Nani is filled with confidence as “HIT 3” prepares for its release tomorrow. In a chat, he opens up about the film’s intense tone, the nationwide promotions, and working with megastar Chiranjeevi in his upcoming production.
You traveled across India for promotions. Do you think HIT 3 will be a pan-India success?
That’s the hope! We’ve visited several cities, and it’s heartening to see people from different regions showing genuine interest in the film. The energy and vibe around it are very positive. The advance bookings are fantastic, and that gives us even more confidence. There’s a strong sense that the film has already reached its target audience.
Some have described the film as quite violent. Was all that violence really necessary?
Absolutely. The violence in “HIT” 3 isn’t forced. It’s organic to the story, not added for effect. The situations the characters find themselves in are where the violence originates. Hi Nanna, Jersey, Dasara, and now HIT 3, all are different from each other, and the narrative styles are according to the subject. The story of “HIT 3” needed that violence. It is intense, gritty, and grounded.
You shot a major portion of “HIT 3” in Pahalgam. Tell us about that experience.
We shot in Pahalgam for about 18 days, and the locations were stunning. The recent terrorist attack pained me.
How was it working with Srinidhi Shetty?
Srinidhi was fantastic. While I don’t want to divulge too much about her character at this time, she made significant contributions. She did extensive promotions. She treated it like her own film. She already has a significant following among the audience. She is a huge plus to our film.
You’re producing a film with megastar Chiranjeevi. How did that happen?
I’ve been a fan of Chiranjeevi garu since I was a kid. When director Srikanth Odela narrated the story, I immediately felt it would suit Megastar garu. We met, he loved the script, and said yes. Honestly, it still hasn’t fully sunk in that I’m producing a film with him. It’s a surreal moment for me.
