Ram Charan was the chief guest at the pre-release event of Roshan Meka’s Champion, which was held on Thursday evening at a private studio. Interestingly, Ram Charan is currently shooting for his upcoming film Peddi at the same studio, though on a different set. The makers of Champion organized the event at the same venue.
The film is produced by Swapna Dutt and Priyanka Dutt, with Gemini Kiran as the co-producer. It is presented by Ashwini Dutt’s Vyjayanthi Movies banner. Senior actor Srikanth’s son Roshan Meka and Anaswara Rajan play the lead roles, while Pradeep Advaitham has directed the film. Speaking on the occasion, Ram Charan praised Vyjayanthi Movies and Ashwini Dutt for introducing several stars to the industry, including himself, Allu Arjun, Jr NTR, and Mahesh Babu.
“You have given us all a memorable journey, and we are truly thankful to you,” Charan said, addressing Ashwini Dutt.
Talking about Roshan, Ram Charan said, “I have known Roshan since his childhood, and we have travelled together in many ways. As Nag Ashwin often says, Roshan looks like a Hollywood hero — an actor from a European action film. He is very good-looking.”
He added, “For me, my second film Magadheera became a massive success. I sincerely hope that Champion becomes a similar milestone for you.”
Champion is Roshan’s second film as a lead actor. His debut film was PellisandaD, which was made under the supervision of legendary director K. Raghavendra Rao. Sreeleela also made her Telugu debut with that film.
Roshan mentioned that Champion took three and a half years to complete. Responding to this, Ram Charan said that such a long duration helps an actor mentally prepare for the role. “It’s actually good that the film took three and a half years. An actor needs time to mentally and emotionally fit into a character. Acting requires maturity and deep immersion. Sometimes, even one and a half years is perfect to train yourself mentally. Some of my films have taken anywhere between two to five years, but in the end, the duration doesn’t matter. What matters is the final output, and this film looks very promising,” Charan said.
Ram Charan said he had watched the trailer and praised director Pradeep Advaitham. “The film looks like a classic. I can describe it as Lagaan with action. In Lagaan, cricket was the central theme, while in this film, it is football. I could see intensity in every actor,” he said.
He also showered praise on Anaswara Rajan for her performance and dedication. “I want to say two things. First, I believe you will soon receive calls from the best production houses and top directors. Second, your face has a natural glow, and your performance is very likeable and approachable. You have a bright future in Indian cinema. I truly appreciate your dedication — despite being a Malayali, you learned Telugu and delivered your dialogues in your own voice,” Charan said.
Ram Charan further praised producers Swapna and Priyanka Dutt for their passion for cinema. “They are continuing their father’s legacy. Supporting a relatively small film with such legendary technicians deserves great appreciation. I would love to work with Swapna and Priyanka under their production banner if I get the opportunity,” he said.
When asked for an update on his upcoming film Peddi, Ram Charan replied, “The shooting is currently in progress. With many films releasing during Sankranthi, I don’t want to come in between. After that, we will share more updates.”