For me, acting as Raja Ravi Varma, a legend, is not just exciting but very challenging.
The first thing Ravi Babu asked when we met was, did I watch horror movies? I told him it took me years to get over Ram Gopal Varma's 'Raat!'
Raja Ravi Varma was one of the few Indians who not only understood women but also represented them exquisitely in a single dimension within four frames, infusing each painting with life through the use of color.
People like to see Ravi Teja as a vibrant, massy character. We needed to do something more. So I gave him the extra flavour of the cop character and high emotions. And Ravi did a good job.
[There is] a great book from Ravi Zacharis, a scholar from India, and its called Jesus Among Other Gods. I havent read that one, but I know Ravi really well, and I know its a good book.
Sudheer Varma is very easy going and very confident director. He knows exactly what he wants. He has a very good vision and knows how many shots he wants for a scene. He is super fast. He gives freedom for actors to try different things. The atmosphere on the sets was never serious. We had great fun working together.
I like African music, and I'm a huge Ravi Shankar fan.
I know Pandit Ravi Shankar was very upset with me, as I did not use his compositions in 'Gandhi.' I thought that the London Philharmonic Orchestra would prove more effective than his music. It was one of my biggest miscalculations.
Hip-hop music has done a very good job of maintaining the political context, where they stand and not giving a sh-t what people think.
Working with Ravi Shastri as Team Director was a good experience.
'Paani ravi da' is a very difficult song to sing.
Ravi Teja helps the co-artistes, and he is a very kind person.
Very few people like Ram Gopal Varma offer you the opportunity to be pushed as an actress.
'Laila' is very interesting and like Ram Gopal Varma's 'Darna Mana Hai,' it is episodic in nature.
Ram Gopal Varma is a most noteworthy talent and has given us some very valuable iconic films. I enjoy working with him.
The advice I am giving always to all my students is above all to study the music profoundly... music is like the ocean, and the instruments are little or bigger islands, very beautiful for the flowers and trees.