Exclusive! Nagarjuna talks about the equation with his sons and daughter-in-law Sobhita Dhulipala

It’s a milestone-packed season for Akkineni Nagarjuna as he is on the verge of clocking in 40 illustrious years in the film industry, and his family’s cherished legacy, Annapurna Studios, has touched the 50-year landmark. Widely admired for his suave screen presence and range as an actor, Nagarjuna caught the attention of the Hindi speaking audience with films like Shiva (1990) and Criminal (1995). In Telugu cinema he made a mark with hits such as Manam, Santosham, Ninne Pelladata, Annamayya and Soggade Chinni Nayana.‘The number game has become a mess today’Looking back at the arc of his career, the actor says, “Today, I am just enjoying whatever is coming my way. But back in the day, of course, you were at a certain age, you had to be on the top and get the numbers... all that pressure was there, but then it slowly vanished. I see numbers changing every other month. The number game has become a mess today. So, I’m just living in the moment. I’m happy when I’m doing exactly what I want to do. If I can’t do that at this point, even after 40 years, then what’s the point?”‘I am not old school’The actor’s journey has not only mirrored the growth of the Telugu film industry but also the massive evolution in how cinema is consumed and created. Nagarjuna has adapted with ease. “From cassettes to DVDs, to pen drives and today, watching movies on your phones... I am enjoying this. I am not old school. If I was old school, I would have been irrelevant. I like to move along with technology. I think that’s the way the world moves. If you don’t move with it, you become irrelevant,” he says.‘The first 30 years of the studio were a big struggle’This progressive mindset extends to Annapurna Studios as well — a space once envisioned by his legendary father, actor and producer Akkineni Nageswara Rao, now steered alongside Nagarjuna by his sons Naga Chaitanya and Akhil Akkineni. “The first 30 years of the studio were a big struggle. It’s nice to say we own a studio, but it’s very difficult to keep it going. My father was very passionate about it. He always said that films have given him everything in life, so he wanted to give back to the world of cinema. He then put the responsibility on me and my brother,” Nagarjuna shares. He adds, “I am happy that the third generation has stepped in and they are looking at newer technologies and I hope they are having fun. If they are not, then it’s going to be a real struggle.”‘I work out with my sons, but don’t compete with them’Ask him what’s his dynamic with his son, especially with Naga Chaitanya, who enjoys a strong fanbase down South, and he says, “My father and I became very good friends, but there was that line of respect. And it’s the same when it comes to my equation with my sons. We are friends, but there’s also that respect where, for example, if I come into the room, they will stand up and greet me. We also work out together, but I don’t compete with them (laughs).”Despite his decades-long career, Nagarjuna remains super fit, and is admired for his discipline and physique. So, does he get fitness tips from his sons? “I give them tips instead (laughs). On a serious note, I work out to feel energised. I try to keep myself healthy and fit. I dedicate one hour daily for my fitness routine and I follow a balanced diet.”‘Sobhita and I talk about music, books and gardening’The actor’s family continues to grow — not just professionally, but personally too. His son Naga Chaitanya tied the knot last year with actress Sobhita Dhulipala. Nagarjuna shares a warm bond with his daughter-in-law. He says, “She’s just fantastic. We talk about books and music. Right now, she wants to grow a garden in Naga’s house. I have a keen interest in gardening too, so we talk a lot about it. It’s a very nice relationship and it’s like having a daughter at home. We have two daughters now — Zainab (Akhil’s wife) and Sobhita.”