Before CourtSivaji went through a long phase without films. When asked how he managed during those 13–14 years, he says, “I survived through real estate by investing some money. During the pandemic, everything changed. I helped many people and kept only what I needed. After the pandemic, most businesses slowed down, and that’s when my sons motivated me to return to acting.” He reveals that his younger son played a crucial role in his comeback. “He told me that he had seen me act as a child but didn’t see me on screen as he grew up. Around that time, I received the Bigg Boss offer and accepted it,” Sivaji said, calling it a turning point in his life.
Sivaji further recalls, “Then came 90s – Middle Class Biopic web series, which became a big hit. After that, Court happened. The director saw me on Bigg Boss and felt I was perfect for Mangapathi. Luck also played a part, and since then, offers have been coming my way. Adding that he is now careful about choosing roles, he says, “I don’t accept everything that comes my way. Repetition can bore the audience, so I look for variation in every role.”
Addressing the dominance of Telangana-based stories, Sivaji expresses concern over the future of Andhra stories. “I agree that the next generation may not see many Andhra-based stories. It depends on how seriously the AP government takes cinema. If they don’t act now, stories from that region may disappear,” he warned. Recalling films like Samarasimha Reddy, Narasimha Naidu, and Indra that had Rayalaseema backdrops, he adds that such stories are rarely being made now. Sivaji also rejects the notion that Telangana-based films don’t work in Andhra regions. “Cinema has no barriers. Today, Tamil and Malayalam films are successful in Telugu as well,” he said. He credits Malayalam cinema for its realistic storytelling and noted that several small Telugu films are now following the same path. “Dhandoraa is also rooted in realism,” he notes.
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