Chay’s Golden Words On Dad, Cinema & Annapurna’s Sound

Continuing the legacy of grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao, his grandson, Nagarjun’s son, Naga Chaitanya seems to be in a phase where he is quietly doing the best in everything he does, including roles, mindset, and even his space within the Annapurna Studios.

After years of being tagged as the “lover boy,” Chay is now clearly pushing for a shift. In an interivew given to Variety India, he spoke about this briefly. His statement is simple: “I want to convince the audience that I can suit any kind of role.” And that is visible in his choices. From Majili to Thandel, and now stepping into a mythological horror-thriller like Vrushakarma, the effort to break stereotypic image is very evident.

Interestingly, OTT has played a big role in this transition. With Dhootha, Chay found a new kind of reach. Not just Telugu states, but across the world. He admits the response from overseas surprised him. Season 2 is already in the making, and this time moving into the medical world, he revealed.

At the same time, he hasn’t taken his eyes off theatres. He clearly acknowledges that the current trend is leaning towards larger-than-life cinema. That influence is showing in Vrushakarma, which is being designed as a VFX-heavy theatrical experience. But beyond films, there’s another side to Chay that often goes unnoticed. His involvement with Annapurna Studios.

For the last 7–8 years, Chay is said to be actively working on upgrading the studio’s infrastructure, especially in post-production, that too sound technology. Getting Dolby certification, building advanced facilities and other sound-design related collaborations are being handled by him.

Then comes the equation with Nagarjuna Akkineni. There’s comfort, but also clear boundaries, when they join hands as actors. Chay openly admits that while they share a strong bond, on set, the equation changes. Actor and producer take over. And eventually, Nagarjuna gets the final call. Very soon they are joining hands for Bangarraju sequel.

Right now, it feels like Naga Chaitanya isn’t chasing stardom, but building his legacy slowly.