Varun Tej reveals 'headmaster' Chiranjeevi's strict rules for Ram Charan and Allu Arjun

While he may be an evergreen superstar on the silver screen, Telugu icon Chiranjeevi remains the glue between Konidela and Allu families. The family is considered one of the most prominent in Tollywood. In an interview with journalist Siddharth Kannan, actor Varun Tej Konidela opened up on how the ‘Godfather’ star had been a strict disciplinarian but had also played a big role in keeping the family united.

Varun revealed that Chiranjeevi held regular Sunday gatherings at his home, helping the cousins stay closely connected over the years. He affectionately described Chiranjeevi as the “headmaster” of the Konidela–Allu family, reminiscing about how he would even discipline Ram Charan and Allu Arjun during their childhood.

Reflecting on their upbringing, Varun shared that, despite their privileged backgrounds, Chiranjeevi made sure they stayed grounded. “Mr. Chiranjeevi never allowed us to become spoiled. His role in keeping us humble is immense. He has always kept us in line and down to earth. We follow whatever he says—he’s the guiding force for the entire family.” Varun jokingly added, “He’s probably given each of us a whack in different time zones and at different places.”

The ‘Tholi Prema’ star also opened up on his equation with cousins Ram Charan and Allu Arjun. He admitted that although they were close when they were children, they don’t meet up so often nowadays due to busy schedules. However, they still made sure to reunite over the annual Makar Sankranti festival. “Each year, my uncle organizes a Sankranthi celebration, bringing all the cousins together, and we have an amazing time for three or four days," he shared. Varun added that growing up, Chiranjeevi's Sunday gatherings were a cherished family tradition, helping to keep the cousins and the entire family closely connected.

Varun revealed that he was closer to Ram Charan, as they had grown up in the same house, and described him as a “3:00 am friend.”