The success of ‘The Paradise’ has brought renewed attention to Priyadarshi’s performance as Shankaranna. Directed by Srikanth Odela and headlined by Nani, the film has struck a chord with audiences in Telugu states, with Priyadarshi’s character emerging as one of the talking points. At the film’s success event, the actor opened up about the effort behind the role and why he decided to take up a part that initially made him nervous. His comments also highlighted the extensive preparation that went into creating Shankaranna on screen.
Priyadarshi reveals why The Paradise role initially scared him
Priyadarshi said the role came at a time when he was looking for an opportunity to explore himself as an actor. “I had a hunger to discover myself as an actor. Then one day, my ‘Sher’ called me and said Shankaranna was calling me. When our ‘dora’ Srikanth called and asked me to play the KCR character, I was very scared. But you understand the value of a challenge only when you are scared. So, without saying no, I decided to take up Shankaranna,” he said. The actor explained that the fear eventually became one of the reasons he wanted to accept the part.
Priyadarshi details the research behind his Shankaranna look
The actor also spoke about the detailed work that went into making the character convincing. He revealed that he personally searched for the kind of clothes Shankaranna would wear and went to Abids to buy them. “I searched for where Shankaranna would get his clothes and went to Abids to buy them. We had to understand how the clothes should look, what kind of slippers he would wear and how he would wear his watch. Our makeup team and prosthetic team worked on creating Shankaranna. It did not happen in a single day. There was a lot of research, hard work and skill behind it,” Priyadarshi said. The preparation helped him build the character beyond just the physical appearance.
Nani praises Priyadarshi’s performance in ‘The Paradise’
Priyadarshi also recalled another memorable moment involving Nani. Referring to the response he received for ‘The Paradise,’ he said, “The last time I got this much hype was for Court. Nani anna was there then, and Nani anna is here now too. When Nani anna is beside me, everything goes well.” Nani, meanwhile, had words of his own for his co-star, describing Priyadarshi as a “terrific, terrific performer.” Their comments underline the strong appreciation for Priyadarshi’s work and the actor’s ability to take on challenging characters.
‘The Paradise’ success adds another milestone for Priyadarshi
The response to Shankaranna comes as another significant moment in Priyadarshi’s career, following the attention he received for ‘Court.’ For an actor who wanted to push himself into unfamiliar territory, ‘The Paradise’ has provided an opportunity to do exactly that. The film’s success has also placed greater focus on the supporting performances around Nani, with Priyadarshi’s transformation becoming a key part of the conversation. For the actor, however, the biggest takeaway appears to be the challenge itself — and the confidence that came from accepting it.
