Rana Daggubati flattered by his female following

Actor Rana Daggubati who recently turned a year older on December 14, brought in his birthday with much grandeur. The actor who had a working birthday, says he loves it that way. “I celebrated my birthday in Hyderabad with my friends and family. The celebrations in my family started on the 13th and went on till the 15th as my uncle celebrates his birthday on the 13th. It was a very special day for me, because my birthday also marked the launch of my sixth Telegu film. All my friends were also present at the launch so they made it extra special for me. There after we went to party,” he reveals.

The actor who made his foray in Bollywood with Dum Maaro Dum early this year has almost completed shooting for his next Hindi release, Ram Gopal Varma’s Department. This time however, he says, his Hindi has improved considerably. “I grew up in Hyderabad so it was mostly Hindi, Telegu and Tamil that I spoke. I know Hindi very well, just my diction isn’t perfect, but now it is much better. I am much more comfortable with Hindi now, but my diction classes still continue.” Talking about his next film, he says he plays a police officer, a role he worked a lot on. “I spoke to a couple of policemen and observed them. I spent time with them and believe me, their lives are much more difficult than what it seems like. I have learnt a lot from this role, personally as well as professionally.”

Films aside, the actor is also quite popular with his female fans. Ask him about this and he says, he feels flattered. “As a guy it is always good to know you are liked and accepted. More so for me, because I come from an extremely different background. To be accepted as one among the others is great.” And what about actor Bipasha Basu? “Well, they couldn’t link me to Prateik Babbar in the film and Abhishek Bachchan, so they linked me to her. She is a great friend and one of the first few people I made friends with in Mumbai. That is all that is there to it,” adds Rana.
m_sneha@dnaindia.net