Pragya Jaiswal talks about her upcoming film Daaku Maharaaj, her experience working with Balakrishna, her role and her birthday plans
suresh kavirayani
After a couple of years away from Telugu cinema, Pragya Jaiswal returns with Daaku Maharaaj, where she stars opposite Nandamuri Balakrishna. Interestingly, her last major Telugu hit, Akhanda, also featured Balakrishna. “Balakrishna is a lucky charm,” said Pragya, who is overjoyed about her new film releasing on January 12—coinciding with her birthday and the Sankranti festival.
“Usually, when actors celebrate their birthdays, a teaser or poster is launched. But this time, my film is releasing on my birthday and I’m thrilled! When the producer announced the release date, I was the first to react because of this coincidence,” she shared excitedly.
Pragya, who began her career nearly a decade ago, feels her journey is still fresh. “Every film is a new adventure with new characters to explore. There have been ups and downs, but I feel blessed. I’ve had the privilege to learn from some of the best filmmakers and actors. This journey has been incredible and I look forward to many more years in the industry,” she reflected.
Speaking about her career-defining film Akhanda, Pragya recalled the unexpected way she landed the role. “During the pandemic, when most people had no work, I got a call from Boyapati Srinu sir. I flew to Hyderabad from Bombay with just a handbag and went straight from the airport to meet him. He narrated the story and finalised everything, including my remuneration, within a day. It was a life-changing opportunity for me and I’m forever grateful to Boyapati sir for trusting me with such a significant role,” she said.
Pragya described Akhanda as a “proper commercial masala film” with substantial screen time for her character, which contributed to her career’s biggest success. “Akhanda was my life-changing film. It was the biggest hit of my career and I feel blessed to have worked with Boyapati sir and Balakrishna. I’m thrilled to collaborate with Bala Sir again in Daaku Maharaaj and the upcoming Akhanda 2,” she added.
In Daaku Maharaaj, Pragya plays a unique character named Kaveri. “It’s a completely different role for me and I’m very excited about it,” she said. She revealed that she was shooting a Hindi film, Khel Khel Mein, when she got the offer for this project.
She also shared her long-standing connection with director Bobby. “I met Bobby even before I debuted with Kanche. We’ve stayed in touch over the years but never had a chance to work together until now. Watching the teaser of Daaku Maharaaj convinced me to take up this project. Working with Bobby has been an absolute blessing,” she said.
Talking about her co-star Balakrishna, she expressed her admiration for his work ethic and personality. “This is my second film with Bala Sir and surprisingly, he hasn’t changed a bit. He’s as positive, energetic and full of life as ever. On set, he’s always cracking jokes or sharing stories about his father’s movies. But when the camera rolls, he transforms into a superhuman—especially during intense scenes like the Aghora character in Akhanda. His dedication and energy are unmatched,” she said.
She also highlighted how much she has learned from him. “His discipline is incredible. He wakes up at 3:30 a.m, does his pooja, works out and is always on set before time. It’s inspiring to see such commitment,” she added.
Shooting for Daaku Maharaaj came with its own set of challenges. “Filming in Rajasthan was tough. The extreme heat, dust and propeller fans made it physically demanding. I fell sick on the second or third day, but the team’s passion kept me going,” she revealed.
As her film release coincides with her birthday, Pragya plans to stay in Hyderabad to celebrate both occasions. “I want to watch the film with the audience and experience the euphoria. Having my film release on my birthday, during Sankranti, feels like a sign from the universe. It’s the best celebration I could ask for,” she concluded.
