Exclusive: I will continue to make films that will entertain people: Allu Arjun on `Pushpa'

Pushpa, the much-awaited film of the year, is all set to hit the screens on December 17. Expectations are very high and excitement is building in the run-up to the release.

Directed by Sukumar, the film has Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil and others in key roles. Ahead of the film's release, Allu Arjun sat down with NewsMeter for an exclusive interview.

What is the toughest part for you in Pushpa?

The shooting itself was the toughest part. We shot in the thick and dense forest of Maredumilli where after a certain distance, there were no roads. The producers even laid roads there for our comfort. However, it was still not easy. Almost 400 vehicles traveling into the forests on those kaccha roads each passing day was more than just dangerous. We used to pray to God not to rain because the efforts of the entire crew of making all the arrangements and traveling that far would have gone vain. The logistics were huge and every day, there were a minimum of 450 people on the sets. There were many insects that used to bite and give us rashes. And the biggest fear was COVID-19.

Once upon a time, you were a struggling actor. And now, Allu Arjun doesn't need an introduction. Now that you are making pan-India films, how responsible and cautious are you when it comes to choosing scripts?

I haven't really thought of this. I will make sure that I make films that have good scripts and entertain the audiences. I haven't given a thought about the responsibility I would be having or the message my film would pass on. I am sure the ones that are going to come have a lot in the store to offer.

This film doesn't have a macho man as the antagonist. In fact, it has an actor who is as popular as you are. Audiences are excited to watch Fahadh as well. Tell us a little about bringing him on board.

When director Sukumar told me that he was going to approach Fahadh Fasil, I asked him to definitely go for it and ask the actor whether he is interested. To our surprise, Fahadh said ok and was super excited about the script. He said he liked it and apparently, he felt that being part of a film like Pushpa itself is an opportunity he can't let go of. Besides all this, I adore him as an actor and I am a fan of his performances. So having him on board and watching him perform was a great experience. He is the perfect choice to play Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. I thank him for being part of this film.