Television actor Sagar, aka RK Naidu in the Telugu serial Mogali Rekulu, returns to the silver screen with The 100, a film where he once again dons the khaki—but with a difference. In this exclusive conversation, Sagar opens up about his journey from household fame to political aspirations, the real story behind The 100, and why this cop role is unlike any we’ve seen before
Suresh Kavirayani
Sagar is a household name in the Telugu states, thanks to his portrayal of RK Naidu in the long-running TV serial Mogali Rekulu. The mega-serial aired from 2008 to 2013 and left a lasting impression. He also appeared in another popular serial, Chakravakam. After gaining recognition on the small screen, Sagar transitioned to films, acting in a few projects, but never quite found his commercial breakthrough.
Now, he returns with a new film titled The 100, which hits theatres this Friday. The movie has received strong support from political figures such as Pawan Kalyan, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Sridhar Babu, and Venkaiah Naidu.
“We started this film as a project without any title. But after shooting for some time, we decided on the title The 100, and it gave the film a new emotional depth. We wanted to say something meaningful to society, and you’ll understand the reason behind the title after watching the film,” said Sagar.
The actor has already screened the film for prominent personalities, including top cop Sajjanar and former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. “They loved the film, and I’m confident the audience will too. It’s a message-oriented film, and I wanted to screen it for people whose words carry weight and can help the message reach a wider audience,” he added.
Having played a cop in Mogali Rekulu for nearly six years, Sagar developed close ties with real-life police officers. “During one of our conversations, a cop shared his personal story. I asked if I could use it for a film, and he agreed. That’s how The 100 began,” revealed Sagar.
Before moving forward, he shared the story with director Sukumar, who was excited about the concept. “He said this kind of story should be told. I spent a few months with Sukumar’s team, but they moved on to another film. That’s when I decided to go ahead with this project myself. I collaborated with director Raghav Omkar Sashidhar, and once we completed the script, we began shooting,” Sagar explained.
When asked why he didn’t pursue films earlier, despite the popularity of Mogali Rekulu, Sagar said, “I didn’t want to do another cop story right away since I had worn the uniform for six years on TV. I wanted to explore something different.” He went on to act in Siddharth, Man of the Match, and Shaadi Mubarak. “Now, after many years, this cop story truly excites me. But I can confidently say this film is unlike any other cop film made so far. Every police officer can feel proud after watching it,” he said.
Interestingly, he hasn’t returned to television since Mogali Rekulu. “I didn’t find any interesting scripts, and I didn’t want to accept just anything that came my way,” he said. On how The 100 cop differs from RK Naidu, he shared, “This is a more authentic portrayal. There’s no style or attitude—just the behavior of a real cop.”
Sagar admits having an emotional attachment to the khaki uniform he wore in the serial. “That’s one of the reasons I avoided cop roles. But now feels like the right time to return to it, with a powerful and real story,” he added.
He also clarified previous comments about Mr. Perfect, where he was expected to play a parallel lead with Prabhas. “That was my mistake. The role I picked wasn’t what I thought it would be. It’s in the past. Since then, I’ve focused on proving myself as a lead actor,” said Sagar. “In the future, I will continue taking up lead roles, but if a strong supporting character comes along, I’ll do it—if the story excites me.”
Sagar expressed disappointment over missing out on Pawan Kalyan’s OG. “I didn’t reject the offer, but due to a miscommunication, I missed it. Back then, I wasn’t a part of the Jana Sena Party. Now, I’ve joined the party and am working with Pawan Kalyan,” he said. He also confirmed that he plans to transition into full-time politics soon.
On his co-stars, Sagar had high praise. “Misha, Dhanya, and Vishnu Priya—these three female characters are central to the film and have intense roles,” he revealed. As for his portrayal, he emphasized, “This cop is not your cinematic hero. There’s no swagger—just grounded, realistic performance.”
