In a candid conversation, Telugu star Teja Sajja revealed that his childhood superhero was not from the Marvel or DC universe but Hrithik Roshan. His unexpected admission underscores how regional stars continue to inspire audiences in deeply personal ways.
“I never watched a Hollywood hero”
Teja, now 30 and enjoying success with films like Hanu-Man and Mirai, recounted his formative years in the industry. Though cinema from “everywhere” was accessible to him, he says that “the only superhero I knew when I was young was Hrithik sir.”
In fact, Teja states that he never gravitated toward Hollywood superhero films. He didn’t follow Spider-Man in his youth, nor did Western superhero icons feature in his early influences.
Commitment to “clean” mass entertainers
While Telugu cinema is often associated with action and high-octane spectacle, Teja emphasizes that he embraces the “mass commercial” space wholeheartedly. But there’s a twist: he tries to keep his films clean, especially mindful of younger audiences.
He recalls the release of Hanu-Man, where the team deliberately avoided scenes of smoking or drinking. The result? Kids flocked to theatres, and when the film reached OTT streaming platforms, many rewatched it multiple times, prompting both admiration and playful criticism from parents.
Teja admits he doesn’t particularly want to experiment or stray far from what he sees as his calling. Instead, he aims to deliver experiences that pull audiences into cinemas, offer satisfying entertainment, and justify their ticket spend.
A veteran from childhood
Interestingly, Teja is not new to the world of films. He began acting as a child—at just two and a half years old and witnessed the rise and fall of many actors who soared, then faded.
That long history, he says, tempers his present success. He understands that today’s highs may not last. Yet, with the momentum behind him and faith in audience support, he remains focused on delivering blockbusters while staying grounded.
Mirai and beyond
Teja’s latest film, Mirai, pairs fantasy, VFX, and a commercial sensibility. The cast includes Manchu Manoj, Ritika Nayak, Shriya Saran, Jagapathi Babu, Getup Srinu, and Jayaram among others.
Through this film and his broader choices, Teja seems intent on carving a niche: mass commercial entertainers with a clean conscience. In doing so, he hopes to inspire not just the multiplex crowd, but children and families too.
From kid on screen to hero in his own right
It’s poetic that Teja Sajja, who began as a child actor, now holds such admiration for another actor (Hrithik) as his early hero. But as he makes choices on-screen that reflect his values, perhaps he’s quietly trying to become a hero in someone else’s childhood memory. If so, it’s a legacy few get to script.
By – Sonali