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Telugu action star Gopichand is on cloud nine ever since his Okkadunnadu, a film about a rare blood group, got an encouraging opening and impressed the city crowd.

"I am doubly happy because it added an urban audience to my existing fan following. Since my earlier hits were primarily meant for the masses, I became their hero. But I was missing the appreciation of city audiences," Gopichand told IANS.

After becoming a mass hero with hits like Yagnam and Ranam, the baddie-turned-hero was looking out for a script that could widen his audiences.

"When I heard the novel plot and stylish narration of director Chandrasekhar Yeleti, I knew my dream was going to be fulfilled. With the director making it more interesting on the celluloid than what he narrated to me, I received the predictable response."

Excerpts from an exclusive chat:

How do you feel about this hit revolving around a novel plot?
I am very excited about its success. I am doubly happy because it added urban audience to my existing fan following. Since my earlier hits were primarily meant for the masses, I became their hero. But I was missing the appreciation of city audiences.

So, when I heard the novel plot and stylish narration of director Chandrasekar, I knew my dream was going to be fulfilled. With the director making it more interesting on the celluloid than what he narrated to me, I received the predictable response.

How could you be so confident as the plot revolves around a rare "Bombay blood group" which very few have heard of?
Yes, the director came up with this plot about a rare blood group, which even many doctors are not aware of, leave alone the common man. Probably, one person out of one million has it. But Chandrasekhar made it all convincing.

Unlike your previous films, you looked sophisticated and subdued in this.
The director and the fashion designer worked on my costumes to make me look decent and stylish. In the film I play a spoilt son of a rich banker and hence, I wore more formal dresses.

What about your future projects?
Let me savour this success since my earlier release disappointed my fans a bit. I am looking for good scripts and I am yet to sign on anything. I am game for variety.