NARAYANA RAO

Narayan Rao experience to debt as actor in antuleni katha.

I was doing my acting course still, when I was selected for the role. Balachander sir came as an invigilator for my exams. While he was there, he selected three of us for this film – me, Rajinikanth, and Pradeep Sakti for the roles.

I was actually selected to do the role that was finally done by Prasad Babu, while a Kannada actor Ashok was supposed to do the role of Gopal tat I actually played. Ashok had some issues and walked out in the last minute saying that he cannot do the role. Ananthu gaaru asked Rajini to suggest someone who could do that role, and Rajini suggested my name! Thus, the role finally landed in my kitty. I was initially hesitant to do the role, as Kamal did a great job in the original (Tamil version), but I did the role nevertheless, as I could not say anything to Balachander sir. As the film celebrated hundered days, Balachander sir said on the stage that I did 90% of what Kamal did in the original, adding that it'll in fact be 150% for the Telugu version, and that he was happy with that.

...Even Pradeep Sakti was supposed to do a different role originally, that of Soman who seduces Jayavijaya and Jayalakshmi in the film, but he was nervous and finally ended up doing the conductor role in the film. ...My first remuneration was Rs. 1500/- and Rajinikanth's was Rs. 1000/-! We got a signing amount of Rs. 100/-, went to Vadapalani with in bus and performed puja with that amount on our first day.

This film made Jayaprada a big artiste. She was very good in the film, but while doing the film Balachander sir was so strict that she even wanted to drop out of the film midway. Rajini and I convinced her to have patience. ...The greatness of Balachander gaaru is that he can turn even a useless stone into a priceless diamond! All the hard work you feel while doing will be forgotten when you see the end product. Even today, people rememeber me as Gopal of Anthu Leni Katha, even after thirty years since release, and it's a great feeling!

...Most of the shooting was done in Neptune Studio, which belongs to Bheem Singh gaaru. Jayaprada's house set was also in that studio. Songs and other scenes were done in Vizag. The song are, EmiTi lOkam! and the terrace shots are done at Apsara Hotel in Vizag.

Filmography
Jump to filmography as: Actor, Producer
Actor:

1. Hitler (1997) .... Mohan Rao
2. Prema Chitram Pelli Vichitram (1993)
3. Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu (1991)
4. Raja Vikramarka (1990)
5. Mutyamantha Muddu (1989)
6. Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988) (as Narayana Rao)
7. Devanthakudu (1984)
8. Manchupallaki (1982)
9. Chettaniki Kallu Levu (1981)
10. Ooriki Ichina Maata (1981)
11. Kukka Katuku Cheppu Debba (1979)
12. Guppedu Manasu (1979)
13. Anthuleni Katha (1976)
14.Gang leader

Producer:

1. Yamudiki Mogudu (1988) (producer)
2. Devanthakudu (1984) (producer)
3. Chettaniki Kallu Levu (1981) (producer)