Latest news with #GolcondaHighSchool
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
OTT gave me my break, but it was the big screen that made people remember me: Sangeeth Shobhan
From his early days as a child artiste in Golconda High School to earning acclaim with projects like Pitta Kathalu and Oka Chinna Family Story, Sangeeth Shobhan has steadily built a career grounded in relatability and charm. The son of Varsham director, late Sobhan and younger brother of actor Santosh Shobhan, Sangeeth further cemented his appeal among younger audiences with the coming-of-age comedy drama Mad and its recent sequel Mad Square. In a candid chat, the actor talks about why direction isn't for him, the importance of connecting with his directors, and how the shift from OTT to theatres changed the way audiences see the past few years, Sangeeth has put together a diverse body of work — from playing the sincere Sunny in Oka Chinna Family Story to appearing in the Telugu adaptation of The Baker and the Beauty and the web film Prema Vimanam. But it was Mad, with its irreverent humour and college-campus energy, that marked his breakout. Sangeeth, who is now stepping into lead roles, says he's not chasing stardom. 'Right now, I'm focused on building credibility and choosing content that feels honest and relatable. I want the audience to see a bit of themselves in my characters. I want them to remember me as the 'guy next door' and once that connection is built, I'll be ready to explore more varied roles.'While acting has clearly become his path, there was a time when he considered going behind the camera. During college, Sangeeth got the chance to work as an assistant director on Mahesh Babu's Maharshi, an experience that gave him a new perspective on the filmmaking process. 'That experience made me realise just how tough direction really is and that filmmaking is not for me. I love acting, and it has made me appreciate how much directors and their teams do behind the scenes. They work tirelessly, are often underappreciated, and are paid very little. Acting might feel easier when you see the kind of effort and patience the direction team puts in, and that's something I truly admire.'An actor's job is to quickly adapt to a character and just as easily detach from it. You don't need to lock yourself away or live like the character for weeks. That's not acting, that's becoming someone else. That's why I've never believed in method respect for directors also shapes how he engages with stories. For Sangeeth, it's not just the script that matters; it's how it's told, and who's telling it. 'Some stories hit differently when you hear them. When Kalyan Shankar narrated Mad, I was laughing from the first scene. The way he delivered it, full of energy and clarity, helped me connect with the tone instantly. That's when I know I want to do a film: when the storyteller pulls me in. A strong connection with the director makes all the difference,' he now, I'm focused on choosing content that feels honest and relatable. I want the audience to see a bit of themselves in my characters and once that connection is built, I'll be ready to explore varied OTT gave Sangeeth his start, it was the theatrical releases that changed how audiences perceived him. 'As a performer, I don't find much difference between OTT and theatre, but the audience reception is significantly different. No matter how much OTT content we consume, audiences still go to theatres to see someone on the big screen, and that makes those characters larger than life. After Mad 2 released, I noticed people recognising us, saying, 'Oh my God, that's the guy from Mad!' They started seeing us as larger-than-life figures because they had experienced us on the big screen. That was a big realisation for me.'
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Sumanth discusses ‘Anaganaga', his 26-year career, and the joy of working with kids
'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.'
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Santosh Sobhan: The art of storytelling has always spoken to me
We first saw him as Goutham in Golconda High School, and years later, he stunned audiences with his bold and refreshing performance in Ek Mini Katha, which not only highlighted his impeccable comic timing but also his courage to embrace unconventional subjects with confidence and sensitivity. With a deep-rooted passion for performance, Santosh Sobhan is steadily emerging as one of the most promising talents in new-age Telugu cinema. In an exclusive chat with CE at the inauguration of HK Hospital in Gachibowli, he recalls his journey into films and more. Excerpts How did your stint in films begin? I've been a child actor, so technically, I've been in films all my life. The definitive turning point was Ek Mini Katha, when I worked with Merlapaka Gandhi and UV creations. That film really changed things for me — both with regards to how people perceived me and how I began to see myself. It was a very important phase in my career. Out of all the professions, why acting? Honestly, because I didn't know what else I wanted to do. All I ever remember is wanting to act. I was too young when I fell in love with cinema. It was like living in my own 'Cinema Paradiso'. I come from the stage, and performing — whether on stage or in front of the camera — has always felt natural to me. I can't really pinpoint the exact moment or stimulus, but cinema and the art of storytelling have always spoken to me.
