'Credit for Pokiri goes to Puri'

Telugu star Mahesh Babu gives credit to director Puri Jagannath for the biggest hit of his career.

Telugu star Mahesh Babu gives credit to director Puri Jagannath for the biggest hit of his career in Pokiri, which is breaking box office records.

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"If I have to attribute the success to just one person, then it has to be Puri Jagannath. He came up with a novel script and narrated it interestingly," Mahesh said.

Mahesh is equally excited about his next release Sainikudu and hopes to complete a hat-trick after the successes of Athadu and Pokiri.

Excerpts:

How do you feel about a record-breaking hit in Pokiri?

I am truly excited about its success because I could reach out to all sections of the audience with the film. It has already registered unprecedented collections and I expect it to cross the Rs 400 million mark. Recently, my sister got married and I am savouring two happy events.

To whom would you attribute the success? Did you anticipate it while first hearing the script?

If I have to attribute the success to just one person, then it has to be Puri Jagannath. He came up with a novel script and narrated it interestingly.

Obscene dialogues and excessive violence fetched the movie an A certificate.

If you look at the lines from the point of view of the character, they are justified. But we didn't cross the line of decency.

I can name films, which went overboard (like showing football as a game with butchered heads in one instance), but I think we did everything in limits. I also think family audiences weren't put off.

Will you score a hat-trick with Sainikudu after giving two consecutive hits Athadu and Pokiri?

After Okkadu and Arjun, it is my third film with director Gunasekar. I am equally excited about it.

Can you elaborate on your forthcoming films?

I have decided to pick good and interesting roles. Also, I think I have matured in judging good scripts. This maturity will caution me against choosing idiotic scripts like Bobby and Takari Donga.