Varun Tej : It was a conscious decision to break the mould

Varun Tej does not exactly fit the Mega Hero mould. He is slightly intense, and chooses movies that are not always the run-of-the-mill commercial entertainers. However, when asked, if it is a “conscious decision” to break the mould, he told an English daily, “I have always wanted to create an individual identity for myself.

Even when I was debuting, I thought that a new actor should be able to connect with the audiences first and that’s why I went for the role of a boy-next-door in Mukunda, which made me a household name in Andhra and Telangana. Then, director Krish’s Kanche was a new genre for Telugu cinema and helped me test my acting skills. And Puri Jagannadh’s Loafer was key in reaching completely different set of audiences. I guess the variety is working well for me and I plan to continue dabbling with varied subjects. I have done just three films and every time I step on to the sets it feels like I am about to begin all over again. My peddananna is an inspiration. He has done varied roles and I want to follow suit. I know times have changed but I will find a way.”