Community Hub0 Subscribers
Community hub
Varun Tej
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Konidela Sai Varun Tej, better known as Varun Tej (born 19 January 1990) is an Indian actor who works in Telugu cinema. He made his acting debut in 2014 with Mukunda. He received praise for featuring in Krish's critically acclaimed war film Kanche (2015). He established himself as a leading actor with the romantic drama Fidaa (2017), a major critical and commercial success. He has since starred in films including Tholi Prema (2018), Gaddalakonda Ganesh (2019), F2 (2019) and F3 (2022). He is married to his co-actress Lavanya Tripathi.[4]
Key Information
Early life and family
[edit]Tej is the son of Telugu actor and producer Nagendra Babu.[1] He is a nephew of actors Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan. His younger sister Niharika is also an actress. Actors Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Allu Sirish, Sai Tej and Panja Vaisshnav Tej are his cousins.[5] He was educated at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, and at St. Mary's College, Hyderabad.[6]
Career
[edit]Tej debuted as a child artist in his father Nagendra Babu's film Hands Up when he was ten years old. He made his adult debut with Mukunda, starring opposite Pooja Hegde. The film earned positive reviews. His second venture was the 2015 war film Kanche, starring opposite Pragya Jaiswal and received positive reviews from critics.[7] Tej's performance as Dhupati Haribabu was praised with The Times of India praising his "capability to shift gears from intense to sobriety".[8] His second release that year Loafer, was a box office failure, along with his 2017 outing Mister.
The later half of 2017 saw the release of Fidaa, where he played an NRI falling in love with a village belle. The film was commercially successful grossing over ₹90 crore at the box office.[9] His 2018 release Tholi Prema was also a box office success and Tej's performance as an impulsive young man was widely appreciated.[10][11] His next film that year was space thriller Antariksham 9000 KMPH, directed by Sankalp Reddy.[12]
In 2019, Tej's first release was F2: Fun and Frustration which is a multistarrer with Venkatesh, Tamannaah and Mehreen Pirzada are also a part of this movie which is huge blockbuster.[13] After F2, he dubbed in Telugu for Aladdin's role in the film Aladdin. He later starred in Gaddalakonda Ganesh, a remake of Tamil film Jigarthanda, directed by Harish Shankar which was a success at the box office.[14]
As of January 2020, Tej has two films under production, Ghani, and F2's sequel F3.[15][16] Tej next played the role of a boxer, in Ghani (2022) directed by Kiran Korrapati.[17][18] Following the film's release, Tej acknowledged the reviews and apologised, accepting the film's failure at the box office through a note on social media.[19]
Personal life
[edit]Tej met actress Lavanya Tripathi, on the sets of their film Mister (2017) and eventually started dating her.[20] They went onto work together in Antariksham 9000 KMPH in 2018. The couple got engaged on 8 June 2023 in Hyderabad. The couple got married on 1 November 2023 in Tuscany, Italy in a traditional ceremony.[21] On 9 September 2025, Tripathi gave birth to their son.[22][23] Varun Tej and Lavanya Tripathi announced the name of their firstborn son as Vaayuv Tej Konidela on the occasion of Vijayadashami on 2 October 2025.[24][25]
Media image
[edit]Tej stood at the 27th place on Forbes India's most influential stars on Instagram in South cinema for the year 2021.[26] In the Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Men list, Tej was place 7th in 2019 and 17th in 2020.[27][28] In Rediff.com's "Top Telugu Actors" list, Tej was placed 5th in 2012.[29]
Filmography
[edit]| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Hands Up | Child who wants teddy bear | Child actor | |
| 2014 | Mukunda | Mukunda | Debut as lead role | |
| 2015 | Kanche | Dhupati Hari Babu | ||
| Loafer | Raja Murali | |||
| 2017 | Mister | Pichchayya Naidu "Chai" | ||
| Fidaa | Varun | |||
| 2018 | Tholi Prema | Aditya Sekhar | ||
| Antariksham 9000 KMPH | Dev | |||
| 2019 | F2: Fun and Frustration | Varun Yadav | ||
| Aladdin | Aladdin (voice) | Telugu dubbed version | [30] | |
| Gaddalakonda Ganesh | Gaddalakonda Ganesh "Gani" | |||
| 2022 | Ghani | Ghani | [15] | |
| F3 | Varun Yadav | [16] | ||
| 2023 | Gandeevadhari Arjuna | Arjun Varma | [31] | |
| 2024 | Operation Valentine | Arjun Dev alias "Rudra" | Simultaneously shot in Hindi | [32][33] |
| Matka | "Matka" Vasu | [34] | ||
| 2026 | Korean Kanakaraju † | Kanakaraju | Filming | [35][36] |
| TBA | Bhari † | Bhari | Announced |
Television
[edit]| Year | Shows | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Nanna Koochi | Narrator | ZEE5 | |
| 2019 | Bigg Boss 3 | Himself | Star Maa | Guest appearance |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actor – Telugu | Kanche | Nominated | [37] |
| 2017 | Zee Telugu Golden Awards | Entertainer Of The Year (Male) | Fidaa | Nominated | [38] |
| 2018 | Zee Cine Awards Telugu | Best Film Actor | Tholi Prema | Nominated | [39] |
