‘HAPPY BOTH CUTE & HOT ARE USED TO DESCRIBE ME’

Actor Naga Chaitanya’s heartfelt portrayal of Andhra fishermen earns critical acclaim and government recognition
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 16, 2026)

Actor Naga Chaitanya is riding a professional high. He recently won the Best Actor award at the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025 for his film Thandel (2025), and his next project, the adventure drama Vrushakarma, has him playing a treasure hunter, a role he calls a “dream come true”. The film’s first look has been well received, and Chaitanya says, “I’ve always wanted to be part of a large-scale spectacle film with a mythical layer. That dream has finally come true.”

Speaking on the appeal of rooted Indian stories, he adds, “People are curious about Indian mythology. Today, with VFX and technology, these stories can be shown in a unique way, not just in India but globally.”

For Vrushakarma, Chaitanya sports a ripped physique: “I’m playing a treasure hunter, so there’s room to explore styling and character design. Fitness is something I enjoy off-screen too, and it fit perfectly into this role.”

On his transition from “cute” to “hot,” he quips, “I’m happy both words are being used to describe me, and I’d like to stay relevant to both.”

Chaitanya calls his award for Thandel especially meaningful, as the film tells the true story of fishermen from an Andhra village. “I spent time with them, and their energy and stories transferred into the film. Having the government recognize it is amazing. I’m thankful for both the critical acclaim and box office success.”

It was also his first release post his 2024 wedding to actor Sobhita Dhulipala and became his highest-grossing film. Asked if she has been his lucky charm, he says, “The foundation at home translates to professional life, so yes, of course she has.”

The first look of Naga Chaitanya’s next film Vrushakarma released recently and has been received well by the audience. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of a large scale spectacle film, with a nice mythical layer added to it. That was my dream and finally it came true,” he says.

Rooted Indian stories have become fan favourites today. Even the actor’s recent choices reflect that. Has that become a point of consideration for him? “Yes, because people have become curious about Indian mythology and stories of the land. In the age of VFX and technology, we are able to show those stories in a better way to give a unique experience. Not only in India, but even across the world, if you see why Indian films are doing so well, it’s because our stories are so interesting. So being part of that mythical journey, it’s a dream come true,” he says.

Chaitanya also recently gave a glimpse of his ripped physique and he is excited to bring this new look to the screen. “I’m playing a treasure hunter, so there’s so much styling that you can do and a lot of tools you can play around with as an actor in terms of the character design. Fitness is something I enjoy off screen too. In my previous characters, having a good looking physique was not part of it. But over here, it fit into the role. So, I enjoyed bringing my off screen personality to the screen in terms of fitness,” he says. Tease him about his transition from being cute to hot and he quips, “Being an actor, you want to cover the entire spectrum. I’m happy that both the words are being used to describe me and I’d always like to stay relevant to both.”