Coming from a family that boasts of heavyweights like Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan and Allu Arjun, Varun Tej has a lot to accomplish.
Ahead of the release of his debut film Mukunda, he says, “It wasn’t an overnight decision to become an actor. One day pedananna (Chiranjeevi) and I went to watch Magadheera’s shooting.
At that time somebody clicked my photo and pedananna saw it and told me to try working in films as he felt my face was photogenic. Once he said that, I started working out. (He weighed 120 kgs and in due course of time dropped nearly 40 kilos).”
Varun Tej was in his first year of graduation then. “My parents have always encouraged me, but my father (Nagababu) insisted that I complete my graduation first. Frankly speaking, my aim is not for the number one or number two position. I just want to be a good actor.”
Not many, like Varun Tej, can boast of three leading directors Puri Jagannath, Srikanth Addala and Krish wanting to cast them for their debut film.
“Srikanth Addala first approached me with his story. Puri Jagannath also came for a subject but it did not materialise.
Then Krish, too, wanted to direct me but at the same time he had to direct a Hindi film. My father and I decided to go with Srikanth, as he approached us first,” says Varun.
When asked whether Chiranjeevi gives him any acting tips, Varun says, “He never gave me any acting tips. He always says ‘work hard and be disciplined.’” And naturally, he is very close to Chiranjeevi.
“I call him daddy. I would watch all his films with my friends on the first day,” he says.
During the course of shooting, Varun adds that he ensured that his family members did not visit him at the shoots.
“Before the shoot started, I told them not to come because I didn’t want to act in front of them,” he says. But his mother and sister did pay a visit when they were shooting at Bheemavaram. “I told them to sit in the caravan,” he says.
Asked whether his father Nagababu was facing financial problem Varun says, “Yes there were some problems. But my babai (Pawan Kalyan) and Pedananna (Chiranjeevi) settled them. He is now perfect.”
