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Hyderabad: Actor Varun Tej has opened up about his close bond with cousin Ram Charan, describing the superstar as a “father figure” and expressing his desire to share the screen with him in a future project. Varun said he views Charan’s success as an inspiration rather than a benchmark for his own career.

The actor, who is currently enjoying the success of his latest Telugu film Korean Kanakaraju, also spoke about his approach to choosing roles, his upcoming projects and the comparisons that come with being part of the prominent Mega family.

Varun Tej wants to work with Ram Charan

Speaking about Ram Charan, Varun said he would love to collaborate with his cousin on a film someday.

“I’d love to work with him. I really, really adore him,” Varun said, adding that Charan is “like a father figure” to him.

The two actors belong to the same extended film family, with Ram Charan being Varun’s first cousin. Despite working in the same industry and often being compared with one another, Varun said he does not view Charan’s career as something he needs to compete with.

Instead, he looks at his cousin’s journey as a source of motivation.

‘I see his effort’ rather than comparing careers

Varun acknowledged that Ram Charan has established himself as a major star, but said he focuses on the effort behind that success.

He explained that when he looks at Charan, he sees the kind of dedication and achievement he would like to reach one day. For Varun, the comparison becomes positive when it serves as inspiration rather than something that takes away from his own happiness.

“Every actor has his own place in the industry,” Varun said while discussing comparisons between members of the Mega family.

According to the actor, performers can either use comparisons positively and continue moving forward or allow them to affect their confidence.

Varun Tej celebrates a career high with Korean Kanakaraju

Varun is currently experiencing a positive phase following the success of Korean Kanakaraju, which he described as a much-needed boost after several difficult years.

The actor said he was finally able to feel at peace after audiences embraced the film. He also reflected on his deliberate decision throughout his career to experiment with different genres instead of becoming associated with one particular type of role.

His filmography has included romance, comedy, action, drama and sports-based stories. Varun said his aim has always been to ensure that he can adapt to different characters and genres.

Why Varun changed his approach after Covid

Varun said the pandemic period influenced his thinking about cinema.

While staying at home, he watched content from different parts of the world and became more interested in serious and varied storytelling. However, he later realised that audiences also want films that allow them to relax and enjoy themselves.

That realisation influenced his decision to take up Korean Kanakaraju.

Varun said the experience reminded him that audiences often want to leave their everyday worries behind and simply have an entertaining experience at the theatre.

‘Every Friday is a struggle’

Despite the success of his latest film, Varun said selecting his next project remains challenging.

According to him, an actor has to constantly understand what audiences want to see, while also identifying the roles and genres that best suit his strengths.

He believes the challenge is finding the right balance between offering something new and giving audiences the entertainment they expect.

The success of one film, he added, does not make the next decision any easier because the process essentially starts again with every new script.

Varun Tej’s next film Bhari

Varun is currently associated with Bhari, a sports drama produced by his sister Niharika Konidela and directed by Yadhu Vamsee.

The actor plays a volleyball player in the film.

Varun said he was drawn to the project because of its rooted storytelling and focus on human emotions. He also described himself as a sports enthusiast, making the subject particularly appealing to him.

The actor had earlier featured in the sports drama Ghani, which did not perform as expected. Varun said he understands what went wrong with that film and believes Bhari has a much more focused approach.

He is currently recovering from a knee injury sustained during rehearsals and hopes to return to the sets soon.

Working with sister Niharika

Varun also spoke about his collaboration with Niharika on Bhari.

The siblings regularly exchange ideas and discuss films, and Varun said they have similar tastes when it comes to cinema.

He revealed that the collaboration was not something they had planned in advance. Niharika pitched the idea to him, and he immediately connected with the project.

Varun also praised her approach as a young producer and said working with a younger, passionate filmmaking team gives him fresh energy.

Varun Tej also signs a new romantic film

Apart from Bhari, Varun has signed a romantic film with Stonebench, the production house associated with filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj.

Romance is familiar territory for Varun, who made his leading-man debut with Mukunda before gaining considerable attention with films such as Tholi Prema.

However, he said his latest romantic project is different from the scripts he was offered earlier.

At 36, Varun believes the new story suits his current age and offers something beyond the conventional romantic roles associated with his earlier career.

Varun Tej hopes to direct someday

While acting remains his primary focus, Varun has not ruled out becoming a filmmaker.

The actor revealed that he originally entered the industry with an interest in directing and continues to have ambitions of making a film behind the camera.

For now, however, his attention remains on acting and finding projects that allow him to explore different characters and genres.

A possible Mega family collaboration?

Varun’s comments have naturally sparked interest in the possibility of a future film featuring him and Ram Charan.

The two actors have established careers in Telugu cinema, but they have yet to headline a major project together. A collaboration between the cousins could therefore generate considerable interest among fans of the Mega family.

For the moment, however, Varun has only expressed his desire to work with Charan. No joint project between the two has been officially announced.

Conclusion

Varun Tej has described Ram Charan as a father figure and a major source of inspiration, while expressing his wish to work with him in a future film. Rather than treating Charan’s success as a comparison point, Varun said he looks at his cousin’s journey positively and draws motivation from his achievements.

The actor is currently focused on rebuilding momentum after the success of Korean Kanakaraju, with Bhari and a new romantic film among his upcoming projects. His comments about Charan could also fuel speculation about a future collaboration, although no such project has been confirmed yet.