Ravi Raja Pinisetty: Sending My Son to RGV Was a Mistake

Ravi Raja Pinisetty, one of Telugu cinema’s most successful directors, has delivered over forty hits across four decades, including Yamudiki Mogudu, Jwala, Donga Pelli, Chanti, Bangaru Bullodu, Kondapalli Raja, Pedarayudu and Ma Annayya. Known for his knack for mass entertainers, he recently made a candid revelation about his eldest son’s career path.

In a frank interview, Raviraja said he initially wanted his son Satya Prabhas Pinisetty to become a director and sent him to work under Ram Gopal Varma. But he now feels it was the wrong decision. “Varma told my son, ‘Why work under anyone? You won’t learn directing like that. Watch films, use your own ideas, and your father is a director. Make a film you believe in instead of assisting someone,” Ravi Raja recalled.

Those words struck a chord with Satya Prabhas, pushing him to make Malupu in 2015 without the usual industry apprenticeship. The crime-comedy-thriller, released in both Telugu and Tamil, found success and showcased his distinct style. While it proved a good debut, Ravi Raja still feels the conventional learning route might have shaped his son differently.

Satya Prabhas isn’t the only film talent in the family. Raviraja’s younger son, Aadi Pinisetty, is already a well-known name in Telugu and Tamil cinema, carving out his own successful acting career.