| 2019 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actor – Telugu | Gaddalakonda Ganesh | Nominated | [40] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Tollywood's rising stars under 30". The Times of India. 29 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ "Allu Arjun with family, Ram Charan and pregnant Upasana arrive at Varun Tej, Lavanya Tripathi's engagement". India Today. 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun attend Varun Tej and Lavanya Tripathi's engagement ceremony". Indian Express. 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Varun Tej Konidela and Lavanya Tripathi's engagement: Star-studded guest-list, venue, designer details". Times of India. 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Four injured after Telugu actor Varun Tej's car rams into another". The News Minute. 13 June 2019. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- ^ "9 Lesser Known facts about Nandi Award winner TV Host Niharika Konidela". The Times of India. 7 May 2018. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "'Kanche' movie review roundup: Critics call it a brave attempt by Krish, Varun Tej". International Business Times India. 25 October 2015. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Kanche Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India". The Times of India. 24 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ Hooli, Shekhar H. (17 December 2017). "Tollywood in 2017: 15 highest grossing Telugu movies of the year – Baahubali 2, Khaidi No 150, JLK, DJ and others". IB Times. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ Hooli, Shekhar H. (10 September 2018). "Tollywood box office report of 2018: highest grossing Telugu movies of year; List of hits and flops". IB Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "'Tholi Prema': Five reasons to watch Venky Atluri's directorial debut starring Tej and Raashi Khanna". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Varun Tej's space-thriller Antariksham 9000 KMPH wraps up its shoot". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ "Mahesh Babu playing extended cameo in 'F3'?". The News Minute. 21 February 2020. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ Vyas (16 October 2019). "Gaddalakonda Ganesh worldwide collections". Hans India. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ a b Nyayapati, Neeshita (4 January 2020). "Varun Tej prepping up for #VT10 based on boxing". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 January 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Shooting of F3 underway in Hyderabad: Venkatesh joins the proceedingsa". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ NS (28 April 2022). "Sukhjeevan Singh Dhillon makes his presence felt on screen with his debut Telugu film Ghani | APN News". Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ News, Nagpur (27 April 2022). "Sukhjeevan Singh Dhillon's debut Tollywood film Ghani enters the OTT realm". Nagpur Today : Nagpur News. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Varun Tej pens an emotional note about Ghani". 123Telugu.com. 12 April 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "Lavanya Tripathi and Varun Tej are engaged". India Today. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "Varun Tej, Lavanya Tripathi look regal in red and golden in first pics from grand wedding in Italy". Hindustan Times. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Chiranjeevi welcomes Varun Tej-Lavanya Tripathi's baby boy to Konidela family, shares photo". The Indian Express. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ "Varun Tej, Lavanya Tripathi's home decorated in flowers to welcome their baby boy. Watch". Hindustan Times. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Varun Tej, Lavanya Tripathi introduce son Vaayuv Tej Konidela, a name with spiritual significance". Mint. 2 October 2025. Archived from the original on 2 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- ^ "Meet the 30 most influential social media stars of South cinema". Forbes India. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Men 2019: Vijay Deverakonda". Times of India. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Hyderabad Times 30 Most Desirable Men 2020: Hyderabad's Diggin' These Dishy Dudes". Times of India. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ Radhika Rajamani (13 January 2016). "The 5 BEST Telugu Actors". Rediff.com. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "Venkatesh and Varun Tej dub for 'Aladdin' Telugu version". The Times of India. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ "Gandeevadhari Arjuna Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "VT13: Varun Tej to play an IAF officer in his next, a Hindi-Telugu bilingual". The Hindu. 19 September 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "Varun Tej and Manushi Chhillar to do 'Operation Valentine'!". Telugu Cinema. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "VT14: Varun Tej to romance THIS Bollywood bombshell in his next film with director Karuna Kumar". PINKVILLA. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ "SIIMA 2016 nominations out – here is the list". The News Minute. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Zee Telugu Golden Awards 2017 nomination list: Baahubali 2 gets highest nods, will Prabhas get an award?". IB Times. 19 December 2017.
