Jagapathi Babu Wants To Do Mature Roles

Jagapathi Babu, who turned 52 on Wednesday (Feb 12), says he is ready to take up mature roles and "strong" characters as well supporting parts in his second innings in the film industry.

Jagapathi, who has played a successful romantic hero on the big screen for nearly two decades, will be seen in the role of an antagonist for the first time in upcoming Telugu political drama Legend.

"Let's admit it that I'm getting older. I can't expect hero roles to come by anymore. Therefore, I've decided to take up strong characters as well as supporting roles. I'm interested to play mature roles, even if it means playing negative characters," Jagapathi told IANS.

"I agreed to play a negative character in Legend because it's an important character. It's not one of the usual villain types of roles because it has a purpose. I feel I've begun my second innings in the industry and I hope audience will continue to love me like they did all these years," he added.

Going forward, he says he wants to work for his family. "All these years I worked hard and hardly retained whatever I earned. From now on I want to work hard and earn for my family, my wife and daughter. I'm planning to take them on a holiday that is long due. I think they deserve it more than me," he said.

On the occasion of his birthday, the makers of Legend revealed his look from the film. He hopes the film does well. "I can confidently say that Legend will be successful. I'm signing films that I feel will work and I trust my instinct on this. The other two films I'm currently working on will also be successful when they come out," he added.

His other two films include Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham and Ra Ra Krishnayya.

"I play a character quite contrary to what I play in Legend in my forthcoming Ra Ra Krishnayya. This is the kind of variation I'm looking forward to in roles in future. No two roles should be similar and I want to ensure that never happens," he said.

IANS