Varun Tej Talks Korean Kanakaraju, Bhari and His Special Bond With Ram Charan

August 27, 2026 Published by rajeshe092eb6a68

Varun Tej is currently enjoying a much-needed high in his career. His latest Telugu film, Korean Kanakaraju, has emerged as a blockbuster, bringing the actor considerable relief and happiness after a challenging phase. Over the past decade, Varun has consistently experimented with different genres, moving from romantic dramas and family entertainers to action films, sports dramas and more intense subjects. In an interview with NDTV, Varun Tej opened up about the success of Korean Kanakaraju, his approach to selecting scripts, his desire to avoid being typecast, his upcoming projects and his close bond with cousin Ram Charan.

‘I’m Actually at Peace Right Now’

Speaking about the response to Korean Kanakaraju, Varun said the film’s success has given him a sense of peace after what he described as a difficult five-year period.

“I’m actually at peace right now. It’s been a struggle for the last five years. Finally having the audience embrace this film gives me quite a bit of happiness.”

Varun explained that avoiding typecasting has been a conscious decision throughout his career. He believes an actor should be capable of stepping into different kinds of characters and exploring multiple genres rather than being restricted to one particular image.

Varun Tej on Understanding What Audiences Want

The actor admitted that the pandemic had an influence on the kind of films he wanted to explore. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he watched a wide range of OTT content and international cinema, which pushed him towards more serious subjects.However, over time, Varun said he realised that audiences also need films that allow them to forget their worries and simply have a good time in theatres.According to him, an actor has a responsibility to ensure that audiences who spend money on a ticket leave the theatre entertained. This introspection eventually led him to believe that Korean Kanakaraju was the right film for him.At the same time, Varun acknowledged that understanding audience expectations remains one of the biggest challenges for an actor.

“It’s always a struggle every Friday.”

He said the key is to understand what audiences want to see an actor in while also identifying the genres and characters that suit his strengths. For him, the ideal combination is a balance between novelty and entertainment.

‘Choosing My Next Film Is Like Starting From Zero’

Despite the blockbuster success of Korean Kanakaraju, Varun said finding his next project remains equally challenging.He revealed that he has now found a script he is extremely excited about — Bhari, a sports drama being produced by his sister Niharika Konidela and directed by Yadhu Vamsee.Varun will reportedly play a volleyball player in the film. He was injured during rehearsals and subsequently underwent knee surgery, and is currently recovering before returning to the sets.

Why Varun Chose Another Sports Film After Ghani

Varun has already explored the sports genre with Ghani, which did not perform as expected at the box office. However, the actor is not allowing that experience to stop him from attempting another sports-based story.He admitted that people questioned his decision to return to the genre after Ghani, but Varun believes he knows exactly what went wrong with that film.According to him, Ghani tried to incorporate too many different elements instead of remaining focused on its core story. With Bhari, he says the team is taking a much more focused approach.Varun is particularly excited about working with Yadhu Vamsee, who won the National Award for Committee Kurrollu. He praised the filmmaker’s ability to handle human emotions and said Bhari is a deeply rooted story.

Varun Tej and Niharika Konidela’s Film Collaboration

Varun shares a close bond with his younger sister Niharika, and their common passion for cinema has made their collaboration on Bhari a natural one.He revealed that the project was not something they had planned for a long time. Niharika simply pitched the idea to him, and he liked the script.Varun also praised Niharika’s approach as a young producer, saying he enjoys working with passionate young filmmakers and technicians who are willing to explore unconventional stories.

A New-Age Love Story After Tholi Prema

Varun Tej is also set to return to the romantic genre with an upcoming film backed by Stonebench, the production house associated with filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj.While romance played a major role in launching Varun’s career with Tholi Prema, the actor said his upcoming love story is very different from the scripts he was offered earlier.Varun pointed out that after Tholi Prema, he received several similar romantic scripts but did not find them exciting enough. His new project, however, is a love story that he feels suits his current age and perspective.

Varun Tej on Comparisons With Ram Charan

Being part of the Mega family inevitably means that Varun Tej is often compared with other prominent actors, including his cousin Ram Charan. However, Varun said he prefers to look at such comparisons positively.He believes every actor eventually finds his or her own space in the film industry. Rather than allowing comparisons to affect his confidence, Varun chooses to use them as motivation.Talking about Ram Charan, he said he looks at his cousin’s journey as an inspiration rather than a benchmark.Varun admires Charan’s hard work and success and sees his achievements as an indication of where he would like to reach someday.

‘I’d Love to Work With Ram Charan’

Varun also expressed his strong desire to share the screen with Ram Charan in the future.He said he “really, really” adores his cousin and described Charan as being like a father figure to him.A collaboration between the two Mega family stars has been a long-standing point of interest among Telugu cinema fans, and Varun’s comments are likely to further fuel expectations for a possible multi-starrer featuring the cousins.

Varun Tej Wants to Direct a Film

Although acting remains his primary focus, Varun revealed that he has not given up on his original ambition of becoming a filmmaker.The actor said he actually entered the film industry with the dream of becoming a director and still has a strong interest in directing a movie someday.

For now, Varun is focused on continuing his acting journey, with Bhari and his upcoming romantic film lined up. Following the success of Korean Kanakaraju, the actor appears determined to strike the right balance between experimentation, strong storytelling and the entertainment audiences expect from a theatrical release.

Source: NDTV Interview