The court said permitting cohabitation between a minor and a major would attract provisions of POCSO Act, which provides for stringent punishment for sexual contact with minors
War 2, starring Jr NTR and Hrithik Roshan, released on August 14 with a lot of hype. The fact that the spy thriller was NTR’s debut vehicle in Hindi added to the buzz in the Telugu states. But after the Ayan Mukerji directorial did not live up to the expectations like its first instalment and crashed at the box office.
Producer Naga Vamsi bagged the theatrical rights for Telugu states. In fact, his proximity to Jr NTR was one of the reasons he could distribute the film in Telugu. During the film’s pre-release event in Hyderabad, Vamsi who is known for his over-hype statements, got carried away with War 2 content and commented, “If the film doesn’t do well, then I won’t pick up mike and ask you to watch films anymore.” After War 2 fumbled at the box office, the producer was trolled for his comments. Many even reported that he ran away to Dubai unable to bear the film’s loss.
Cut to present, Naga Vamsi’s upcoming film Mass Jathara, starring Ravi Teja, is set to release on October 31. In one of the film’s promotional interviews, the producer spoke about War 2 failure for the first time. When the topic of War 2 popped up, Vamsi admitted that it was a mistake. He confessed that he got carried away during the pre-release event. “Yes, I was excited on that day, a mistake happened, right? Yes, it was a mistake,” he admits. “Jr NTR garu and I believed in one of the biggest producers in India Aditya Chopra and YRF, but it misfired. They made a mistake and we were trapped,” he shared. Vamsi is relieved that he faced the trolling for a film he distributed but did not make (produce).
Also Read: Producer Naga Vamsi Grabs Telugu Theatrical Rights of Jr NTR & Hrithik Roshan’s War 2
Meeting Preity Mukhundhan was more like having a conversation with a gal pal. Her relaxed demeanour makes Preity a delight…maybe because she’s in her 20’s something. The actress was in Hyderabad for a narration. And after a successful last year, this year too has been quite a fruitful one for her with two releases – Kannappa in Telugu and Maine Pyar Kiya in Malayalam. But she knows she has a long way to go and is all game to slog it out. While the actress is gearing up for another project in Tamil, she looks back at the year with profound gratitude. And she couldn’t be happier about it.
If films like Kannappa broadened her creative horizons, Maine Pyar Kiya provided her with great understanding into filmmaking. The actress describes her journey so far in film industry as a massive learning experience. “For Kannappa I had to learn horse riding, sword fighting etc. Before getting into films, I had several acting workshops and dance practice sessions. But working on a film of such a massive scale was very liberating. The character challenged me as an actor and pushed my creative limits.”
Hailing from Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu), Preity is not new to the camera! She had done a few ad commercials and also appeared in a music video (Muttu Mu2) in 2022 before getting into showbiz. In 2024, she debuted in Telugu and Tamil with films, Om Bheem Bush and Star, respectively. As an outsider, while trying to navigate through the challenges in film dynamics, she got the Aasa Kooda song offer (2024) that gave her great visibility.
“Before the song, people hardly knew me. But the song (Aasa Kooda) became a sensation and gave me a great boost in terms of visibility. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me to find a foothold in the industry,” she acknowledges. “The super hit music video gave me a different dimension and tapped my expressive side thereby opening a slew of opportunities. But I had waited for a long time to sign my next film, so the biggest challenge was the waiting time.”
The actress states that she is still trying to crack the code on what works in the film industry. At the same time, she shares that her uniqueness lies in being authentic. “As an actor what’s significant is how can I bring my unique side and contribute to the narrative. Despite the super success of the song, I patiently waited before signing two big offers in Telugu and Tamil. So I realized that an actor’s true character is defined by being patient and self-confident.”
Preity is glad to have bagged substantial roles early in her career but she’s also quick to understand the challenges ahead. “I know it’s a slow process, but I want audiences to remember me for my performances. I am quite prepared for a long haul and marathon and not just to sprint myself.” The actress may be part of two super hit music videos but maintains that dance isn’t her X factor. “Dance adds another facet to me,” she comments. “It complimented my acting skills, enhanced performance, and fuelled my emotional connection to the narrative. But I believe a captivating performance that supports the script comes with an overall personality.”
Preity transcended the boundaries of language to work in multiple Indian film industries viz., Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam industries. She feels blessed to work in multiple industries at an early stage of her career. “It made me realize how each industry is rich, different and unique in its own way. It also made me multifaceted and adapt to emerging challenges,” she replies.
According to her, every film taught her something creatively and professionally. No matter how much you prepare, going into the film sets is always an unpredictable journey, she admits. “Life in cinema so far has been a roller coaster ride and every day is a challenge. But at the same time, it gives opportunities for growth. So, staying focused is the key to sustenance.”
Preity graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering. But coming from an orthodox family, she did not experience any cultural shift when she came into showbiz. “That could be because I used to meet a lot of people for various dramatic activities in academics. Soon, modelling experience further fostered me, and the film industry made my experience more interesting. I just started to understand life better and navigate through various challenges.”
Coming into films after modelling isn’t a natural progression for her. That’s because when she started modelling, she never thought she would become an actor. “But modelling gave me an avenue to showcase my personality. It is certainly a significant part of my career transition.”
Also Read: Choreographer Hokuto Konishi Shares BTS Pictures of Allu Arjun, Atlee’s Film