Magadheera, Rangasthalam, RRR & Now Peddi: Charan

Mega Power Star Ram Charan has taken on a wide range of characters over the years, earning acclaim for his versatility. But the role he plays in Peddi appears to be his most demanding yet, one he seems to have completely relished.

At the trailer launch in Mumbai, director Buchi Babu Sana thanked Ram Charan, producer Venkata Satish Kilaru, and then appreciated Janhvi Kapoor. “Janhvi is a hardworking actress, much like her mother Sridevi. Working with A.R. Rahman has been a dream come true for me. Because of Divyendu, the film feels especially relatable to Gen Z. Rathnavelu gave the film its signature visual identity. Happy birthday to my producer Venkata Satish Kilaru- whatever we asked for, he gave. Thanks also to Shiva Rajkumar. Playing this character isn’t easy. The film doesn’t revolve around just one sport; there’s another dimension as well. Portraying Peddi’s innocence and challenges is something only Ram Charan could have pulled off.”

Janhvi Kapoor showered praise on Buchi Babu Sana, calling him a hatke director. She also expressed her joy in working with Ram Charan. “Because of the love people have shown my mother and Chiranjeevi over the years, I understand how special this association is. It felt cosmic to come together for such a film. I hope you enjoy everything he has poured into it. We’ve put pieces of our hearts into this project. Buchi gave unique directions, and I followed his conviction completely. Although I live in Mumbai, I truly feel at home in Telugu cinema.”

Ram Charan said the last two years had been unforgettable. “This movie has been embedded in every cell of ours. We’ve been living and breathing it for two years, while Buchi Babu has been doing so for five. It’s a massive emotional investment. I especially thank Buchi Babu for convincing Rahman to come onboard. Rahman is the central pillar of this film. His compositions are extraordinary. Divyendu is a true gangster. His expressions, his body language, his swagger- I want to develop that myself.

Janhvi worked incredibly hard. During the last song, I barely had time- we were shooting 85 days straight, yet she rehearsed and delivered beautifully. She performed a hundred times better than me. She’s a chupa rustam, quietly training in Mumbai. She’s very sincere, and this film demanded sincerity from all of us. My father and Sridevi worked together, and fans always wished to see this connection again through us. It feels nostalgic. This pair will not disappoint you.”

Charan recalled how the team shot intense wrestling sequences. “In the last 25–30 days, we filmed wrestling portions. I asked Buchi to bring trained artists, but he brought real pehlwaans- they held me so tightly. Those are beautiful memories from Peddi.”

He added that, as Rahman described, the journey was both spiritual and physically demanding. “I thank Salman Khan and Aamir Khan for paving the way with films like Sultan and Dangal- they proved that such stories can connect. My transformation was believable because it was part of the narrative. Buchi Babu gave me a 2 hour 40 minute narration that moved me deeply. This is a sincere film about a man’s search for identity. We all need a sense of identity to move through life. Peddi’s journey is about finding his identity, and there’s a larger purpose- he must become a crossover athlete.”

Charan concluded by reflecting on his filmography. “Films like Magadheera, Rangasthalam, RRR, and now Peddi come rarely. My father always told me such stories come once in a decade. I’m fortunate to receive one so early.”

The trailer received an exceptional response right from the moment of its release, with netizens praising every aspect. Many believe the movie is poised to break multiple box office records.