Harsh Kanumilli and Simran Choudhary are the lead pair of 'Sehari', which will head to theatres on February 11. In this interview, debutant actor Harsh talks about the unique features of the rom-com, its premise, what its highlights are, and more.
The trailer has clearly shown the premise. The male lead is an immature youngster who falls in love with his bride's sister. A friend of mine once said that his bride's sister is beautiful. That's how this premise was born at the level of idea.
The producer (Advaya Jishnu Reddy) of this movie is a childhood friend of mine. One fine day, suddenly, he called me up and said that he would be bankrolling a film. I welcomed him with enthusiasm. He is a passionate producer.
'Sehari' means celebration in a European language. The run-time is 128 minutes and the vibes are festive. I am a new lead actor and the BGM that this film has got is awesome for a newcomer's film. This is a film for all age groups. We have seen movies like 'Nuvvu Naku Nachav'. I would say 'Sehari' falls in that category.
I have no film background. I played U-14 cricket. I like commercial entertainers and that's why I have done 'Sehari', a new-age rom-com. I think we have cracked the formula while offering something new. I am inspired by films like 'Takkari Donga' to become an actor. I also like Ram Pothineni garu's movies.
Our film is nothing less than an A-class Bollywood rom-com. I think its writing and execution quality are going to set a new benchmark. I used to do short films and Ads. I gave a number of auditions for feature films but couldn't make it. A friend advised me to create my own opportunities. That's when I started writing a story.
When you want to gain a foothold in any field, you have to go through a lot of struggles. It takes time for you to see light. That's what happened with me as well. Luckily, I got to work with a very good writing team. They liked the fresh premise and I listened to feedback from various sources constantly. I resolved to make the best of the opportunity.
When I met Gnanasagar Dwaraka, the director of the film, I discovered that my creative wavelength matches with his. We exchanged ideas and thoughts. Before meeting him, I met a few debutants. But their vision didn't inspire me to trust them. I got in touch with Gnanasagar through a friend who works for UV Creations.
Music director Koti garu has got a strong role in the movie. His performance is surprisingly great. Abhinav Gomatam and heroine Simran Chaudhary, too, have given their best. Abhinav's comedy is completely in sync with the film's flavour. He has played a funny rapper and an episode involving him is one of its kind in the history of South Indian cinema. Composer Prashanth R Vihari has given superb tunes and I really thank him. Simran's performance in the second half is another highlight.
I wanted to show 'Sehari' to Nandamuri Balakrishna garu but couldn't. I showed the film to Rajasekhar garu and he really liked it. Those who watch our movie will show it to 10 others. The grandeur and visuals are much better than what I had imagined. I am not exaggerating at all.
The CBFC board members gave us positive feedback. We screened 'Sehari' to social media influencers, all of whom really liked it. This is a perfect rom-com for Valentine's Day. We are not scared of competition. Theatres are part of our culture and I really wish people are going to come to theatres to catch a variety of movies.
A day ahead of the theatrical release, I am a bit nervous. But I am also excited to see the audience's reactions. I will accept new projects once 'Sehari' is released. I have a couple of story ideas in mind. Comedy is my favourite genre. I like to make people laugh.
