Ram Charan Credits Aamir Khan and Salman Khan for Paving the Way with Dangal and Sultan

When you sit down with Ram Charan, you quickly realise he’s not just thinking about the next big action sequence. The conversation drifts, almost unintentionally, to the movies that shaped his own aspirations. He smiles, leans back, and says, “Dangal and Sultan changed the game for us.”

Charan is currently gearing up for his upcoming Telugu project, tentatively titled Peddi. While the plot is still under wraps, he lets slip a few hints: a story that pivots around a young man’s rise from a humble background to a sporting champion, echoing the underdog spirit that Aamir Khan captured so masterfully in Dangal. “It’s not a copy, but the heart beats the same,” he explains.

But the gratitude doesn’t stop at narrative inspiration. Charan openly thanks Salman Khan for his bold move with Sultan, a film that proved a Bollywood star could convincingly play a wrestler and still pull in massive crowds. “Salman showed us that you could blend raw physicality with emotion and still stay a mass favourite,” Charan remarks, his eyes lighting up.

He goes on to say that these films didn’t just entertain; they opened doors for regional actors to imagine bigger, more diverse roles. “When I watched Dangal and Sultan, I thought, ‘Why can’t a Telugu hero do the same?’ It sparked a fire,” he confesses, chuckling at the thought of his younger self glued to the screen.

As for Peddi itself, Charan promises a blend of raw grit and heartfelt drama. The protagonist, he reveals, will face a series of personal and professional hurdles that test his resolve, much like the journeys of Aamir’s and Salman’s characters. “The film will have its own flavor, but the core – perseverance against odds – is universal,” he says.

Fans of the actor will likely appreciate his candidness, especially in an industry where praise is often reserved for colleagues within the same linguistic circle. Charan’s acknowledgment of Bollywood stalwarts underscores a growing sense of camaraderie across Indian cinema.

When asked what he hopes audiences take away from both his upcoming film and the inspiration he’s drawn from, Charan’s answer is simple: “Believe in yourself, work hard, and don’t let borders limit your dreams.” With Peddi set to hit screens later this year, that message may soon resonate far beyond the Telugu heartland.