It’s not an easy task to pin down Nagarjuna for an interview. The reclusive actor makes very few public appearances, does a film a year and seldom talks about himself.

When we caught up with the actor on the sets of his new film, he seemed pensive and brooding. The tragic demise of the late CM YSR Reddy seemed to have affected him in a big way. He looked misty-eyed as he said, “YSR’s death was an irreplaceable loss for the state as he was steering our state to a higher plane. His policies were people-friendly and could have changed millions of lives.”

Despite his reluctance to talk about films, the conversation veers towards his son Naga Chaitanya’s debut film. “Well, collegians and even intellectuals liked the film immensely.” The proud dad sounded happy that the audience has “accepted” his son “in a big way. He needed to start off with a meaningful film and also play his age. Formula films can happen anytime,” he reasoned. So, any special gifts for his actor-son? “Well, now it’s his turn to buy me a gift,” he said with a smile. The actor-turned-entrepreneur is now on an expansion bid. “We are renovating our studio and establishing an institute to train film and TV aspirants. According to a study there will be 2 lakh jobs in TV and films a couple of years down the line,” he added.

Is his new film a love story? “Come on! I can’t do a love story at this age. However, I’d prefer doing a mature romance,” he avers, choosing to call his new film a “celebration of friendship,”he said.

Nagarjuna’s also been missing from screen for a while. Has that been by choice? “I’ve always had one release a year,” he reasoned, adding that he’s always had “other business interests for a while now. I was waiting for a good script,” he elaborated.

-TOI