Varun Tej

Varun Tej’s got one of those faces you can’t forget—he’s just got that screen presence. Born into a mega family that’s basically Tollywood royalty, the guy could’ve cruised on his last name, but nah, he actually puts in the work. His big break came with “Mukunda,” where he starred opposite Pooja Hegde. Fresh face, but man, he held his own. Then came “Kanche,” which, fun fact, was the first Indian film to tackle World War II. Not your usual masala flick, right? Varun played Dhupati Haribabu, and everyone lost their minds—critics, fans, probably even his own family. The film turned out to be a massive hit and set him up as more than just another hero with a famous surname. People really started noticing his range after that. He didn’t stick to the same old safe roles, which is honestly refreshing in an industry where actors can get boxed in so easily. Jump to “Antariksham 9000 kmph,” and you’ve got him floating around in a full-on space thriller, trying to save the day. Sci-fi isn’t exactly the go-to for Telugu cinema, but Varun dove into it, playing the protagonist with a kind of intensity that’s hard to fake. He’s also dabbled in producing, which just shows he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty behind the scenes, too. Basically, whether he’s playing a rugged gangster or an astronaut, the guy brings something different every time.