- ^ "Zee Cine Awards Telugu 2018". Zee Cine Awards Telugu. 27 January 2019. ZEE5.
- ^ "SIIMA Nominations: Here Is The Complete List Of Nominations For 2019 And 2020". The Hans India. 30 August 2021.
External links
[edit]
Varun Tej
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and family
Early life and education
Varun Tej was born on 19 January 1990 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), India, into a prominent family in the Telugu film industry. As the son of actor and producer Nagendra Babu and his wife Padmaja, he grew up in Hyderabad surrounded by the influence of cinema, with uncles including superstars Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan.[1][6] Tej completed his schooling at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Public School in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, where he developed an interest in cricket and reading. He later pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree from St. Mary's College, Hyderabad. During his early years, at the age of ten, he made his screen debut as a child artist in the 2000 Telugu comedy film Hands Up!, directed by and starring his father Nagendra Babu alongside Jayasudha and Brahmanandam. The film, which featured a guest appearance by Chiranjeevi, marked Tej's initial foray into acting before he focused on his studies.[1][7]Family background
Varun Tej Konidela was born into the influential Konidela family, widely recognized as the "Mega Family" in the Telugu film industry, a dynasty spanning three generations with deep roots in cinema, production, and politics.[8] He is the elder son of actor and producer Nagendra Babu Konidela, who has appeared in over 100 films and founded Anjana Productions, and his wife Padmaja Konidela, a homemaker from a respected family.[9][8] His younger sister, Niharika Konidela, is an actress who made her debut in the 2016 film Oka Manasu and has since starred in projects like LIE (2017), and more recently produced the successful film Committee Kurrollu (2024), in which she also made a cameo appearance, with an upcoming lead role in What The Fish (2025).[8][10] The siblings share a close bond, often seen vacationing together, as evidenced by their 2023 family trip to Kenya.[9] As part of this extended family, Varun Tej is the nephew of legendary actor Chiranjeevi, often called the "Mega Star" for his iconic roles in over 150 films, and Pawan Kalyan, a leading actor and politician who founded the Janasena Party in 2014.[11][8] His paternal cousins include actors Ram Charan (son of Chiranjeevi), Allu Arjun and Allu Sirish (sons of producer Allu Aravind, Chiranjeevi's brother-in-law), as well as Sai Dharam Tej and Panja Vaishnav Tej (sons of Chiranjeevi's sister Vijaya Durga Devi).[8] This network has shaped the family's dominance in Tollywood, with the third generation, including Varun Tej, continuing the legacy through acting and production ventures.[12]Career
Debut and early career (2014–2016)
Varun Tej made his acting debut in the Telugu film Mukunda (2014), directed by Srikanth Addala.[13] The film, produced by K. S. Rama Rao under Creative Works banner, starred Tej in the lead role opposite Pooja Hegde, marking her entry into Telugu cinema.[14] To prepare for the character of a youthful, energetic protagonist in a rural setting, Tej lost nearly 30 kilograms through rigorous training.[15] Released on 24 December 2014, Mukunda is an action-romance centered on themes of friendship, love, and local politics in a small town.[16] Critics gave the film mixed reception, appreciating its visual appeal and musical score by Mickey J. Meyer while critiquing the uneven pacing and lack of consistent entertainment.[13][14] Tej's performance was highlighted as a strong debut, with reviewers noting his natural screen presence and action sequences.[17][18] In 2015, Tej took on a more challenging role in Kanche, a period romantic war drama written and directed by Krish.[19] Produced by M. Ravinder Reddy and Y. Rajeev Reddy under Mythri Movie Makers, the film featured Tej alongside Pragya Jaiswal and was set against the backdrop of World War II, focusing on an Indian soldier's experiences with love, combat, and societal prejudices.[20] Released on 22 October 2015, it became the first Telugu film to extensively depict World War II events involving Indian troops.[19] The movie earned widespread critical acclaim for its bold narrative, authentic visuals, and Chirantan Bhatt's score, though some noted the slow second-half pacing; it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.