‘I’ve survived’

Navdeep looks back at his decade-long career

September 22, 2014 06:30 pm | Updated 06:30 pm IST

Actor Navdeep

Actor Navdeep

Actor Navdeep, who has done some good as well bad films in his decade-long career, says he’s happy that he has managed to ‘survive’ in the industry. However, he isn’t too satisfied with his choice of films. “I feel I could’ve been in a better position with solo hits to my credit. I could’ve been even more successful. On the contrary, I think I have successfully survived far better than any of my counterparts, and I’m glad that I’ve been getting offers,” says Navdeep.

“There are some films I do because I have to ...(and) some films I take up with the hope of doing something different. Every role can’t be challenging and I can’t sit and wait for good roles. I choose the best from what I’m offered. That’s why I’m not too satisfied with some films I’ve done,” he said. With hits such as Chandamama and Arya 2 in his filmography, Navdeep’s last few films didn’t do well at the box office. Yet he’s busy with multiple projects because “my attitude towards work has kept me busy. I don’t choose bad films. It’s just that some films don’t work”.

He currently has three Telugu films — Natudu , Antha Scene Ledhu and Antha Nee Maayalone in his kitty.

Navdeep has also worked in a few Tamil films, with Arinthum Ariyamulam being the biggest hit. He still couldn’t build his career there. “I was about 18 when Arinthum Ariyamulam released. Had I got that success when I was 25, I would’ve managed to succeed. I didn’t have the maturity or exposure to cash in on the success at that young age. I did a few films after that but they didn’t do so well,” said Navdeep, who has also worked in Tamil films such as Aegan and Solla Solla Inikkum .

He also has a Tamil film Nondi Kuthirai in the offing. Asked about what he thinks has changed in the industry since his debut in 2004 Telugu film Jai , and pat comes the reply: “Making a film has become easier but releasing it is challenging.” “I think today anybody can make a film. The technology and budget is no longer a constraint because filmmakers have mastered the art of making low-budget films. I can make a film today with a 5D camera and there are people who are even willing to work for free,” says Navdeep.

He feels the filmmaking process has evolved thanks to the advancement in technology. But there’s a catch. “Taking a film to the audience has become tougher. People are not addressing this problem seriously. Everybody is concentrating on making films but not on this pressing issue. I don’t think that’s a good sign,” he adds.

Looking back and learning from his own career, Navdeep says, “I would like to raise my standards as an actor. I’ve also learnt that when I don’t have films, I need to be patient and when I’m busy, my attitude towards work shouldn’t change.”

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