Sivaji gains new recognition in Telugu cinema revival

Actor Sivaji Sontineni, known simply as Sivaji, recently spoke about his return to cinema after a long break. He expressed his gratitude for the praise he has received since his latest film, Court: State Vs A Nobody, was released. "It has been 13 years," he shared, reflecting on his time away from the big screen. During interviews promoting the film, Sivaji noted that he feels a new audience is interested in his work. He has worked on over 70 films during his career, including notable ones from the late 1990s and early 2010s. Sivaji mentioned that while he feels excited about the recognition, he also remains grounded, reminding his children that not all success lasts. Sivaji plays an antagonist named Mangapathi in Court, a role he believes fits him perfectly. His director, Ram Jagadeesh, thought Sivaji embodied the character after watching him on a reality show. Sivaji described Mangapathi as a person who sees himself as a monarch and often behaves in a controlling manner. In addition to his film work, Sivaji participated in a web series called 90s: A Middle Class Biopic in early 2024. He previously took a break from acting to focus on politics and producing films. His family encouraged him to return to acting, which motivated him to get back into the industry. Sivaji is hopeful about future projects and has been actively involved in film production. "If money is all that I was looking for, I would have done a dozen films," he stated, emphasizing his desire to create meaningful work rather than just seeking financial gain.