Actor · Telugu cinema
Sai Dharam Tej
Sai Dharam Tej movies: 14 Telugu films on file, 2013–2023. Earliest on file: Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitam (2013). Latest release: Bro (28 July 2023).
- Films on file
- 14 (14 as actor)
- Years on file
- 2013–2023
- Born
- 15 October 1987 · October birthdays (Wikidata)
- Selected films on file
- Nakshatram, Winner, Republic
- Record
- Q21063745 on Wikidata
Sai Durgha Tej (born Panja Sai Dharam Tej, 15 October 1986), long credited as Sai Dharam Tej, is an Indian actor who works mainly in Telugu films. His debut, Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014), was a hit and won him the SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut – Telugu, and he has since had successes with Chitralahari (2019), Prati Roju Pandage (2019), Solo Brathuke So Better (2020), Republic (2021) and Virupaksha (2023).
Family
He was born to Dr. Siva Prasad and Vijaya Durga, the younger sister of Chiranjeevi; his father’s family comes from Panja Vemavaram in West Godavari district. Pawan Kalyan and Nagendra Babu are his uncles, and Ram Charan, Varun Tej and Niharika Konidela are his cousins. His younger brother, Panja Vaisshnav Tej, is also an actor. He studied at Chettinad Vidyashram in Chennai and Nalanda School in Hyderabad, and graduated from St. Mary’s College, Hyderabad. In March 2024 he changed his screen name to Sai Durgha Tej, drawing on his mother’s name.
Debut and early films
He made his debut opposite Regina Cassandra in Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham, and critics praised his rustic charm and dancing. In 2015 he played Rock in Rey and reunited with Regina in Subramanyam for Sale, which the source says grossed over ₹33.95 crore.
Ups and downs
The action comedy Supreme (2016) was another success, but it was followed by a run of failures, including Winner, Jawaan, Inttelligent and Tej I Love You, for which he was criticised for choosing similar stories.
Resurgence
Chitralahari (2019), in which he set aside his mass image to play Vijay, was a hit and one of his best-reviewed performances, and Prati Roju Pandage also succeeded. Solo Brathuke So Better (2020) did well despite pandemic restrictions, and in Deva Katta‘s political drama Republic (2021) he played an IAS officer to strong reviews.
Virupaksha and Bro
His 15th film, the socio-fantasy thriller Virupaksha (2023), directed by Karthik Varma Dandu, became the highest-grossing film of his career. He then acted with his uncle Pawan Kalyan in Samuthirakani‘s Bro (2023); both films were among the year’s highest grossers. In July 2023 he announced a six-month break to focus on fitness. He ranked 25th on Forbes India’s 2021 list of the most influential South cinema stars on Instagram.
Career on file
Sai Dharam Tej appears in 14 Telugu films on file at Tollywood Desk, dated from 2013 to 2023. The earliest of them is Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitam (2013), and the most recent release is Bro (2023). Measured by how many Wikipedia language editions cover them, the best-known titles here are Nakshatram (2017), Winner (2017) and Republic (2021). Other recent releases on file are Prati Roju Pandage (2019), Chitralahari (2019) and Tej I Love You (2018).
Regina Cassandra is the most frequent co-star, sharing three films with Sai Dharam Tej, followed by Raashi Khanna (2) and Brahmanandam (2). Music on five of them is by S. Thaman. Sri Venkateswara Creations produced three of them, more than any other banner on file. Across these films the credits on file name 14 different directors, 10 music directors and 33 other credited actors.
Runtime is on file for 10 of them; they average 145 minutes, and the longest is Rey at 165 minutes. Seven of them have a streaming (OTT) release noted on the site. By decade the list splits into 2010s (12) and 2020s (2). 2017 is the busiest single year, with three films.
Figures come from the films on file at Tollywood Desk and change as records are added.