Panja Sai Dharam Tej (born 15 October 1986) is a Telugu film actor from India. He made his acting debut in the box office success Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014), for which he received SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut and CineMAA Award for Best Male Debut.
Following his debut, Tej appeared in box office hits such as Subramanyam for Sale (2015) and Supreme (2016). This was followed by a string of critical and commercial failures. Tej then established himself with successful films such as Chitralahari (2019) and Prati Roju Pandage (2019). Solo Brathuke So Better (2020) and Republic are two of his other notable works (2021).
Background and early life
On October 15, 1986, Sai Tej was born to Vijaya Durga, the sister of Telugu film actor-politician Chiranjeevi. Tej attended Nalanda School in Hyderabad and graduated from St. Mary's College in the same city.
Tej's cousins include actors Allu Arjun, Ram Charan, Allu Sirish, Varun Tej, and Niharika Konidela. Vaisshnav Tej, his younger brother, is also an actor. His maternal uncles are Pawan Kalyan and Nagendra Babu.
Career
First appearance and early work (2014–2016)
Tej made his film debut in 2014 with Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham, in which he co-starred with Regina Cassandra. The film was a box office success. According to the Times of India, "Sai Dharam Tej's rustic charm makes his actions believable, and the actor is particularly impressive with his dance moves." According to Deccan Chronicle, "Sai Dharam Tej delivers a mature performance. He entertains throughout the film with his performance and he has done this quite comfortably." For his performance, he received the SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut - Telugu.
Tej had two albums out in 2015. His first film, Rey, starred him as Rock opposite Saiyami Kher. "Sai Dharam Tej's electrifying performance is the major asset of this film," 123telugu said. Tej's second release in 2015 was Subramanyam for Sale, which was a box office success, grossing over 33.95 crore. He co-starred with Regina Cassandra for the second time, following Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014). Although some critics called Tej's performance "routine," others praised it as "improved performance," "spontaneous," and "stunning."
Other work and resurgence (2016–2018)
Tej's next film, the action comedy Supreme, was also a financial success and regarded as one of his best. Tej went on to star in five films (as the lead) after Supreme, including Thikka (2016), Winner (2017), Jawaan (2017), Inttelligent (2018), and Tej I Love You (2018). Tej was also chastised for using the same and predictable stories in his films.
Recent accomplishments and work (2019–present)
Chitralahari was his first 2019 release. The film was a box office success, with critics praising his performance and Tej delivering one of his best performances in his career. According to the Times of India, Tej's character in the film, Vijay, is the best in his career so far. According to Deccan Chronicle, "Sai Tej has gained weight and with a beard looks fresh and fits the character; for this role, he has completely set aside his mass image." Prati Roju Pandage, his next film of the year, was also a success. In his review of the film, Murali Krishna CH of The New Indian Express wrote, "The film definitely Sai Tej's canvas, and he delivers his standard chops with flamboyance." Following the COVID-19 pandemic, his film Solo Brathuke So Better was released later in 2020. Despite a 50% occupancy limit in theaters, the film was a box office success. Idlebrain's Jeevi praised Tej's performance, particularly his comedic timing and acting in the film's emotional scenes. Tej, on the other hand, could have benefited from a better script, according to Y Sunita Chowdhary of The Hindu.
Tej played an IAS officer in his next film, Republic (2021), directed by Deva Katta. The political drama film opened to positive reviews, with critics describing his performance as "matured," and the film was well received by audiences and became a "hit." According to Telangana Today's Prakash Pecheti, "Republic surely adds a feather to Sai Dharam Tej's cap."
Tej's next film is Virupaksha, a socio-fantasy thriller directed by Bham Bolenath's Karthik Varma Dandu. He has also signed a film deal with debutant Jayanth Panuganti and Sampath Nandi.
Private life
Tej was killed in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident near the Durgam Cheruvu Bridge in Hyderabad in September 2021. He was taken to Apollo Hospitals, where doctors said he had soft tissue injuries and a collar bone fracture but was not in danger.
Image from the media
Tej was ranked 25th on Forbes India's list of the most influential stars on Instagram in South cinema for the year 2021. He was ranked 24th on the 2016 Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Men list.
Tej became a brand ambassador for "Sky Zone Park." He also became an ambassador for the charity 'Think Peace'.
 | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham | Srinu | Film debut |
| 2015 | Rey | Rock | |
| Subramanyam for Sale | Subramanyam | ||
| 2016 | Supreme | Balu | |
| Thikka | Aditya | ||
| 2017 | Winner | Siddharth "Siddu" Reddy | |
| Nakshatram | Alexander IPS | Cameo appearance | |
| Jawaan | Jai | ||
| 2018 | Inttelligent | Dharma Teja / Dharma Bhai | |
| Tej I Love You | Tej | ||
| 2019 | Chitralahari | Vijay Krishna | |
| Prati Roju Pandage | Sai Tej | ||
| 2020 | Solo Brathuke So Better | Virat | |
| 2021 | Republic | Panja Abhiram IAS | |
| 2023 | Virupaaksha | Surya | Filming |
| PKSDT | TBA | Filming |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Nenu Mee Kalyan | Himself | Guest appearance |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Male Debut - Telugu | Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitam | Won |
| 62nd Filmfare Awards South | Best Male Debut – South | Nominated | ||
| 13th Santosham Film Awards | Best Male Debut | Won | ||
| CineMAA Awards | Won |
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sai Dharam Tej |
| Profession | Actor |
| Famous Role | Srinu in Telugu film Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014) |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters-180 cm in meters-1.80 m in feet inches-5’ 11” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms-70 kg in pounds-154 lbs |
| Body Measurements (approx.) | - Chest: 40 inches - Waist: 32 inches - Biceps: 12 inches |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 15 October 1986 |
| Age (as in 2022) | 36 Years |
| Birth Place | Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Libra |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| School | Not Known |
| College | VIT University, Vellore |
| Education Qualification | Graduate |
| Debut | Telugu Film: Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014) |
| Family | Father- Siva Prasad Mother- Vijaya Durga Brother- Vaishnav Tej Sister- N/A |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Hobbies | Playing cricket, Travelling |
| Girls, Affairs and More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Affairs/Girlfriends | Not Known |
| Wife/Spouse | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Sai Dharam Tej
