Hyderabad: Teja Sajja is basking in the glory of a major career milestone. The young actor recently won the Filmfare Critics Award for his performance in the sleeper Pan-India hit HanuMan and described the moment as “surreal”, especially as he shared the stage with Allu Arjun.
At the awards ceremony, Allu Arjun bagged the Best Actor honour for Pushpa 2: The Rule, making it a memorable night for Telugu cinema. For Teja, however, the highlight was not just the trophy but the full-circle moment that took him back to his childhood days in the industry.
A full-circle moment with Allu Arjun
Speaking about the experience, Teja said it felt unbelievable to stand alongside a star he grew up admiring.
“It was surreal, sir! I couldn’t believe it was happening. I’ve grown up watching the films of Chiranjeevi sir and Allu Arjun sir. And now to be sharing the stage with Arjun sir… he won Best Actor for Pushpa 2, and I won the Critics’ Award for HanuMan. To be standing there with him was truly special,” he said.
Teja also recalled a lesser-known connection between them. He had played the child version of Allu Arjun’s character in his debut film as a leading man, Gangotri.
“I had played the child version of Arjun sir in Gangotri. That was fifteen years ago. He remembered it clearly. In fact, he suggested that we take a selfie together on stage for posterity. He said we had worked together then, and who knows, we may be standing on the same stage fifteen years later again receiving awards together,” Teja shared with a smile.
The exchange symbolised not just nostalgia but the continuity of Telugu cinema’s legacy, where former child actors are now emerging as leading men.
Success with humility
Reflecting on his journey, Teja said he views his recent success with gratitude and humility.
“I sometimes have to pinch myself to remind myself that it’s all real,” he admitted. “With HanuMan and Mirai doing well, there is pressure to follow it up with something equally impactful.”
HanuMan, mounted on a modest budget, emerged as one of the biggest surprise hits in recent times, reportedly earning over ₹300 crore worldwide and establishing Teja as a bankable Pan-India star. The superhero drama’s blend of mythology and modern storytelling resonated strongly with audiences across linguistic markets.
The success has not only elevated Teja’s stature but also increased expectations around his upcoming projects.
What’s next for Teja Sajja?
The actor confirmed that he is currently working on three films — Zombie Reddy 2, Mirai 2 and HanuMan 2.
“Any of these can come first,” he said. “We are in no hurry to complete the films. The end product has to be special.”
The emphasis, he explained, is on quality over speed. With HanuMan setting a high benchmark, both commercially and critically, the team is keen to ensure that its sequel lives up to the scale and expectations generated by the original.
A rising star in Telugu cinema
Teja Sajja’s trajectory from child artist to award-winning leading man reflects a steady evolution. Having appeared in several films as a child actor, he gradually transitioned into mainstream roles, culminating in the breakthrough success of HanuMan.
Winning a Filmfare Critics Award at this stage of his career signals industry recognition of his craft beyond box-office numbers. Sharing the spotlight with an established star like Allu Arjun further underscored his arrival as a serious contender in Telugu cinema’s new generation.
As he gears up for multiple sequels and big-ticket releases, Teja remains grounded, aware that sustaining success requires consistent effort and wise script choices.
For now, though, the memory of standing beside his childhood co-star — both holding Filmfare trophies — remains a moment he says he will cherish for years to come.
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