Sumanth discusses ‘Anaganaga', his 26-year career, and the joy of working with kids

The Hindu

12-05-2025

'Good roles are rare, not the work,' says Sumanth, who will next be seen in Anaganaga, a heartwarming Telugu film streaming on ETV Win from May 15.
On a laid-back afternoon at his Hyderabad home, Sumanth is relaxed and chatty. Fresh from a Thunderbolts screening, he is the kind who spends hours at the movies, either in a theatre or at home. 'I watch films or series for four to five hours a day. I just watched HIT 3 too,' he says.
If he is not watching them, he is reading scripts. 'Don't be fooled by the books around; lately, it's been all scripts. I prefer reading one over listening to a narration before saying yes to a project.'
Since his debut in 1999, Sumanth has stuck to his script-first instinct. 'People used to be surprised I even asked for scripts. But I have always felt they are essential, especially in films that are dialogue-heavy, which most of ours are, except the big spectacle ones like KGF, RRRor Baahubali.'
He says it usually takes him about 10–12 pages to decide if a script has promise. 'Honestly, it has been a 10% success rate since my grandfather's (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) time. I read around 30 scripts and maybe three or four are worth it. I only agree when I believe in the script and trust the director. Luckily, I am not in a place where I need to work just for money.'
Anaganaga, adapted from the Marathi film Eka Kaay Zala, came to him via producers Rakesh Reddy Gadam and Rudra Madireddy, and ETV Win. 'At first, I was not sure. I am not usually up for remakes, especially now when audiences can just stream originals. But three months later, they returned with a reworked version that really landed. It reminded me of how I felt when I read Malli Raava.'
He plays Vyas, a school teacher who turns tricky lessons into stories for students with learning challenges. 'He is criticised for his methods but sticks to them. There is also a lovely father-son thread woven in.'
Filmed in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, Anaganaga puts Sumanth back in a school setting after Golconda High School, but this time, he is playing a father, a first in his career. 'I do not know why I have not played one before. It was great fun shooting with the kids. I am an introvert, but around them, I can be a complete goofball. It helped the scenes feel real.'
He is also clear about playing age-appropriate roles. 'The lead actress, Kajal Choudhary, plays a school principal in her 30s. She's younger in real life, so I actually asked if they could cast someone older. I have always pushed for mature roles and against being paired opposite actresses far younger.'
Anaganaga was always meant to be a digital film, not a theatrical one. 'It is an emotional story, we have made something warm and genuine.'
Up next is Mahendragiri Varahi, a supernatural action thriller directed by Santossh Jagarlapudi. 'It is big on scale, with VFX and a proper theatrical release. ThinkVirupakshaor Karthikeya. I play a sceptic who enters a town plagued by strange happenings linked to Goddess Varahi.'
After playing the antagonist in Sita Ramam, did he get more grey-shaded roles? 'Surprisingly, no,' he laughs. 'But I have always said I am open to playing villains.'
Now 26 years in the industry, Sumanth says he is passionate but not obsessed. 'Acting is all I know and I give it my all when something excites me. But when I am not working, I am perfectly content being with my pets or just watching a film. I like my peace.'