Megastar Chiranjeevi has made a strong statement about his son Ram Charan‘s latest blockbuster Peddi. The veteran actor compared the film to Aamir Khan‘s Dangal and said Peddi will enjoy “greater longevity and wider acceptance” because of its rustic, village-rooted story. The comments came during a special interaction with the Peddi team after the film became a massive success at the box office.
Chiranjeevi admitted that many people are now telling him that Ram Charan has surpassed him as an actor with this performance. He said he feels proud as a father but admitted it is a “little difficult to accept” as an actor. The film, directed by Buchi Babu Sana, hit theaters on June 4, 2026 and has already broken several records.
Why Chiranjeevi Compares Peddi to Aamir Khan’s Dangal
Chiranjeevi revealed that he had always wanted to do a sports drama like Dangal or Chak De India but the right scripts never came his way. He recalled watching Dangal and thinking, “That is the kind of film I want to do. But directors with that kind of content never really came my way here.”
When Peddi arrived, Chiranjeevi saw the same spirit he had been looking for. He explained the key difference between the two films. “Dangal is a family-oriented emotional sports drama. It revolves around wrestling and the relationship within a family. The emotional conflicts between the characters grip your heart and move you deeply,” he said.
Then he explained what makes Peddi special. “Peddi is a rustic sports drama. It creates awareness while also motivating people. In a way, it is an educational film for governments, children, and parents. It makes audiences think. While those are classic sports dramas, Peddi is a rustic drama rooted in village life. It is a story of people connected to the soil. That’s why I feel it will enjoy greater longevity and wider acceptance.”
Ram Charan Trained with Dangal Coach for the Role
The connection between Peddi and Dangal goes beyond just genre. Director Buchi Babu Sana revealed that Ram Charan trained with the same wrestling coach who worked with Aamir Khan on Dangal. The actor underwent three to four months of intense wrestling training to prepare for the role.
Ram Charan has called Peddi “the most difficult character of his career.” The film is set in 1980s rural Andhra Pradesh and follows a spirited villager who unites his community through wrestling. The actor had to master three different sports for the film – cricket, wrestling, and sprinting.
Action director Sham Kaushal also compared Ram Charan’s commitment to Aamir Khan’s dedication in Dangal. “I think the level of commitment shown by actors Ram Charan and Aamir Khan is remarkable. With Aamir Khan in Dangal, we first shot the father’s role, and within five months, he completely transformed himself physically. It is the same kind of commitment as Ram Charan,” Kaushal said.
Chiranjeevi Recalls SP Balasubrahmanyam’s Advice
During the same interaction, Chiranjeevi shared a memorable conversation he once had with legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The singer had encouraged him to take up more performance-oriented films instead of sticking to commercial cinema.
Chiranjeevi recalled, “SP Balasubrahmanyam once told me, ‘You made films like Aapadbandhavudu and Rudraveena. I know your acting capabilities. But you are moving more toward commercial cinema. You have much greater potential.’”
He also shared another observation from SPB. “Balu told me that Balachander had once said, ‘You have shades of both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in you.’” Chiranjeevi said he always wanted to take up content-driven films whenever the right opportunity came his way.
Now, he is happy to see his son receive the kind of role he had waited years for. “Such a story came to Ram Charan. It is the kind of opportunity I missed, and he received. That’s why people are saying Ram Charan has surpassed Chiranjeevi. I wholeheartedly agree with them. As a father, I am extremely proud. But as an actor, I have to accept it with a little difficulty,” he said.
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Peddi Becomes Highest-Grossing Telugu Film of 2026
Peddi has backed up Chiranjeevi’s words with strong box office numbers. The film crossed ₹200 crore net in India by its 10th day and has amassed ₹245.25 crore gross in India. Worldwide, the film has collected over ₹301.50 crore, making it the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2026.
The film opened strongly with ₹40.66 crore net on its first day and registered ₹20 crore in advance bookings, selling more than 82 lakh tickets before its debut. It was released across 3,000 screens worldwide.
The movie features an ensemble cast including Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Divyenndu, and Boman Irani. The music is composed by AR Rahman. Despite some criticism over the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor’s character, the film continues its strong run at the box office.
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