Naga Chaitanya has ticked a larger-than-life story off his list with his upcoming film, Vrushakarma. Now, the actor wants to return to the romance genre. Even as Indian movies are leaning into VFX-heavy spectacles, his belief is that they cannot replace the emotional core of mainstream cinema. “Spectacle films are brilliant for a theatrical experience. At the same time, we need to invest in films that people can go back to, comfort watches that fill their heart,” he said.

In the early years of his career, Chaitanya fronted several romantic dramas, from Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) to Premam (2016). He shared that the genre remains fulfilling for him. “Love stories are something I enjoy doing as an actor. I want to go back and do one. I want to tell different love stories.”

The dominance of action films has created a perception that the audience no longer seeks emotional stories. But, according to the actor, that may not be the case. He noted, “The impression was that people are watching love stories on OTT and going to theatres for [action] films. That’s not entirely true. It’s just that we’ve taken [the genre] away from the audience.”