Harshvardhan Rane: I sensed Tollywood’s wide reach much before Baahubali’s success

Actor Harshvardhan Rane feels that this is a great time for actors in Bollywood and Southern film industry to collaborate, and credits it to filmmaker SS Rajamouli.

Actor Harshvardhan Rane shot to fame in Bollywood with the film, Sanam Teri Kasam (2016). However, prior to this, he had already worked in the Telugu film industry and made a name for himself. “I just followed my gut feeling when I went to Hyderabad in 2008. Telugu and Hindi cinema, both have a wide reach. I could sense that kind of exchange happening between Tollywood and Bollywood even before Baahubali (2015) released.”

Actor Harshvardhan Rane says he’s probably the first guy who played a hero, not a negative role, in films down South.

The 33-year-old actor adds that he found this a “great” space where he could explore cinema of both the industries. “I’m [probably] the first guy who went to the South and played the hero [and not a negative role],” says Rane, who has been a part of other Telugu films such as Thakita Thakita (2010), Prem Ishq Kadhaai (2013) and Anaamika (2014).

Rane, who has a cameo in the upcoming Telugu film Fidaa, believes that right now is a great time for Bollywood actors to be part of the southern film industry, thanks to director SS Rajamouli, who helmed the Baahubali films.

“Rajamouli played the role of an express highway between two industries and now, people can exchange art more frequently. A person like this is always needed between two big industries, to bridge the gap. A lot of exchange has been happening, but a better format has been created by this man,” adds Rane.