‘AFTER BECOMING A FATHER, SOMETHING INSIDE ME HAS REBOOTED’

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; June 16, 2024)

He roars on the big screen, and triumphs at the box office. He’s witnessed the glory of the Oscars with RRR, which catapulted him into a pan-India star. But the role that Ram Charan is revelling in the most now, is playing daddy to his baby girl, Klin Kaara Konidela, who turns one soon. He rarely sits down for an interview, but on his first Father's Day, we had the superstar gushing about his li’l girl and admitting that he’s “addicted” to her in an exclusive conversation with us. Of course, the chat wouldn’t be complete without the mention of his own role model, his father and superstar, Chiranjeevi. Here’s to superstars playing super dads in their real-life roles. Read on…

This is your first Father’s Day, how does it feel? Have you settled into this new phase of fatherhood?
During the first six months, I felt nothing, except a sense of responsibility and the fact that a new member of the family had joined us. I was amazed at the bond that a mother and child share and I just could not replicate that. Then I spoke to a friend of mine who is also a senior parent, and he told me that it happens and it’s normal to feel that way and that he didn’t feel that kind of connect with his second child until nearly a year after her birth. Now that Klin is interacting and recognizing people, she misses me when I am not at home…the whole ball game changed. I feel left out when I am not around her, so I don’t feel like going out.

So, I assume that you plan your work schedules around her routine?
Yes, for the next couple of years, I will plan my schedules around her, at least till the time she starts school. I don’t want to miss a single moment with Klin. I have worked hard for 15 years, and now I want to be back home by 6 pm. I tell my producers that this is how it is going to be. When I see her, my heart lights up. I just don’t feel like going to work. I don’t even let her go for a shower in the morning. I’m like, what, babies don’t need a shower! I’m that addicted to her.

What’s your favourite activity with her?
I feed Klin at least twice a day, I love doing that. I do my readings with her, too. Upasana (wife) is a fantastic parent, but when it comes to feeding her, no one can beat me. I can get her to finish the whole bowl of food, I have some superpower when it comes to this.

Your superstar father, Chiranjeevi, is such a loving father. How is he as a grandfather?
When he’s with Klin, he becomes like her older sibling. He lets her hit him, punch him… it’s really cute to see that side of my father. He says, “Don’t call me grandfather, it’s so boring, call me Chirutha.” In Telugu, Tha (Thatha) means grandfather, and he adds Chiru to it. Chirutha also means Cheetah in our language. Just seeing my parents enjoy their time with Klin fills me with joy. You know it’s been a 10-year-long wait for Upasana and me, so we are all so happy. Klin has brought so much of luck into our lives.

At one point, raising a child was believed to be a woman/mom’s domain, but that mindset is changing. Today, dads are very involved, they want to take paternity leave and participate equally in most aspects. Do you see that change around you?
I feel a lot of change has come about now with exposure and awareness. In the early years of a child’s life, it is crucial to provide them with a sense of security, where they feel cared for and not neglected. These are the foundation years, if we don’t focus on this now, later, this can turn into attention-seeking habits. So, I take her to play school, go to swimming classes with her, and take her to my readings so that we are part of each other’s routine.

Which is the one trait of your father that you admire the most and want to imbibe?
It’s the way my father communicates and expresses himself. Ask anyone in the family and they will tell you that the number one quality of Mr Chiranjeevi is his communication and sense of appreciation for any kind of job well done. He would tell me, ‘In my growing up days as a struggling actor, I used to wait for people to appreciate me and say, Hey, Chiru, you did a good job.’ So, when he thinks someone deserves appreciation, he goes ahead and expresses it. Sometimes, at parties, my actor friends come up to me and tell me, ‘Hey Ram, your dad called me.’ I don’t even know he’s done that. He takes time out to reach out to my friends, whether it is Mahesh Babu or NTR Jr, to show them his appreciation for their work.

Chiranjeevi was recently awarded the Padma Vibhushan. In his thank you speech, he said, “I’ve done so little and yet, you have given me this great recognition and honour.” Would you say that apart from his talent, what makes him a superstar is his humility and how grounded he has always stayed?
What he said is true. He didn’t say it so because it’s the right thing to say. He truly believes in what he said, and I can see it in the way he lives his life. He still wakes up at 5 am and competes with me in the gym. He doesn’t do it because he’s an actor, he does it for himself, to stay fit and healthy. He’s meeting more directors. He’s the busiest actor right now. He’s signed four films, and I am doing only one or two films (laughs). I don’t think my father is getting older, he’s reverse ageing.

So, Klin is growing up amongst so many role models on both sides of the family.
Absolutely! Personally, I feel that if she explores her mother’s side, it will be great because we have so many actors on my side, we are so confused with so many releases in a year, and we are all fighting for release dates. Now I don’t want to fight with my daughter in this space (laughs).”

Has fatherhood made you look inwards? Made you want to better yourself in various aspects?
I think that’s what children do to us. At first, it is our parents who tell us how to be. And then, it’s our children who guide us in a certain way. The last one year has been a very interesting phase for me – from becoming more responsible, not just in my career and with regards to earning more for my family, but overall, as a person. I think my mind and body are functioning differently. After becoming a father, it feels like something inside me, like a software inside me has rebooted.

Do you ever feel the pressure of taking your father, Chiranjeevi’s legacy forward?
The good or bad part about me is that I don’t know how to take pressure. In fact, when a movie hasn’t done well, I have had a party. And when RRR became a success, I remember that for one week, I didn’t come out of the house. I was relieved, relaxed and just enjoyed family time. So, with me, it’s a contrast. In the same way, when I see someone like my father in the house, I don’t know how to react to it. I believe what I am doing today and right now is what is important. I think I do what is right as a son, father, brother…for that day. And if I can achieve it every day, I think I will achieve it in the years ahead.
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‘My father is my inspiration and a living role model’
Talking about what he truly admires about his father, Ram says, “My father’s communication skills, dedication towards his work and his discipline are exemplary. He tells me, ‘I don’t care how successful you are, Ram, you have to take care of your dedicated staff around you. Secondly, however big or old you are, make sure you are disciplined, because even on your bad days, your discipline will see you through.’ He’s my inspiration and a living role model. It is difficult to live with a man like that (laughs).”