V V Vinayak, Tharun Bhascker don heroes' hat

With the big launch of popular director V V Vinayak's debut flick 'Seenayya' as a hero on Wednesday, the bandwagon of directors-turned-actors gets a booster shot.

"I didn't believe Dil Raju when he approached me to play a hero in his film. Initially, I thought he was playing a prank on me but finally he convinced me with a good script," said V V Vinayak at the muhurat.

Whereas, his younger colleague Tharun Bhascker had no such doubts as he began shooting for his film 'Meeku Matrame Cheptha' since his friend and actor Vijay Devarkonda believed in his acting talent.

"Vinayak playing a massy role, while Tharun essaying the role of a confused youngster in a new-age drama.

But both have set a new trend of sorts and showed that directors can don hero roles and not just confine themselves to character roles like in the past," says producer C Kalyan.

Earlier, Ram Gopal Varma announced that he will turning actor with his upcoming film 'Cobra', after rocking behind-the-camera for 28 years, "Personally, I think RGV is turning an actor to create hype around his film and not to pursue acting as such, unlike others," says director Chandra Siddharth, who also appeared in a cameo in 'NTR Mahanayakudu' wherein he played legendary Dasari Narayana Rao on screen.

Actually, legendary Dasari Narayana Rao, played a protagonist in movies like 'Mestri' and 'Picchodi Chethilo Raayi' and did more than 20-odd movies.

"Dasari Narayana Rao was always fascinated with acting and even bagged Nandi award for his performance in 'Mestri', while another legendary director K Vishwanath confined himself to dignified character roles in films like 'Kalisundam Raa,' 'Narasimha Naidu' and 'Aadavari Matalaku...' and others," says director Srikanth Addala.

Whereas, other young directors-turned-actors had to follow K Vishwanth and play father, brother and other character roles.

For instance, Deviprasad who played dad to Sree Vishnu in 'Needhi Naadhi Okate Zindagi,' says, "I was interested in acting for quite some time and happened to get good roles to showcase my acting talent.

Of course, I am a director, but like to explore acting as well," he adds. Even director Bheemaneni Srinivas Rao, who played a key role in 'Kudirithe Cuppu Coffee' and 'Friends Book,' describes 'acting as a hobby.'

Although V V Vinayak has been delivering duds like 'Intelligent' and lost his way, while Tharun is basking in the glory of hits like 'Pellichoopulu' and 'Ee Nagaraniki Yemaiindi' "For some directors, acting is just a break from their regular work.

After taking lot of pressure as directors, few of them are turning actors since acting is much easier than direction.

I would like to describe this scenario- a family man dancing in a marriage party, although he is not a professional dancer.

Unlike Tamil directors like Cheran, S J Suryah and C Sundar who have become busy as actors," concludes director B Gopal.