‘We need a superhero for every generation’

After playing protagonist in Bedurulanka 2012, a quirky doomsday comedy, Kartikeya Gummakonda returns to the big screen with Bhaje Vaayu Vegam, an action entertainer.

Beyond the fast-paced scenes, the film relies strongly on the father-son relationship between the characters played by Kartikeya and Tanikella Bharani.

Spy-fame actress Ishwarya Menon is the film’s female lead, while newcomer Prashanth Reddy has directed the film.

Kartikeya mentions in an exclusive chat with Gulte.com that it was very important to display the film’s high-stakes action alongside its emotional core in order to set the right expectations.

The actor has particularly learned the value of setting the right expectations through his past experiences. Kartikeya plays a cricketer in the film and he believes that the cricket subplot in Bhaje Vaayu Vegam will be especially relatable for the audience who have just finished watching IPL over the last couple of months.

Kartikeya also believes that him playing a cricketer is one of the ways in which the makers’ tried to explain why his character has a well-toned body. Using small details like these to embellish a hero’s character arc and journey are key to ensuring that the commercial film format stays relevant to today’s generation, says Kartikeya.

Bhaje Vaayu Vegam is scheduled to hit theatres next Friday on May 31, along with Gangs of Godavari and Gam Gam Ganesha. Responding to a question on the timing of his film’s release, the actor says that one cannot always find the best date for their film and sometimes, it is better to move forward and release the film with the best release date that is available to them at the moment.

Using the example of RX100, where people flocked to the theatres despite heavy rains on the day of its release, Kartikeya states with assurance that if a film is good, it will find its audience no matter what obstacles come in its way.