[21][20] Tej's portrayal of the lead character was particularly praised for its emotional depth and maturity, establishing him as a versatile actor capable of handling intense dramatic roles.[22][19] Tej's third film, Loafer (2015), was a commercial drama directed by Puri Jagannadh.[23] Produced by C. K. Entertainment, it starred Tej as a carefree thief navigating family separation and romance, opposite Disha Patani in her acting debut, with supporting roles by Revathi and Posani Krishna Murali.[24] Released on 17 December 2015, the storyline revolves around a father-son conflict and themes of redemption and maternal bonds.[25] While the film received mixed-to-negative reviews for its predictable plot and illogical elements, Tej's energetic performance, mass-appeal action, and charisma were commended as standout features.[24][23] In 2016, Tej had no theatrical releases, using the time to prepare for subsequent projects that would further diversify his filmography.[26]Rise to prominence (2017–2020)
Varun Tej's career gained significant momentum in 2017 with the release of Fidaa, a romantic drama directed by Sekhar Kammula, in which he starred alongside Sai Pallavi. The film, which explored themes of love and cultural differences, received widespread acclaim for its engaging screenplay and the lead pair's chemistry, marking Tej's first major commercial success. It achieved a distributor share of over ₹50 crore (estimated gross ₹90 crore) at the box office, establishing him as a reliable lead in Telugu cinema.[27][28] Earlier that year, his action-comedy Mister, directed by Sreenu Vaitla, underperformed despite high expectations, collecting only around ₹2.80 crore in distributor share on its opening day in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, highlighting the risks of mismatched genres.[29] In 2018, Tej delivered another hit with Tholi Prema, a romantic drama remake directed by Venky Atluri, co-starring Raashi Khanna. The film, praised for its heartfelt narrative and Tej's portrayal of a passionate lover, opened to ₹9.50 crore worldwide on its first day and concluded with a worldwide distributor share of ₹24.59 crore, solidifying his appeal in romantic roles.[30][31] However, his ambitious sci-fi thriller Antariksham 9000 KMPH, directed by Prasanth Varma and featuring Aditi Rao Hydari, failed to resonate commercially despite positive notes on its visual effects and storyline. It ended with a worldwide distributor share of ₹7.6 crore against a valuation of ₹19 crore, representing a setback amid his rising trajectory.[32] The year 2019 proved pivotal, with F2: Fun and Frustration, a comedy directed by Anil Ravipudi, co-starring Venkatesh, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Mehreen Pirzada, becoming one of Telugu cinema's biggest blockbusters. The film's satirical take on marital life grossed ₹137.6 crore worldwide, including ₹98.5 crore net in India, and ran for over 50 days in theaters, significantly boosting Tej's stardom through its mass appeal and ensemble dynamics.[33][34] Later that year, Gaddalakonda Ganesh, an action drama directed by Harish Shankar and inspired by Thani Oruvan, showcased Tej in a vengeful protagonist role opposite Atharvaa and Pooja Hegde. It earned a hit verdict with ₹46 crore worldwide, praised for its engaging cat-and-mouse plot and Tej's intense performance.[35] His supporting appearance in the family entertainer Suryakantham was minor and did not impact his box office standing significantly, as the film struggled with low openings.[36] By 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Tej had no major releases, but his successes in the preceding years had firmly positioned him as a prominent second-generation actor in the Konidela family legacy.Recent works (2021–present)
In 2022, Varun Tej starred in the sports drama Ghani, directed by Kiran Korrapati, where he portrayed the titular character, a passionate boxer facing personal and professional challenges in pursuit of his dreams.[37] The film, which also featured Saiee Manjrekar, Upendra, Suniel Shetty, and Jagapathi Babu, was released on April 8 and centered on themes of resilience and family dynamics in the world of boxing.[38] Critics noted Tej's committed physical transformation and energetic performance as a highlight, though the screenplay was described as routine and predictable, leading to mixed reception overall.