Varun Tej is in the midst of promoting his upcoming film Korean Kanakaraju. Though he is yet to recover completely from his leg injury, the actor has been actively participating in the promotions despite walking with a limp. After visiting Anantapur a few days ago, Varun attended the trailer launch event, where the trailer was unveiled by his cousin, actor Ram Charan, through social media. Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, the film is set to hit theatres on August 7.
"I wanted to do a comedy film and entertain the audience. I hope everyone enjoys the film in theatres," said Varun Tej. Speaking about Ram Charan's absence from the event, he added, "Charan Anna was supposed to attend the event, but he recently underwent hand surgery and couldn't make it. However, he conveyed his best wishes to the entire team."
Varun also shared an update on his health. "I am recovering well, but it will take another two to three months for me to get back in action. Right now, my recovery is progressing well," he said.
When asked about experimenting with different genres despite mixed box-office results, Varun said he wanted Korean Kanakaraju to appeal to a wider audience. "I analysed my previous films and realised that most of them catered to niche audiences. With this film, I wanted to make something that entertains audiences across all sections," he explained.
The actor's next project, Bhari, was launched a few months ago. During training for the film, Varun sustained the leg injury. The makers had already announced the film for a Sankranthi 2027 release. "When I got injured and met the doctor, I did feel disappointed because I might miss the Sankranthi season. But at the same time, health is more important. Right now, my complete focus is on recovering well," he said.
In Korean Kanakaraju, Varun Tej plays two contrasting shades. He appears equally convincing as an innocent and fun-loving youngster from Rayalaseema and as a menacing Korean gangster who possesses him. The actor has also delivered a few dialogues in Korean.
"It looks completely natural on screen, and you never feel like you're watching a dubbed film when the Korean language is spoken," Varun said. "The confusion created by the two characters works well because many characters in the film themselves don't understand what's happening. We took utmost care while handling the Korean portions."
Talking about portraying the dual roles, Varun said, "Both characters differ in their body language, dialogue delivery and overall personality. The director and I spent a lot of time discussing how to balance them. Kanakaraju is loud, energetic and vibrant, while the Korean character is subtle and menacing. We rehearsed extensively before finalising the performances."
Varun Tej's Kanakaraju character also speaks in the Rayalaseema dialect, adding authenticity to the role. Actor-comedian Satya plays another important character in the film, while Ritika Nayak stars as the female lead. The trailer also offers glimpses of key roles played by Sunil, Muralidhar Goud and others, promising a fun-filled entertainer with a unique fantasy twist.
