot. I want to continue exploring new concepts. Shooting in the Sahara Desert for one of my upcoming projects was a completely new experience. Films like Vikatakavi and Senapathi found their audience mainly through OTT platforms. Perhaps limited promotions affected my earlier films, but I’ve never promoted any project as extensively as Gurram Paapireddy.”