Telugu actor Sampoornesh Babu, known for his work in spoof comedies, is set to explore a completely different side of his acting with Nani’s upcoming film ‘The Paradise’. Directed by Srikanth Odela, the film features Sampoornesh in the role of Biryani, Nani’s best friend.Speaking about his experience working on the film, Sampoornesh revealed that he was drawn to the character because it was unlike anything he had played before. As per a report by Cinema Express, the actor also described The Paradise as the biggest film he has worked on so far.

Sampoornesh Babu plays a serious role in ‘The Paradise’

Sampoornesh recalled meeting director Srikanth Odela after receiving a call to hear the script. The actor said he immediately found the character of Biryani interesting because of its serious and unfamiliar nature.“I received a call from director Srikanth Odela and went to meet him. When he narrated the Biryani character, I found it very interesting and completely new. I have never played a character like this before in my career. It is a very serious role and also different from all the characters I have played so far,” he said.The role marks a departure from the comic characters with which Sampoornesh has largely been associated during his career.

Sampoornesh Babu plays Nani’s best friend

Sampoornesh also revealed that Biryani is not a brief appearance and will remain part of the story throughout the film. His character is Nani’s best friend and shares a close bond with the protagonist.“I am playing Nani’s best friend in the film, and my character will be seen throughout the movie. If I had received a character like this three years ago, some of the mistakes I made in my career might not have happened. Working with Nani and Srikanth has been a very happy experience for me,” he said.The actor further described the project as a major milestone in his career, calling it the biggest film he has worked on to date.“I have never worked on such a big film before. The makers placed a lot of trust in me, and I did my best to live up to their expectations,” he added.

Sampoornesh Babu underwent a transformation for Biryani

Sampoornesh also made physical changes for the role, following Srikanth Odela’s instructions to develop Biryani’s appearance. The actor lost weight and grew a beard as part of the transformation.“I followed whatever the director asked me to do. In fact, I also decided to not do any other film until the shooting of The Paradise was completed. I received a few offers during that period, but I told them that I would not take up anything until I finished this film,” he said.The actor’s commitment to the project was also reflected in the first-look poster released last year. In the poster, Sampoornesh appears intense as Biryani, standing tall with a cigarette in his hand and a blood-splattered weapon while maintaining a seemingly nonchalant expression.

Nani’s ‘The Paradise’ set for September 24 release

‘The Paradise’ is directed by Srikanth Odela and stars Nani in the lead role. The film is scheduled for a grand theatrical release on September 24 in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, English and Spanish.