Naga Chaitanya finds a new edge as Arjun in Vrushakarma

Naga Chaitanya continues to shift gears. In recent years, he has moved across genres with intent: as constable Shiva in Custody, a cop on the run protecting a key witness; as journalist Sagar in Dhootha, drawn into a spiral of prophetic warnings; and as Raju in Thandel, a fisherman jailed in Karachi after drifting across the border.Vrushakarma signals another pivot, into myth and adventure. In an exclusive conversation with us, Chaitanya talks about building the film’s world, shaping his character Arjun, and why this chapter feels distinct in his journey.

After a run of intense, grounded roles, Vrushakarma seems like a massive pivot into myth and spectacle...Yes. It’s a mythical thriller. Director Karthik Varma Dandu’s strengths lie in this genre, as seen in Virupaksha.

What will really stand out is the film’s world. We’ve shot extensively in a massive cave set and also built a huge Mysore arena set. The film is mounted on a large scale with significant VFX, and it’s designed as a proper theatrical spectacle. In terms of scale and production, this is my biggest film so far. The visuals will be unlike anything our audiences have experienced before.I play a character named Arjun, who is a treasure hunter. It’s the first time I’m exploring this space.

It involves a lot of adventure and action. Arjun is very unique, has a lot of attitude, and is carefree and gutsy. These shades are very new for me, and I’m enjoying exploring them.

Dhootha also dealt with prophecy and time. How is this film different from that?The film travels through time — from centuries in the past to the present. It revolves around certain predictions that Arjun and others stumble upon, and following those predictions leads to something huge and unexpected.

That revelation will be a theatrical high point. The mythical subtext adds another layer to the film. When Karthik narrated the script (which took nearly five hours), he detailed everything, from sound design to VFX.

When someone narrates with that level of passion and clarity, it gives you confidence that they can translate it well on screen. That convinced me.Treasure hunting comes with adventure, risk and physicality. What kind of prep went into building Arjun?The film is intense both emotionally and physically. Playing a treasure hunter required a different kind of action — more adventure than combat.

We wanted Arjun to have an athletic body because the film includes extensive action sequences with an action-adventure approach. A special workout regimen was designed for this. It included strength training, swimming and yoga, while maintaining muscle volume. Towards the climax shoot, I followed a strict diet.

I also worked on body language, styling and overall presence. After playing more rooted characters recently, this allowed me to stylise the look more.

That was exciting.What tested you the most during filming?The physical challenges were significant. We shot in extreme conditions. The first 20–25 minutes take place inside a cave, and filming there wasn’t easy. There’s a lot of action, especially in the climax, along with extensive VFX work. With VFX, we often had to perform each shot multiple times, which was demanding.

Karthik is known for his detailing. What was it like to work with him?He is very thorough and loves rehearsals. He’s collaborative and open to discussion.

Before we started shooting, we travelled together with his direction team and spent days discussing the script line by line. We shared our thoughts and pitched ideas on how Arjun should be shaped. On set, he once gave me about 100 questions about my character. We answered them separately and then compared notes. He is flexible but very clear about his vision.

He’s one of the most thorough filmmakers I’ve worked with.When you look at your first film & where you stand now, what has changed the most in your craft?From where I began to where I am now, I definitely feel I’ve grown and learnt a lot. But there’s always more to learn and grow. Every film teaches me something, and more than anything, I love what I am doing. The industry has changed, especially post-COVID, and audiences’ tastes evolve quickly. As actors, filmmakers and directors, we have to stay dynamic. My approach to scripts and characters keeps changing.As you approach your 25th film, what are you looking for next?My focus is to be remembered by my character’s name rather than my own. When audiences come out of a theatre calling you by your character’s name, that means the role has truly connected. That’s something I’m always striving for.