Rana Daggubati

Not shifting to Mumbai: Rana Daggubati

The South actor, though keen to do more films in Bollywood, is not looking at shifting base anytime soon

Aakanksha Naval-Shetye

It was last year that South actor Rana Daggubati made his debut in Bollywood with Dum Maaro Dum. While the actor didn't get to play a cop in that one like co-star Abhishek Bachchan, Rana says that he's excited about playing one, now, in the upcoming Department, which incidentally stars the Sr Bachchan, Amitabh. "Well, Abhishek is a real cool guy, but working with Amitabh sir was something else. I was in awe of him. Here was the man who you grew up watching, so sharing the same frame with him was better than a dream," says Rana. The actor's also all praises for his other co-star Sanjay Dutt. "He gave me loads of work-out tips too, so it was great bonding with him as more than just a co-actor," adds Rana. But ask him why the long absence since last year's big screen outing here and he's quick to point out that he may not have been seen in Bollywood, but keeping him busy all this while were his films down South. "It may look like I disappeared, but I was seen in my South flicks," he smiles. And now the actor admits that he's hoping to look at Bollywood more seriously. "I always feel so welcome here, by the audience and industry. I definitely want to do more films here now," he says. However, Rana is quick to add that he's not shifting base anytime soon. "Travelling is not an issue anyway, so I'd rather just fly to and fro for now," he shares. His upcoming film sees him as a no-nonsense cop, while his last had him in a romantic role, so what's he like in real life? "I would consider myself logical," he smiles. "I am quite practical in my approach, so I guess, I'd be a mix of two," he adds. As for his romantic link-ups in B-Town with actor Bipasha Basu, he says that it's ridiculous to pair up two friends. "She is a lovely girl and a dear friend, but the rumours of us dating are rubbish," he says. "It's funny because I read them in Hyderabad. Sometimes its much after the rumours have made rounds here, so I don't even feel the need to clarify after a point," adds Rana.