“Varun Tej’s Role Will Surprise Audiences: Merlapaka Gandhi”
Mega Prince Varun Tej is gearing up to entertain audiences with ‘Korean Kanakaraju’, a horror-comedy directed by Merlapaka Gandhi. Produced jointly by UV Creations and First Frame Entertainment, the film is set for a grand worldwide theatrical release on August 7. The recently released glimpse, teaser, trailer, and two chartbuster songs have generated tremendous buzz around the movie.
Ahead of the release, director Merlapaka Gandhi interacted with the media and shared several interesting insights about the film.
Q: How did the idea for ‘Korean Kanakaraju’ originate?
A few friends and I were traveling through Anantapur to attend a wedding. We stopped near the Kia factory late at night, and I was fascinated to learn that there is an entire Korean community there, complete with restaurants, markets, and facilities that reflect Korean culture. I found it very interesting that Koreans had built such a vibrant community in a place like Anantapur. That sparked the thought of creating a story connecting Anantapur and Korea. While exploring the idea, I wondered, “What if a Korean spirit possessed a young man from Anantapur?” The comedy that could emerge from such a situation inspired me to develop this story.
Q: Was the script always intended for Varun Tej?
Initially, I had another story in mind for Varun Tej. After narrating that, I also shared this Korean concept. He immediately liked the idea and encouraged me to develop it further. Once the complete script was ready, I narrated it again. He loved it and also suggested a few changes that made the screenplay even stronger.
Varun Tej is an actor I truly admire because he is always willing to experiment with fresh concepts. This film features two distinct shades—Kanakaraju and the Korean spirit. I felt Varun Tej was the perfect choice to pull off both dimensions. His screen presence and physique suited the role perfectly.
Q: There are usually long gaps between your films. Why?
I work on multiple stories simultaneously. Sometimes, after developing a story to a certain stage, I realize it doesn’t excite me anymore, so I set it aside and move on to another idea. Finding the right actor and perfecting the script also takes time, which naturally creates gaps between my films.
Q: Your father is also a writer. Have you considered making a film based on one of his stories?
Absolutely. I’ve always wanted to make a film based on one of my father’s stories. However, our tastes are quite different. He enjoys romantic dramas, whereas I prefer fun-filled family entertainers. Still, I definitely hope to collaborate with him in the future.
Q: Tell us about Ritika’s character.
Ritika plays a young woman who works in a Korean factory and has a deep admiration for Korean culture. She even speaks Korean in the film. Since she has several Korean dialogues, we brought in a language trainer from Korea to coach both Varun Tej and Ritika. We also hired a tutor from Anantapur to help them master the local dialect.
Q: What can audiences expect from the supporting characters?
|This is a complete entertainer. Every supporting character, including Satya, Muralidhar Goud, and Sunil, contributes to the comedy. Even though there’s a mafia don in the story, the character is treated in a humorous manner rather than a serious one. One of the funniest portions comes when the hero, after being possessed by the Korean spirit, starts speaking Korean while everyone around him struggles to understand him.
Q: Was shooting in Korea difficult?
It wasn’t easy. The visa process itself was challenging for both our team and the Korean crew. We shot for nearly 20 days on an island in Korea. Since filming there is expensive, we traveled with a limited crew. Some important portions were also filmed in Kazakhstan.
Q: Does the film also have emotional moments?
Yes, absolutely. Along with comedy and entertainment, the film has strong emotional moments and a beautiful love story between the lead pair.
Q: Are there plans for a sequel?
Yes, the idea is definitely there.
Q: How has Thaman contributed to the film?
Thaman has delivered outstanding music. The two songs released so far have received an excellent response. His background score is extraordinary and adds tremendous value to the film.
Q: How confident are you about the film?
I’m confident that audiences will thoroughly enjoy this entertainer. Varun Tej and I have worked with great passion and paid close attention to every detail. We genuinely believe the film will become a successful entertainer.
Q: What is your dream project?
(Laughs) At the moment, my dream project is ‘Korean Kanakaraju.’
Q: Which actor are you most comfortable working with?
I involve actors right from the script stage and value their suggestions. That process naturally builds strong friendships. I share a great rapport with actors like Sharwanand, Nani, and Varun Tej.
Q: How did this collaboration with Varun Tej begin?
Producer Rajeev Reddy informed me that Varun Tej was looking to do an entertaining commercial film. UV Vamsi and Rajeev Reddy arranged a meeting, and I narrated the story. Varun Tej was pleasantly surprised by the concept and responded very positively from the very first narration.
Q: What was the biggest challenge Varun Tej faced in this film?
Speaking the Anantapur dialect and delivering Korean dialogues were both completely new to him. In addition, his body language and behavior change dramatically after the spirit possesses him. He embraced these challenges with great dedication. The different shades in his character will definitely surprise audiences. The blend of Korean and Anantapur cultures will also be one of the film’s biggest attractions.
To make the Korean dialogues easy for viewers to follow, we have also included Telugu subtitles whenever those portions appear.
Q: What are your upcoming projects?
I am currently working on a new script, which is also a comedy thriller. Comedy is a genre I’m very comfortable with, and I hope to continue entertaining audiences with fresh concepts in the future.