While the world came to know Jagadeesh as an actor, it’s the filmmaking bug that drove him on this path. He describes Sirasri’s book, ‘Vodka With Varma’, a collection of conversations with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma as the major source of inspiration for pursuing this field. While the universe had different plans for him, Jagadeesh continues to learn about filmmaking and in fact, now has the privilege to earn while he learns, closely observing the filmmaking process. “My perspective towards filmmaking took shape from my first short film and then, of course, Nirudyoga Natulu (2018). While watching films, I would often wonder why the actors weren’t performing naturally. My first short film germinated from this thought. While basics like close, mid and wide might remain common, every filmmaker has their own unique style,” he says, adding that Pushpa took his film education to the next level. “After projects like Mallesham (2019), Pushpa and Gods of Dharmapuri (2019), when I came to Pushpa, it further changed. We might be familiar with Sukumar sir’s direction style as the audience, having seen it evolve over the years from Arya (2004) to Rangasthalam (2018). I had the opportunity to practically see it with my eyes for two years. While one might go to film school and then work on a film set to acquire knowledge and hands-on experience, I could learn it all by acting and observing. Sukumar sir’s direction style shocks me. Looking at his composition of frames makes me wonder at times. ‘Ikkada kooda frame pettocha’ ani (Can a frame be placed here too?). There’s no end to learning in filmmaking. And I’m learning a lot.”