Naga Chaitanya Reveals He Does Not Want To Be Labelled As A 'Star Kid,' 'I Don't Lead That Life'

Naga Chaitanya is the son of Telugu actor, Nagarjuna, and the grandson of Akkineni Nageswara Rao, a prominent name in the South Indian film industry. Despite carving his separate identity by working hard in films like Custody, Thank You, Ye Maaya Chesave, Manam, and 100% Love, he is still called a 'star kid' in the industry. Consequently, in a new interview, Chaitanya opened up about his views on the tag and whether it aligns with his personality. 

Naga Chaitanya reveals he doesn't like to be known as a 'star kid'

Naga Chaitanya, on a promotional spree for his newly released film, Thandel, recently sat down for a conversation on the Raw Talks with VK podcast. During the chat, the host asked Chay if he was fine being addressed as a star kid. In his reply, the actor straightforwardly expressed his displeasure at it. He explained that despite coming from the Akkineni-Daggubati family, he doesn't lead the lifestyle associated with the tag. Chaitanya said: 

"I don't like to be called (a star kid), but sure. I am a star kid, but I don't lead that life."

Naga Chaitanya added that the 'worst' part of being known as a star kid is that it comes with certain expectations. For instance, people think he leads a comfortable life, is a rich boy, and has been pampered without having to face any hardships. However, it's far from the reality. He admitted that he was grateful for his good upbringing and wouldn't mention otherwise, but he had a different personality. In his words: 

"I like to stay as rooted as possible, forget about all this, and be in the pulse of what's happening. That must be reflected in my work. Otherwise, we're living in our own bubble, our own AC rooms with all our comforts, and if we don't know what's happening outside, we can't be relevant to society."

Naga Chaitanya admits he doesn't understand 'nepotism'

Naga Chaitanya was asked about his views on nepotism in the same conversation. The host asked him if, apart from giving an initial start in the film industry, filmmakers feel obliged to cast star kids to ensure they don't get in the bad books of well-known filmy families. However, Chay gave a predictable answer, as he mentioned why a father would disapprove of his children not working in the same field as him. The actor said: 

"I don't understand the debate. Of course, I believe everyone should be treated equally, but it's not my fault or my father's fault I wanted to be an actor. He won't discourage me just because it would be nepotism."

The Laal Singh Chaddha actor also shared that when a person enters the film industry, a star kid and an outsider, both are treated equally. Moreover, whenever a film is released on a friday, the audience will watch a good film irrespective of the actor's background. Chaitanya explained: 

"Stars have fallen overnight; it has happened before. Coming from a film family, I had opportunities on a platter, no doubt. But once we're on the playing field, we're all equal."

Naga Chaitanya’s work front 

Naga Chaitanya was last seen in Custody co-starring Krithi Shetty, Venkat Prabhu, and more. His new film, Thandel, co-starring Sai Pallavi, was released in theatres on February 7, 2025, and he received mixed reactions for his performance. The actor is yet to announce his upcoming projects. 

What do you think about Naga Chaitanya's views on the 'star kid' tag?

Next Read: Vivian Dsena Responds To Being Tagged As 'Laadla', Reveals He Has Rejected Offers, 'No Network..'

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)