[38] Later that year, Tej appeared in the comedy sequel F3: Fun and Frustration, helmed by Anil Ravipudi, reprising his role alongside Venkatesh, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Mehreen Pirzada from the 2019 hit F2.[39] Released on May 27, the film followed a group of friends entangled in humorous schemes involving a wealthy family, blending slapstick humor with social satire on marital frustrations. It achieved commercial success, grossing approximately ₹100 crore worldwide, and was praised for its entertaining ensemble dynamics and Tej's comic timing, though some reviewers found the plot overstretched.[40] Tej's 2023 release, the action thriller Gandeevadhari Arjuna, directed by Praveen Sattaru, saw him as Arjun Varma, an ex-special forces officer turned bodyguard protecting a government official during a high-stakes climate summit.[41] Co-starring Sakshi Vaidya, Vinay Rai, and Nassar, the film was released on August 25 and emphasized sleek action sequences filmed across India and the UK. Reviews commended Tej's intense portrayal and the film's taut pacing, marking a shift toward more grounded action roles for him, despite criticisms of uneven pacing in the second half. In 2024, Tej led the bilingual action drama Operation Valentine, directed by Shakti Pratap Hada, inspired by the 2019 Pulwama attack and India's Balakot airstrikes, playing Wing Commander Arjun Dev, an Indian Air Force pilot navigating combat and personal conflicts.[42] Featuring Manushi Chhillar as his co-lead, the film released on March 1 in Telugu and Hindi and focused on the valor of IAF personnel amid geopolitical tensions. While Tej's earnest depiction of duty was appreciated, the movie received mixed responses for its technical aerial visuals but formulaic narrative and limited emotional depth. Tej's most recent project, the period action film Matka, directed by Karuna Kumar, was released on November 14, 2024, with him in the lead as Vasu, an underdog rising through the criminal underworld in 1950s-1970s India via the illegal gambling game of Matka.[43] The ensemble cast included Meenakshi Chaudhary, Nora Fatehi, and Naveen Chandra, and the story drew inspiration from real-life gambling legends without being a direct biopic.[44] Early reviews highlighted Tej's versatile performance across multiple looks and the film's nostalgic recreation of Mumbai's underbelly, though it faced critiques for pacing issues and underwhelming box office performance. As of November 2025, Tej is involved in the upcoming Indo-Korean horror comedy tentatively titled VT 15, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, which began production in March 2025 and features a blend of cultural elements from both industries.[45] A teaser was released in July 2025, showcasing Tej in a lead role amid supernatural and comedic scenarios, with filming progressing on international schedules.[46] The project marks his exploration into genre fusion, though no release date has been confirmed yet.[47]Personal life and public image
Personal life
Varun Tej Konidela married actress Lavanya Tripathi on November 1, 2023, in a private ceremony held in Tuscany, Italy.[48] The couple first met in 2016 while filming the Telugu romantic comedy Mister, where they developed a friendship that eventually blossomed into romance; they later collaborated on projects including Antariksham 9000 KMPH (2018) and Gandeevadhari Arjuna (2023).[48] Their engagement took place in June 2023 in Hyderabad, after which they maintained a low profile regarding their relationship for several years prior.[48] On May 6, 2025, Varun Tej and Lavanya announced they were expecting their first child via social media, sharing a heartfelt post about their excitement for parenthood.[49] The couple welcomed a baby boy on September 10, 2025.[50] On October 2, 2025, they announced his name as Vayuv Tej Konidela, sharing a video from the naming ceremony on Instagram and expressing joy over the new addition to their family.[51] Varun Tej has often described the experience of fatherhood as transformative, emphasizing the balance he maintains between his professional commitments and family life.[48] Varun Tej tends to keep details of his personal life private, frequently deflecting media inquiries during promotions to focus on his work.[52] He resides in Hyderabad, Telangana, where he balances his acting career with family time.[1]Media image and recognition
