Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr, aka Jr NTR or Tarak, currently stands as one of the biggest stars in Telugu cinema, even though it’s been two years since his last on-screen appearance. Nevertheless, the impact Tarak, who turns 41 on Monday, created with his performance in his last outing, SS Rajamouli’s RRR (2022), was so profound that the audiences hardly feel his absence from the big screen since then.
A member of the affluent Nandamuri film family, Jr NTR made his on-screen debut in 2001 in VR Prathap’s Ninnu Choodalani. Although the film did not attract much attention, he managed to win hearts the same year by playing the lead role in Rajamouli’s debut directorial venture Student No: 1. Since then, he has been a towering presence in Tollywood, with many hits to his name.
Hailing from a strong film family, Jr NTR, being the grandson of veteran Telugu star and former united Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, NT Rama Rao, after whom he was named, and the son of actor-politician Harikrishna, also shares a close bond with many Telugu stars. During an interview with Bollywood Hungama in 2022, he underscored this indirectly with his adorable responses during a rapid-fire round.
As the interview took place while he was promoting RRR, Tarak — who has worked with SS Rajamouli on a total of four films, including Simhadri (2003) and Yamadonga (2007), all of which became blockbusters — spoke highly about SS Rajamouli and their bond. When asked about one change he noticed in himself after working with Rajamouli, the actor said he had become more innocent and mentioned that the filmmaker always looks for innocence and naivety.
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When asked which scene made him feel like whistling and clapping when he read RRR’s script, Jr NTR immediately replied that it was his introduction sequence with the tiger. “That was the first thing he told me, and I just instantly whistled and clapped,” he said with a wide smile. When questioned about what he would cook if he invited Rajamouli and his RRR co-star Ram Charan over for dinner, he answered Pappu Charu for the director and biryani for the actor. Tarak further praised Rajamouli, saying that his thirst for perfectionism and storytelling is one thing he would like to steal from the filmmaker.
SS Rajamouli has also frequently expressed his ambition to create a cinematic adaptation of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. “Every film I make, I feel that I’m learning something to ultimately make Mahabharata. So that’s my dream and every step is towards that,” he said last year during a chat with his brother-in-law Dr AV Guruva Reddy. “If I get to the point of making Mahabharata, it would take me a year just to read the versions of Mahabharata that are available in the country. At present, I can only assume that it would be a 10-part film.”
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During the Bollywood Hungama chat, the interviewer put Jr NTR in a tight spot by asking whom he would choose if the filmmaker sought his suggestions for casting Mahabharata. Taken aback, Tarak replied, “I really think I shouldn’t say anything about this because Rajamouli is going to kill me.” However, when the interviewer began bombarding him with names of characters such as Krishna, Arjuna, Karna and Bhima, Jr NTR cleverly responded with his own name. But when asked about Draupadi, he stumbled and answered “Alia Bhatt”.
The interviewer further spiced things up by asking Jr NTR what he would talk about if he were locked inside a room with Allu Arjun and Prabhas. Caught off guard, Tarak paused and, laughing out loud, said, “I think that’s a little personal. So I prefer not answering that question.”
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Tarak also praised his RRR co-star Alia Bhatt, saying, “She is a very deep actor. I really want to see that depth and learn a lot from her.” The Telugu star also had kind words for Alia’s husband Ranbir Kapoor. When asked who he thought would be suitable to replace him as the lead if his 2017 blockbuster action film Jai Lava Kusa were to be remade in Hindi, Jr NTR promptly mentioned Ranbir. “I think he’s a phenomenal actor. Again, a very deep actor. I think he will do a good job.”
He also mentioned that charisma, height and calmness are qualities he would like to borrow from Salman Khan, Prabhas and Ram Charan, respectively. Jr NTR further said that Salman is his favourite among the Khans. When asked if he would consider hosting Bigg Boss Hindi, the actor promptly said no, adding, “I think no one can replace him (Salman).”
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