Charan achieved further commercial success with theblockbustersRangasthalam (2018), winning his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu, andRRR (2022), which currently ranks as thethird-highest-grossing Indian film of all time and his highest grosser. Charan emerged as apan-Indian star withRRR and earned international recognition, including a nomination at theCritics' Choice Super Awards for Best Actor in an Action Movie, getting honoured for his performance at theIndian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024, and achieving his third Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Telugu.[6]
In 2007, Charan made his film debut as the leading actor inChirutha, an action film directed byPuri Jagannadh which completed 50 days in 178 directcinemas and 15 other shiftedcinemas.[20] He played the role of Charan, an ex-convict seeking to kill his father's murderer.Rediff.com praised his performance, stating: "Ram Charan is quite promising. Dance and action appear to be forte. He is rather graceful in the dance numbers. He also stays clear of any oblique reference to his star father by way of dialogue or adopting any particular mannerism or style."[21] His performance in the film earned him theFilmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South and theNandi Special Jury Award.[22][23]
After the release of his second film, the fantasy filmMagadheera (2009), Charan established himself as one of the leading contemporary actors inTollywood. The film, in which he played dual roles, was directed byS. S. Rajamouli, and Charan's performance was critically acclaimed.The Times of India stated that "Ram Charan returns as a valiant soldier and breathes life into the larger-than-life role with ease. He showcases his horse-riding and dancing skills to perfection."[24]IndiaGlitz commented: "Charan has come up with a mature performance and he has carried the film very well. Both his characters were done justice, and he reminded of his father at many places."[25]Magadheera grossed over ₹150 crores worldwide and held the record of being thehighest-grossing Telugu film until 2013 before it was surpassed byAttarintiki Daredi.[26] The film received six Filmfare Awards including two awards –Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu and theNandi Special Jury Award for Charan.[27]
Charan starred inBommarillu Bhaskar'surban romanceOrange in 2010 as Ram, aNRI living inAustralia.[28] Although the film didn't perform well at thebox office, critics praised the storyline and performance by Charan.[29] Jeevi ofIdlebrain felt that Charan didn't try to stick to stardom and is not willing to repeat the mistakes performed by other stars.[30] Over the years, it became acult film and received appreciation from the audience.[31] In her article forFilm Companion, Alekhya Devarakonda compared his character to Howard Roark of 1943 novelThe Fountainhead.[32] Following a year-long absence from the screen, he next appeared inRacha (2012), directed bySampath Nandi. He played the role of "Betting Raj", agambler. The film completed a 100-day run in 38 centres across Andhra Pradesh on 13 July 2012.[33]Racha's final share for its distributors was₹45 crore (equivalent to₹85 crore or US$10 million in 2023).[34] His performance in the film earned him acting nominations at theFilmfare andSIIMA award ceremonies.[35][36]Sify stated, "Both, actor Ram Charan and his director Sampath Nandi play a safe game by following the same pattern of earlier mass-masala movies."[37] Radhika Rajamani ofRediff criticised the plot of the film, but praised Charan's performance in action sequences and dance moves.[38]IndiaGlitz wrote: "He shows flashes of Chiru-ness more than he ever did in the past; be it his baritone or demeanor, he is a megastar in effect. Helped by a strong script, he could have been much better."[39] The film was released on 5 April 2012 and was declared a commercial success.[40]
Charan had two films released in 2013. His first release wasNaayak, directed byV. V. Vinayak, in which he played adual role, once again afterMagadheera. Writing toThe Times of India, Karthik Pasupulate wrote that "Ram Charan did a great job, though there was no variation shown between the two characters."[41] It opened to mixed critical reviews and became a commercial success.[42] The film brought him two nominations – theFilmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu and theSIIMA Award for Best Actor (Telugu), once again, with a Best Actor award atTSR– TV9 National Film Awards.[43] The same year he made hisHindi cinema debut alongsidePriyanka Chopra in the Telugu-Hindibilingual filmZanjeer, a remake of the1973 film of the same name.[44][45] He played the role of ACP Vijay Khanna who swears vengeance on his parents' killer. Charan made his debut as a playback singer with the song "Mumbai Ke Hero", composed byChirrantan Bhatt, from the albumThoofan, the Telugu version ofZanjeer.[46]Rediff called it as "an unforgivably bad remake."[47] Film criticRajeev Masand criticised his performance writing that he "comes off as stiff as a wax statue in his Bollywood debut, with barely any emotion, forget brooding anger."[48] Amid huge expectations, the film became abox-office bomb.[49][50]