Varun Tej is often portrayed in the media as a discerning actor from a prominent film family, known for selecting diverse and experimental roles that prioritize content-driven narratives over formulaic commercial successes. This image stems from his early career choices, such as the period war drama Kanche (2015), which earned critical acclaim and the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 63rd National Film Awards, highlighting his willingness to explore unconventional genres like World War II-themed stories rare in Telugu cinema.[53][54] His public persona emphasizes versatility, with roles spanning romantic leads in Mukunda (2014), intense action characters in Gaddalakonda Ganesh (2019), and patriotic figures in Operation Valentine (2024), positioning him as an actor who challenges himself across genres. Media outlets have noted this experimental approach, particularly in projects like Matka (2024), a period drama spanning decades, and Gandeevadhari Arjuna (2023), an espionage thriller, which underscore his reputation for taking creative risks.[55][56][57] In terms of broader recognition, Tej has been featured in popularity polls reflecting his appeal in the Telugu film industry. He ranked 7th in the Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Men 2019 list, praised for his intense eyes, captivating smile, and status as a "bankable star" who is selective with scripts. Additionally, in 2016, he was included among Rediff.com's top five Telugu actors, alongside established names like Prabhas and Mahesh Babu, acknowledging his rising prominence shortly after his debut.[58][59] Tej's media image also benefits from his low-key yet engaging social media presence, where he shares candid updates on his projects and personal milestones, fostering a relatable connection with fans. This has contributed to his perception as approachable and grounded, especially post his 2023 marriage, though coverage often ties back to his professional evolution and family legacy in Tollywood.[60]Filmography and accolades
Filmography
Varun Tej's filmography as an actor and producer in Telugu cinema, compiled from reliable entertainment databases, includes the following released feature films.[61]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Mukunda | Mukunda | Debut film; directed by Srikanth Addala |
| 2015 | Kanche | Dhupati Haribabu | War drama; directed by Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi |
| 2015 | Loafer | Arjun | Action drama; directed by Puri Jagannadh |
| 2017 | Mister | Manav | Romantic drama; directed by Sreeram Adittya |
| 2017 | Fidaa | Varun | Romantic comedy; directed by Sekhar Kammula |
| 2018 | Tholi Prema | Aditya | Romantic drama; directed by Varma |
| 2018 | Antariksham 9000 KMPH | Rishi | Sci-fi thriller; directed by Sankalp Reddy |
| 2019 | F2: Fun and Frustration | Varun | Comedy; directed by Anil Ravipudi; also dubbed in Hindi |
| 2019 | Gaddalakonda Ganesh | Gaddalakonda Ganesh | Action thriller; directed by Harish Shankar; also known as Valmiki |
| 2019 | Suryakantham | — | Producer; romantic comedy directed by Satish Vegesna |
| 2021 | Natyam | Ravi Varma | Dance drama; actor and presenter; directed by Revanth Korukonda |
| 2022 | Ghani | Ghani | Sports drama; directed by Kiran Korrapati |
| 2022 | F3: Fun and Frustration | Varun | Comedy sequel; directed by Anil Ravipudi |
| 2023 | Gandeevadhari Arjuna | Arjun Varma | Action thriller; directed by Praveen Sattaru |
| 2024 | Operation Valentine | Arjun "Rudra" Dev | War action; bilingual (Telugu-Hindi); directed by Shakti Pratap Hada |
| 2024 | Matka | Vasu | Period crime drama; multilingual; directed by Karuna Kumar |
Awards and nominations
Varun Tej has earned nominations at major Telugu film awards for his debut and subsequent roles, highlighting his transition from a newcomer to a recognized lead actor. His breakthrough performance in the war drama Kanche (2015) garnered critical attention, leading to nods in acting categories. Subsequent romantic and action roles in films like Fidaa (2017), [Tholi Prema](/page/Tholi Prema) (2018), and Gaddalakonda Ganesh (2019) further solidified his presence, though he has yet to secure a win in these prestigious events.[62][63]| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) | Best Male Debut – Telugu | Mukunda | Nominated[64][65] |
| 2016 | South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) | Best Actor – Telugu | Kanche | Nominated[66] |
| 2017 | Zee Telugu Golden Awards | Entertainer of the Year (Male) | Fidaa | Nominated[63] |
| 2018 | Zee Cine Awards Telugu | Best Actor – Male | Tholi Prema | Nominated[1] |
| 2020 | South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) | Best Actor – Telugu | Gaddalakonda Ganesh | Nominated[62][67] |