Watch: Priyadarshi discusses ‘Court’ and how cinema is only a part of his life

Actor Priyadarshi discusses ‘Court’ and how he balances comic characters and offbeat films

On a warm summer morning, a film production house in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, buzzes with activity. Posters of director Ram Jagadeesh’s Court line the walls, with actor Priyadarshi Pulikonda as the face of the courtroom drama. From Malleshamand Balagamto the upcoming Sarangapani Jathakam, Priyadarshi has carefully shaped his career since his breakout role as the comedic buddy in Pelli Choopulu (2016). For almost a decade now, he has seamlessly balanced both lighthearted and intense characters.

“The urge to take on diverse roles has always been there,” he admits, crediting Telugu cinema’s evolving landscape and the writers who believed in him for making it possible.

He recalls being approached for Yuddham Sharanam(2017), where director Krishna Marimuthu made it clear the story had no space for comedy. “At the time, the norm was that the hero’s friend provided comic relief. I was more than happy to play a serious role.”

He recalls well-wishers advising him to stick to comedy — the genre that brought him recognition — citing examples of comedians who struggled in other roles. “But I could see cinema evolving. For Terror, Satish Kasetty didn’t see me as a comedian. Then Raj offered Mallesham. I noticed young writers like Tharun Bhascker, Vivek Athreya, and Prasanth Varma getting the backing of producers. Prasanth’s Awe remains unorthodox even today,” he reflects.

Seizing new opportunities, Priyadarshi explored web series and non-theatrical films, with roles in Loser (directed by Abhilash Reddy) and Mail (directed by Uday Gurrala). “All of that led to more interesting work,” he states. “After Mallesham, I couldn’t afford to sit idle for four years waiting for Balagam.”

His roles in mainstream films with popular stars helped him gain visibility in tier-two and rural markets. “The sudden stardom from Jai Lava Kusa, MCA, and Vunnadhi Okate Zindagi exposed more people to my work. The experience of working in big-budget films also honed my craft, allowing me to take on films like Balagam with more confidence.” His growing popularity also meant audiences were more likely to follow him into offbeat projects.

Discussing Court, Priyadarshi says he sensed an authentic voice in debut director Ram Jagadeesh. “Anyone can learn filmmaking from books, the internet, or film school. But what we choose to communicate through our films matters. Ram is from Visakhapatnam; his father is a tailor. He sees the world differently. Initially, he pitched a romance, which didn’t interest me. Then he mentioned a friend wrongly accused of a crime. I suggested researching similar cases to see if a compelling story emerged. Like a diligent journalist, he did extensive research and returned with a solid narrative. We couldn’t afford to make mistakes when addressing the POCSO Act.”