Sports dramas in Indian cinema have often been about grit, sacrifice and redemption. But every once in a while, a film arrives that changes the confidence with which filmmakers approach the genre. For Tollywood Mega Powerstar Ram Charan, two such films were Dangal and Sultan.

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Ram Charan Acknowledges Aamir & Salman For…

At the trailer launch of Peddi in Mumbai, the actor reflected on the inspiration his upcoming film drew from the success of those Bollywood blockbusters. Before speaking about his own transformation, Ram made sure to acknowledge the stars who, according to him, helped create space for ambitious sports-based stories in mainstream Indian cinema.

“First of all, thanks to Salman sir and Aamir sir for giving us a paving the path for such films with Sultan and Dangal. It gave us so much confidence,” said the RRR actor.

Referring to Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, Ram added that their films reassured filmmakers that emotionally charged sports dramas could strike a chord with audiences across the country.

“Thank you, thanks to both of you for starting this journey, and we believed that this kind of film had worked in the past. And obviously, we followed the same route,” he said.

Ram Charan on the Exhausting Transformation Behind Peddi

Unlike conventional sports films that revolve around a single discipline, Peddi demanded Ram Charan to step into multiple athletic worlds. The actor will be seen playing cricket, wrestling and running in the film, making the role physically demanding from the very beginning.

He admitted that the preparation process was intense, but the emotional weight of the story made the struggle worthwhile.

Recalling director Buchi Babu Sana narrating the script, Ram said he was immediately drawn into the world of the character.

Ram said, “Transformation, it has to be done, it was part of the story. I remember at my house, he was going through the script while sitting on a carpet, reading one by one. For 2 hour 40 minutes, I had nothing to say. I knew this was going to be physically very tiring, but it’s worth it for this man and the subject he has written.”

More Than a Sports Drama, Peddi Is About Finding Purpose

While sports form the backdrop of the film, Ram revealed that the real essence of Peddi lies in a man’s internal battle with identity.

“This is about a man’s search for his identity. So, everybody, we all need some kind of identity to live and get through the day. And this is about Peddi, who’s finding his identity,” he said.

The actor explained that the protagonist undergoes a personal crisis before discovering a larger purpose that changes his life.

Spilling the beans, Ram said, “He goes through an identity crisis before finding it for a larger cause. What leads him to become a crossover athlete and do what he does… It is organic; at the same time, it’s highly commercial.”

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A Pan-India Sports Drama Set for June Release

Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi also stars Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Divyendu and Jagapathi Babu in pivotal roles. The film is backed by Vriddhi Cinemas and presented by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings. Peddi is slated to release in theatres on June 4.