Showing posts with label Naga Chaitanya interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Naga Chaitanya interview. Show all posts
I’m happy both hot and cute are being used to describe me-Naga Chaitanya
10:15 AM
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.”
I’m looking forward to starting a new journey with Sobhita Dhulipala-Naga Chaitanya
4:52 PM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; November 23, 2024)
As actor Naga Chaitanya Akkineni blows out the candles on his 37th birthday cake today, he's got every reason to celebrate. Fresh from the success of his recent works including the digital series Dhootha and the blockbuster Bangarraju, Chaitanya is on a career high. And with his highly anticipated wedding to Sobhita Dhulipala just around the corner, it's safe to say that this birthday marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his life. Excerpts of the interview as followed-
‘I like low-key birthday celebrations’’
Naga believes that birthdays are a time to recharge. He says, “I like to celebrate my birthday, but keep it low-key, simple and spend it with my close friends and family, doing things that I love. By that I mean, disconnecting for a while, being in my comfort zone and recharging my mind. This time, too, I am doing the same and spending time with close friends and family in Goa.”
Ask Chay, as he is fondly called by his fans, if Sobhita has planned anything for his birthday and he replies, “She leaves all the planning to me, as long as she is there with me that’s good enough for me.”
‘I try to focus on the lessons that the ups and downs of life teach me’
As he turns a year older, the actor is in a reflective mode. He shares, “I look at life in a way where ups and down are very normal, and I try to focus on the lessons that they teach me. Whenever something happens in a way that you don’t expect it to, there’s nothing wrong if you pick up the right learnings from it and move forward. It makes you stronger and helps you grow and progress in life. That’s how I look at life in general.”
‘Our families are excited to come together and celebrate our wedding’
The Laal Singh Chaddha actor, who is set to tie the knot with Sobhita on December 4, admits that there is no feeling of nervousness for his wedding.
“There is definitely a lot of excitement, butterflies... not much (smiles). Butterflies are only because of the planning and the logistics that are involved on those days, like bringing the guest list together and putting the other details of the wedding together. The wedding will be held at Annapurna Studios (Hyderabad), which has a very special sentiment attached to it. It was a conscious decision by the family to have the wedding there in front of my grandfather’s statue and seek his blessings. Our families are excited to come together & celebrate.
As he talks about preparing for the wedding, the actor is simultaneously also shooting for his next Thandel. Ask him how is he planning to navigate both the movie and the wedding? He explains, “Thandel is nearly wrapped up we have less than seven shooting days left, and they’ll all be completed this month. The wedding is next month, with celebrations and family commitments happening through the first week of December. After that, I’ll jump straight back into work on Thandel, handling dubbing and promotions. So, I’m confident I can balance everything smoothly.”
‘I am extremely hungry for work’
Talking about what he wants to achieve in his career ahead, Naga, who is currently shooting for Thandel, elaborates, “There are a lot of desires that I want to fulfil and a lot that I want to explore with different films and characters. I am extremely hungry for work, and I feel that I haven’t achieved too much of what I have set out to do, so there is a lot of work left for me in films. I want to keep growing. On the personal front as well, it’s a very special year for me as I am looking forward to a new journey and starting a beautiful family.”
‘It’s going to be an amazing journey ahead’
Talking about the new chapter in his life, Naga says, “I am looking forward to starting a new journey with Sobhita and celebrating life together. I connect deeply with her, she understands me beautifully and fills a void in me. It’s going to be an amazing journey ahead.”
I had confidence because Aamir Khan was mentoring me-Naga Chaitanya
8:29 AM
Foraying into Hindi movies with Laal Singh Chaddha, Telugu star Naga Chaitanya on his initial fear about Forrest Gump being adapted and Bollywood plans
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 1, 2022)
Most actors would think twice before making their Bollywood debut with an extended cameo. But Naga Chaitanya, who plays a key role in Laal Singh Chaddha, had no apprehension about his screen time. His fear had its roots elsewhere. With the film, Aamir Khan was adapting Forrest Gump (1994), a movie that has achieved an iconic status over the years. The stakes, hence, were higher.
“I was apprehensive. If it was any actor other than Aamir, I am not sure if I would have done the role. [Forrest Gump] is a classic, and a reference point for so many filmmakers and viewers. But I had confidence because Aamir was mentoring me. I knew that I would be in the right hands,” says Chaitanya, who plays an army officer in the movie.
Advait Chandan’s directorial venture is only the stepping stone to Bollywood for Chaitanya, who has established himself in Telugu cinema. “I’m aware that each market has its own set of stars that the audience [loves]. This [admiration] comes from years of watching them. I am curious to see whether the audience will accept me after Laal Singh Chaddha. I want to explore Bollywood, but first, I need to pass the test.”
While the actor has a wide fan following, thanks to his movies like Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) and Premam (2016), he is often compared to his superstar father Nagarjuna. He views this as a compliment, and a reminder that he has a long way to go.
“I look up to him. Here too, they will compare me to him, but it’s healthy. Whenever we go for interviews and see a woman walking up to us, we keep guessing whether she wants a picture with my dad or me,” he laughs, before adding, “It’s almost always with dad.”
The past year has been difficult for Chaitanya. The actor, who was married to Samantha Ruth Prabhu, parted ways in late 2021. Since then, he has been in the news for his personal life more than his movies. “It disturbs me when my personal life is the headline rather than my professional life, because we work so hard to showcase our talent. Unfortunately, some sections of the media are only interested in your personal space. I have always been the first to tell the media or [fans] about my personal life, if it’s crucial enough to be informed. Whatever they write [after that] is speculation. I don’t feel the need to respond to that.”
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