The following year saw Charan with two releases.Yevadu (2014), directed byVamsi Paidipally is the third film in which he played thedual role, one who has received aface transplant of the other and becomes the target of underworld gangs because of the mistaken identity. TheCentral Board of Film Certification gave the film an 'A' certificate because of its violent action sequences.[51]Bangalore Mirror wrote that "For Ram Charan,Yevadu is essential to establish his status afterThoofan tanked at the box office. His character has two shades, and he tries his best to bring variations. He dances like there is no tomorrow and the choreography is a delight to watch."[52] A critic ofSify compared Charan's performance to his earlier films –Nayak andThoofan and commented that he has done a fairly good job here.[53] Y. Sunita Chowdhary ofThe Hindu felt that Charan did well in the dance sequences than his acting in the role.[54]
His second release of the same year was thefamily dramaGovindudu Andarivadele.[55] The film features him as aNRI from theUnited Kingdom.[56] The film opened to mostly positive reviews from critics,[57] and grossed over₹40 crore (equivalent to₹64 crore or US$7.6 million in 2023) at the box office.[58] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo commented that he has given his best performance afterMagadheera.[59] Similarly Suresh Kaviyarani of theDeccan Chronicle too praised him and cited Charan's performance as "good" and "subtle".[60]
He next played anIB Officer and astunt performer in theSrinu Vaitla'saction comedy filmBruce Lee: The Fighter (2015).[61] Charan hiredPriyanka Chopra's trainer Samir Jaura in mid-July 2014 to get into shape for this film by following an intensive training program designed by Jaura, lasting for four-five months along with a strict diet. He also began learningKarate for his role in mid May 2015.[62] For the role, he sported a tattoo ofBruce Lee on his hand.[63] The film collected more than₹12.66 crore, on its opening day, registering the highest opening day collection of Ram Charan's film.[64] Over days the film didn't performed well at the box office[65] and was declared as abox-office bomb,[66] with abudget of₹60 crore.[67] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo ofThe Hindu once again criticised Charan's performance and wrote that "Charan dances like a dream, as always, and shows marked improvement as an actor. But what he needs is a project that will not belittle the huge fan base in the garb of masala."[68]
2016–2018:Commercial success and established actor
He next appeared in 2016 theaction thriller filmDhruva (2016), where he played as anIPS officer.[69] The film follows the story of Dhruva, anIPS officer who wants to arrest Siddharth Abhimanyu (played byArvind Swami), a wealthy scientist, who uses secret medical and illegal practices for profit.[70] A remake of the Tamil filmThani Oruvan (2015), the film opened to positive reviews and emerged as a commercial success at thebox office, collecting over₹85 crore (US$10 million) in 21 days.[71] Krishna Vamsi ofThe Indian Express wrote that "From his physique to his fights, he makes you hark back toMagadheera."[72]The Times of India's Srividya Palaparthi added "Ram Charan looks his fittest best. As an actor, Ram Charan impresses in all the scenes that required high emotion. And as for the scenes where he had to be elevated as the hero, they will not disappoint his fans."[73] He performed his ownstunts in the film.[74] He received his fourth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu for his performance in the film. Charan made acameo appearance in "Ammadu Let's Do Kummudu" song from the filmKhaidi No. 150 (2017), alongside his fatherChiranjeevi,Devi Sri Prasad, andKajal Aggarwal.[75] The film marked the comeback of his father into the mainstream cinema afterShankar Dada Zindabad (2007).[76]
In 2018, he appeared in theSukumar's directedperiodaction-dramaRangasthalam, which earned him particular praise for his performance as Chitti Babu, a semi-deaf villager, with several critics deeming it to be his career-best performance.[77][78][79] The film also emerged as a major commercial success, becoming thehighest-grossing Telugu film of the year,[80] with a gross collection of over₹216 crores.[81] Set in the 1980s in theKonaseema region ofAndhra Pradesh, the film explores various themes including caste-basedhonour killings,brahminical patriarchy and good versus evil.[82][83] The film was featured on several year-end best films' charts.[84][85] Nagarjuna Rao ofGulf News wrote that "There comes a career-best for all actors at some point of time.Rangasthalam could well be Ram Charan's"[86] Subhash K. Jha ofThe Free Press Journal commented Teja transforms in front of our eyes, adding "It is almost like watching a magic show where the entire appearance of the actor undergoes a sea change as we gawk in open-mouthed amazement."[87] After a long time, Ram Charan won several accolades including his secondFilmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu and theSIIMA Award for Best Actor – Telugu.[88][89] In her article5 Best Performances of Ram CharanTeja, S Behara ofThe Indian Express included Charan's performances in the filmsChirutha (2007),Magadheera (2009),Orange (2010),Dhruva (2016) andRangasthalam (2018).[90] In March 2018, Rajamouli confirmed that Charan would feature as one of the leads alongsideN. T. Rama Rao Jr. in his next film.[91]
