Exclusive: Sangeeth Shobhan opens up on working with actor Naresh in Oka Chinna Family Story

Oka Chinna Family Story, released on ZEE5, was one of the rarest Telugu web shows that didn't resort to double entendre, any form of vulgarity or cheap gimmicks to entertain audiences. It's foremost strength was a solid story and clean humour that was ably complemented by the performances of Sangeeth Shobhan, Naresh and Tulasi. The producer, Niharika Konidela, gave it a good push with extensive promotions and the show is getting the due that it richly deserves. In a chat with us earlier, actor Sangeeth Shobhan opened up about shooting with veteran actor Naresh in the show.

Claiming that he was nervous to share screen space with him initially, Sangeeth says, "Naresh (garu) was shooting in Conoor for Nandini Reddy's Anni Manchi Sakunamule, a film with my brother, before he joined Oka Chinna Family Story. I curiously messaged my brother on his experience of working with him and all he had to say was 'to chill and that he would handle everything.' Once he takes over a scene, all you can do is to just react to him. It's exactly what happened."

Interesting this was Naresh's first ever Telugu web series too and the young actor has only kind words to tell about him. "His character puts the story on track and the improvisations he does are so funny. Even in the trailer when he says to place my undergarments in his cardboard (which was edited later), the line wasn't written in the script and we all bursted out laughing after the shot was done."

In the time the shot was getting ready and during breaks, Naresh and Sangeeth apparently got talking on a gamut of topics. "I used the idle time on sets to talk about his varied choice of films, nuggets from his career, finding inspiration to work for so long. He took some great risks in the time he was a hero and pulled off unimaginable successes. Jambalakidi Pamba is a great example. It's a subject no hero would've dared to attempt. He played the role in the film with so much conviction. There were so many backstories about the film that he shared."

"I don't know if I've learnt acting from him but I can say that my association with him helped me enjoy my work all the more. He has told me that once someone stops enjoying the hardwork as an actor, there's very little purpose of taking up work." Oka Chinna Family Story, spanning five episodes, is nearly 200 minutes long show, set in Warangal. The story revolves around the struggles of a 20s something youngster Mahesh and his innocent mother Rukmini to repay a debt of Rs 25 lakh that his (late) father leaves behind.