Telugu actor Sai Durgha Tej was a guest speaker at the 'Southern Rising Summit' by ABP Network, where he discussed the realities of growing up in a star-studded family, his acting journey, and a life-changing incident. Even with his famous background, the 'Bro' actor talked about the challenges he faced in trying to succeed in the entertainment industry.
Sai Durgha Tej on adding his mother's name
Sai Durgha Tej was involved in a motorcycle accident in September 2021 near Hyderabad’s Durgam Cheruvu Bridge. Reflecting on the accident, he said, “I was completely blank. I just stepped on sand on the road, and it was a complete accident.”
He added, “For me, freedom is riding a bike without complications. I still have a Royal Enfield Fire Bullet, my grandfather's dream bike, which I actually stole from him.”
The actor was alone during the accident and suffered a collarbone fracture along with soft tissue injuries. He was treated at Apollo Hospitals and later discharged. After this incident, Sai decided to add his mother’s name to his own, explaining that he felt "reborn" in 2021.
“The reason I changed my name is that this is my second life; I was reborn in 2021. My mother was my biggest supporter and pillar of strength, ensuring my recovery. On the hospital bed, I wanted to tell her, ‘I’m sorry. I love you,’ but my voice was lost.”
“I couldn’t even speak to my mother or brother, so she told me to write down what I wanted to say. I lost my balance and stability during that time, and my mother helped me recover. Adding her name to mine is an emotional gesture. When I lost my voice after the accident and two weeks of COVID, she was the one who helped me get it back.”
On sharing the screen with Pawan Kalyan
Sai Durgha Tej has been mentored by his maternal uncle, Pawan Kalyan, since he was young. Speaking about working with Kalyan in Bro, he referred to him as his “Guru.” He said, “I was able to give him Guru Dakshina because he’s the one who got me into acting. He guided me through all the necessary steps like kickboxing, dancing, and acting classes.”
On being born into a family of stars
Speaking about his journey in the entertainment industry, he said, “I took the hard route. To prove my worth on screen, I needed to earn it.”
“It took me five years to release my first film. During that time, I watched many of my co-actors achieve stardom, but it was a learning experience for me.”
He also spoke about his cousins, actors Ram Charan and Varun Tej, and the friendly rivalry and mutual admiration among them. "Flowers on the same plant don’t compete; they just bloom. In the same way, we all bloom differently and have our unique approach to handling things. We’re all flowers on the same plant.”
ABP Southern Rising Summit 2024
ABP Network's much-awaited 'Southern Rising Summit' has returned with its second edition. This year's Southern Rising Summit, themed 'Coming of Age: Identity, Inspiration, Impact', is being held in Hyderabad on October 25. The summit will celebrate the political, cultural, economic, and social advances of the southern states with changemakers and visionaries from the New South and explore the region’s transformative journey towards a brighter future.
The Southern Rising Summit was first held in Chennai in 2023, when several speakers celebrated ideas that define South India. This time too the summit will explore the region's cultural, economic, and political advancements that have stood out and played a critical role in the nation's overall progress.