Venkatesh Daggubati says the makers of the web series Rana Naidu intend not to offend anyone with its second instalment. The crew starts shooting the second season of the Netflix original in January 2024. A remake of the internationally acclaimed US crime action drama Ray Donavan, Rana Naidu marks Venky’s OTT debut. But the show has him doling out cuss words, which did not go down well with his fans.
Criticism Noted – Says Venkatesh
Victory Venkatesh is a popular Tollywood star known for Wholesome family entertainers, and Rana Naidu doesn’t exactly fit that bill. It is expletive-heavy and doesn’t shy away from many intimate scenes, and most of the Telugu audience felt were unnecessary. More than that, they cannot digest that Venky mama is playing roles like Naga Naidu.
Comments and complaints poured in when the first season was released in March this year, from both fans and trolls. Venkatesh says that he has taken into account this feedback, and the creators are trying to keep it cleaner this time.
Rana Daggubati, Venkatesh’s nephew, plays the titular character, Naga’s son. Helmed by Karan Anshuman and Suparn Verma, the show’s stellar cast includes Surveen Chawla, Abhishek Banerjee, Suchitra Pillai, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Gaurav Chopra.
Reception for Rana Naidu Is Divided
Addressing the crowds at a college he visited, to promote his upcoming movie Saindhav, Venkatesh said that some people loved Rana Naidu, while some didn’t. Students began asking for details about the next episodes; he quipped that youngsters demand a sequel, while older audiences got offended by its content.
Venkatesh agrees that people from the South felt the crude language was a bit much for their taste. He further reiterates that they will take all the measures to put out the best content, but not change too much of its mischief.
Venkatesh Is Not New to Experimentation
The superstar has completed 37 years in the film industry, and in this time, has dabbled in experimental movies. He spoke in many interviews about how people discouraged him from signing a few movies with risky subjects. One is Pavitra Bandham opposite Soundarya, where the protagonist’s character has shades of grey.
The cult-classic Kshana Kshanam became a trendsetter back in 1991. Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, the heist comedy had Sridevi in the lead role of an innocent woman caught in the crosshairs of a bank robbery.
The dark and broody web series Rana Naidu may have shocked Venkatesh’s fans, but there is no denying that his performance is highly impressive. The never-before-witnessed avatar of Venkatesh and the sinister plot will indeed make an impact for years to come. Fingers crossed for the shoot to commence!