Ram Charan starred in the filmGame Changer, directed byS. Shankar and produced byDil Raju underSri Venkateswara Creations. The film was released on 10 January 2025, and received mixed reviews from critics, underperforming at the box office.[104] It became available for streaming onAmazon Prime Video on 7 February 2025.[105] Charan will next appear inPeddi, scheduled for release in 2026.[106]
Charan is anequestrian.[107]The Hans India reported that he had learnt horse-riding in his childhood.[108] In September 2011, he started his own polo team Ram CharanHyderabad Polo Riding Club.[109][110] He also served on the board of directors ofMaa TV.[111] In 2009, he became a spokesperson forPepsi's advertisement campaigns.[112]
Turbo Megha Airways Private Limited was incorporated in March 2013, with Charan and Vankayalapati Umesh as promoters.[113][114] In early July 2015, the airline adopted the brand nameTruJet.[115] It received itsair operator's certificate for regional operations from theDirectorate General of Civil Aviation on 7 July 2015.[116] He is also the spokesman and co-owner of the obstacle running series Devil's circuit.[117]
In May 2023, he announced a partnership with Vikram Reddy, of UV Creations, to launch the production house, V Mega Pictures.[124] Within the same month, V Mega Pictures announced its collaboration with Abhishek Agarwal Arts, for the production of their first film,The India House, starringNikhil Siddharth andAnupam Kher asShyamji Krishna Varma.[125]
He often organises blood donation camps.[127] On 26 May 2021, Charan launched oxygen banks along with his father Chiranjeevi,[128] through Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust.[129] Started initially inAnantapur andGuntur districts ofAndhra Pradesh, they were later launched various other regions in India,[130] includingTelangana.[131] These were launched due to the shortage of oxygen cylinders, ventilators andconcentrators, during the second wave ofCOVID-19 pandemic in India.[132]
Ram Charan is married to Upasana Kamineni, the vice-chairman of Apollo Charity and Chief Editor ofB Positive magazine. Kamineni is the daughter ofShobana Kamineni and the granddaughter ofPrathap C. Reddy, founder and executive chairman of India's first corporate hospital chain,Apollo Hospitals.[133][134] They were engaged in December 2011, and subsequently married on 14 June 2012 at the Temple Trees Farm House in Hyderabad.[135] According to an article published byNewsX, both Charan and Upasana were friends untilninth grade in the same school atChennai,Tamil Nadu.[17] On 20 June 2023, the couple had their first child, a daughter.[136][137][138]
Ram Charan takes part in the 41-days-longAyyappa Deeksha (Vratham), which is done on a yearly basis inSabarimala,Kerala.[139] He started this practice in 2008.[140] Charan stated that "this spiritual living is like a detox holiday for him to de-stress, take healthy and simple food and maintaining inner peace from his chaotic shooting schedules and uncertain mundane things" and said that his fatherChiranjeevi had inspired him in following thedeeksha.[141][142]
Charan was featured inGQ India's Best Dressed Men list in 2016.[143] He is popularly referred as the "Mega Power Star" in the media.[144] The title is the combination of "Mega Star"[145] [of his fatherChiranjeevi] and "Power Star"[146] [of his unclePawan Kalyan].[147] He has appeared inForbes India'sCelebrity 100 list since 2013.[148] He was ranked twelfth on theTimes' 50 Most Desirable Men for the year 2012,[149] twenty-third in 2013,[150] thirtieth in 2014,[151] thirty-eighth in 2015.[152] After a break of three years, he was again featured on the list in 2019 at eighteenth position.[153]
At an event held in January 2016 inHyderabad, novelistYandamuri Veerendranath commented that "Charan is surviving on his father Chiranjeevi's popularity".[154] Upon the release ofJapanese dubbed version ofMagadheera inJapan, Charan received wide popularity in the region.[155] Japanese food companyEzaki Glico[156] printed Charan's photo on their biscuit packets.[157][158] Belonging to a film family, he admitted that "No two people are born with the same calibre and can achieve the same stardom", regardingnepotism in the film industry.[159] In July 2022,Raveena Tandon said that "Yash,Prabhas and Ram Charan are now pan-Indian names".[160][161] As of August 2024, he is one of the most-followed Telugu actors onInstagram.[162][163]
^ab"Telugu actor asks media to call him Ram Charan".News18. 24 April 2012. Retrieved3 May 2023.Following the release of Chirutha, the actor had issued a statement saying he was just Ram Charan and asked the media to not use Tej any longer. However, some sections of the media have habitually continued calling him RCT. Cherry has taken to Twitter to request the media to use just Ram Charan to refer to him. "My dad named me ram charan not ram charan teja. so i feel good wen people call me just "ram charan" I also request the media to note this."
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