“I Had the Most Impactful Role in Brahmastra”: Nagarjuna on Choosing Powerful Characters Over Leads
Veteran star Nagarjuna Akkineni is grabbing headlines again—not just for his upcoming film Kuberaa, but for his candid take on why he prefers impactful roles over lead characters. As promotions for Kuberaa pick up pace, Nagarjuna opened up about his acting philosophy and the projects that redefined his journey in recent years.
Nagarjuna on Brahmastra: “It Changed My Path”
In a recent interview, Nagarjuna reflected on his career-long habit of choosing substantial roles, even if they weren’t the central leads. Recalling his part as Anish Shetty in Brahmastra Part One: Shiva, he said:
“Though my role was brief in screen time, it had the most emotional impact. I genuinely feel mine was the most impactful role in the film.”
Despite Brahmastra facing criticism for its writing and ensemble size, Nagarjuna’s portrayal of the Nandi Astra wielder stood out, earning praise from fans and critics alike.
From Zakhm to Kuberaa: A Career Rooted in Substance
Nagarjuna pointed out that his unconventional choices go way back, from supporting Amitabh Bachchan in Khuda Gawah to taking on a pivotal role in Zakhm.
“Right after films like Shiva and Geethanjali, I took roles that had soul, even if they weren’t the hero roles. That’s always been my guiding principle.”
His latest film, Kuberaa, directed by Shekhar Kammula, stars Dhanush and Rashmika Mandanna and is set for a pan-India release on June 20. Nagarjuna shared his excitement:
“When Shekhar came to me, I instantly liked the soul of the story. I could sense the emotional weight my character carried.”
Villainous Turn in Coolie with Rajinikanth?
In a surprising reveal, Nagarjuna spoke about being approached by Lokesh Kanagaraj for the upcoming Rajinikanth starrer Coolie:
“Lokesh said, ‘It’s an antagonist role. If you’re uncomfortable, we’ll just have coffee and drop it.’ I said, ‘No need for coffee—just narrate the script. If it’s strong, I’m doing it.’”
This bold acceptance of diverse characters—hero, anti-hero, or otherwise—cements Nagarjuna’s fearless evolution as an actor willing to challenge himself.
