Imagine a small town in Andhra Pradesh, buzzing with excitement over a couple’s extravagant pre-wedding photoshoot. Now, picture the videographer in a complete panic after his assistant misplaces the camera’s memory card. This is the hilarious premise of debut director Rahul Srinivas’s Telugu film, The Great Pre-Wedding Show. Actor Thiruveer, who plays the flustered videographer, believes this comedy is best enjoyed with a crowd, promising an experience filled with collective laughter.
“When the film was in post-production, we had a lot of feedback. Someone told us how the fun quotient was enhanced in the company of others. I am confident that this is a film meant to be collectively enjoyed in theatres,” Thiruveer shared during a recent interview in Hyderabad.
The actor acknowledges the significant challenge of drawing audiences to cinemas in the post-pandemic era, especially when people are accustomed to watching content from the comfort of their homes. “Films made with smaller budgets, in particular, either turn out to be blockbusters or flops. There are no average grossers anymore,” he observed.
Those familiar with Telugu cinema would recall Thiruveer’s journey from playing memorable antagonists in films like George Reddy, Palasa 1978, and Tuck Jagadish, to transitioning into amiable lead roles in the horror thriller Masooda and the Telangana comedy Pareshan. His background in theatre, combined with his dedication to true-to-life portrayals, has solidified his reputation as a powerful performer.
This shift from villain to hero hasn’t been without its difficulties. “Earlier, I was constantly offered roles of rogues or perverts, and my family would often wonder how directors saw an introvert like me in such characters. I even used to channel my frustration into the action scenes where I had to beat someone up. Now, I find myself offered innocent, man-next-door characters. I need to break free from this new typecasting as well, and I’ve already turned down several films to avoid it,” he explained.
Spontaneous Performances are Key
Thiruveer admits that acting can become repetitive when there isn’t enough room for experimentation. “In such times, I would turn to online acting masterclasses. I learned that some actors get better with each ‘take’ and others, worse. I prefer to be spontaneous. For the auditorium scene in George Reddy, I explicitly told the director I didn’t want to rehearse. The cinematographer brilliantly captured that raw moment. However, if technical reasons force me to repeat a performance more than three times, it starts feeling mechanical, and I have to consciously push myself to bring back the energy.”
Despite his proven talent, staying relevant in the industry is a continuous effort. Thiruveer mentioned he is frequently advised to create engaging social media content to boost his follower count, believing that more followers lead to more film and advertisement opportunities. “But I prefer to just focus on my work. Given a choice, I’d be off social media entirely. The irony is, we filmed The Great Pre-Wedding Show in just 35 days, and I’ve been promoting it for over 40 days now!”
Discussing the speedy production of his new film, he recalled how the director approached him in August 2024, with filming commencing in November and wrapping up by early December. “He had the entire script meticulously planned. Since he hails from northern Andhra, his two-hour narration of the story, set in Visakhapatnam, Araku, and Srungavarapukota, had an authentic regional flavor. The script-reading session confirmed we had genuinely entertaining material. Everything was meticulously planned before shooting began. The director previously worked with Tamada Media and has extensive experience in web series and digital content.”
The film features Teena Sravya, known from Committee Kurrollu, as the female lead, alongside several actors with theatre backgrounds and local talent selected through extensive auditions. “The beauty of a region’s mandalikam (dialect) lies in how it enhances the native flavor of a comedy,” Thiruveer emphasized.
On average, he listens to more than 20 stories each month, often finding none of them particularly engaging. On rare occasions, he might find two interesting narratives. “I never wanted a 9-to-5 job, but this has effectively become a 24/7 job of listening to stories,” he chuckled, admitting it can be exhausting. “Some days, after listening to so many stories, I don’t even want to watch films.” When asked how he maintains his judgment, he replied, “If a story doesn’t pique my curiosity or if my mind starts to wander, I know it’s not the right fit for me.”
Next, Thiruveer will appear in a film produced by ETV Win, in addition to a web series and four other new films currently in the pipeline.