# Varun Tej calls Ram Charan a ‘father figure’ 2026-08-19T19:23:01+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Varun Tej Konidela, who recently starred in the horror comedy Korean Kanakaraju, has spoken about the bond he shares with his cousin and superstar Ram Charan. In a new interview, he described Ram Charan as a 'father figure' and said he has always looked up to him. Addressing questions about comparisons within the family, Varun Tej said that there is no sense of rivalry among them. He credited Ram Charan for guiding him in his career and personal life, adding that he considers his cousin a pillar of support. Korean Kanakaraju, produced by UV Creations and Vriddhi Cinemas, marks Varun Tej's latest outing in a lead role. The film is a horror comedy, a genre he is exploring for the first time. ## Indian Opinion Analysis This is not the first time a member of the Mega family has publicly acknowledged a senior relative's influence. In the Telugu film industry, nepotism debates often surface, but familial praise serves to reinforce unity rather than invite scrutiny. For Varun Tej, positioning Ram Charan as a mentor distances him from being seen as merely another star kid riding a surname. It also strengthens the Mega brand as a tightly-knit dynasty ahead of future project announcements. The real test will be audience reception to Korean Kanakaraju, which could either bolster or undermine the narrative of a supportive family backing a rising talent. ## Coverage - pinkvilla.com Framed as a straightforward celebrity interview story with no political or ideological angle. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Korean Kanakaraju, Ram Charan, UV Creations, Varun Tej Konidela, Vriddhi Cinemas Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/varun-tej-calls-ram-charan-a-father-figure/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/varun-tej-calls-ram-charan-a-father-figure/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/