Panja Vaisshnav Tej

Tollywood just got its rising star and it is none other than megastar Chiranjeevi’s nephew Panja Vaisshnav Tej. He is extremely charming, good-looking and passionate about his craft. Nikita Nikhil talks to the gorgeous Panja Vaisshnav Tej to know more about his new film Uppena, his experience on the set and much more…

“When Chiranjeevi gaaru heard it, he told me to jump into it right away and because it’s my first story and I wanted this to happen through his hand.” – Vaisshnav Tej

The trailer looks amazing. Could you say more about your film Uppena?

It’s a very pure love story. It’s high on emotions and has its own commercial elements with a bit of comedy and romance. It has everything in it. I guess every age group will connect to it and it’s going to be a good film.

Keerthi Shetty is playing the lead role opposite you in Uppena. How was it working with her?

It’s wonderful actually. She is such a great co-artist and co-actor. She is very hardworking. And she is always in that mood like if there is an emotional scene, she is in that mood throughout the day. She learnt the language in a week and that’s mesmerizing actually. She wants to learn the language better so that she can speak it more fluently. Besides that, she’s a very good actor.

Your film has an amazing star cast with Vijay Sethupathi playing the antagonist. This happens to be your debut film. How did you feel working with them?

I’m actually very lucky that Vijay Sethupathi sir is playing a role in the film which is so powerful. I had never even dreamt of acting beside him or even meeting him. It was quite surreal that I was acting with him. And I learnt a lot of tips from him. You know, meeting him off-screen, he is such a nice person. So I was very fortunate. And not only him, I have acted with Sai Chand gaaru and other character artists, and it’s all very surreal and I’m thankful.

What tips did Vijay Sethupathi sir give you?

So basically, on and off screen I have learnt a lot from him. On screen, he told me that you always have to be aware of your surroundings, how you can use the surrounding objects in the scene. He used to use the surroundings, play with it before the shot and once the shot is on, he used to incorporate it in the scene and the scene would turn out to be very beautiful. So I have learnt that from him. And every take he does, he is magic! Off-screen, he is a great person. He is so simple, so down-to-earth. He is just magic. You will just fall in love with him. If you see him on and off screen, he is a completely different person. He is a great person!

“On and off screen I have learnt a lot from Vijay Sethupathi.”

Did you face any kind of challenge since it’s your first time?

Actually, it’s a very challenging role to perform to and to accept this role was very challenging. I think once you watch the film, you will understand why I was so hesitant to say ‘yes’ to this film in the initial stages. But once I was on the sets and once I understood what to do, what the director wants from the character, how he wants it to be and how his character wants to be portrayed, it was quite easy after that. You know, I just put my head into it and gave my hundred percent.

You are playing the role of a lover boy. How did you prepare for this role?

So basically, we did a couple of workshops with costume and all. The actor who played my friend and I did a lot of workshops and different scenes of different films. I did a month’s course of acting class and it just taught me the basics. And after that I learnt a lot in the workshop. Actually, I learnt the fisherman slang from two fishermen who came from Uppada and they taught me the slangs. And Buchi sir, the director, he even made me practice the walk, there’s a particular walk. So the way the character walks is different and the way I walk is different. So he wanted that and I learnt that. But I think most of the preparation was on set. It took me two to three days… a week or something and after that I think I did good. The director was happy, the cameraperson was happy so, I was happy!

You are the nephew of megastar Chiranjeevi, did he play any role in the selection of this movie?

Oh yes, of course! So basically, when I got this offer, I was very hesitant to take it. I was like I don’t think I can do such a role, it’s so difficult, it has so many facets in it, and I don’t think I will be able to do this, it is a very tough role to play. But once Chiranjeevi gaaru heard it, he said just do it. And he played the key role for me to leap into the story and told me to jump into it right away. … Because it’s my first story and I wanted this to happen through his hand, so it’s like a sentiment and I am happy.

“When I got this offer, I was very hesitant to take it. I was like I don’t think I can do such a role, it’s so difficult. But once Chiranjeevi gaaru heard it, he said just do it.”

Have you always wanted to become an actor?

No, never! (laughs). I don’t know, when I was young I did a couple of films for toys or small pocket money. I don’t know why I did it for toys and money. And back being on set, I was very pampered because that time I was a small kid. Later, I never wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a lot of other things. I think acting just happened to me, it’s destiny to get a main role in this movie.

“Pawan Kalyan gaaru, my uncle, is a great inspiration for me because he just loves his work and he does a lot for people.”

You come from a family of influential and celebrated people. Was there any kind of pressure that you felt to ace the performance?

No, actually there was no pressure. When I was on set, I used to sleep everyday thinking next day I have to put some more effort. I have to make everyone, the cameraperson and the director happy. I was focused on that. I never thought of it as a pressure or something like that. So whenever I used to go to sleep, I was like I have to do this sequence tomorrow, I have to give my 100%, That’s the only thing I had in mind. There was no family pressure or anything like that ever.

Who is your biggest inspiration in life?

I think it is (Pawan) Kalyan gaaru, my uncle. He is a great inspiration for me because he just loves his work and he does a lot for people. He is a great human being so I get a lot of inspiration from him.

While selecting a movie, what is more important to you, script or the star cast/team?

I think it’s the story. With a good story, I think everything will fall in place. So for me, it’s the story.

What are your future projects?

I did a film with Krish gaaru. He is the director of Manikarnika. So I worked with him in my second film called Kondapolam. It’s based on a novel and I finished dubbing for it. And it was terrific and we shot in the pandemic. We shot it in August of last year during the pandemic situation. Rakulpreet Singh is my co-actress in that movie. So I’m looking forward to it as well.