Teja director biography
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The film had an average run in both the languages. Box office performance was modest, grossing approximately ₹15 crore against a budget exceeding ₹50 crore, attributed by industry analysts to competition from other releases and narrative pacing critiques.Among upcoming works, Teja is directing Rakshasa Raja, a Telugu action thriller slated for theatrical release on December 28, 2025, featuring undisclosed lead cast and focusing on revenge motifs in a rural setting.[19] Production began in early 2024 under his banner, with principal photography wrapping by mid-2025, though specifics on budget or collaborators remain limited in public announcements.
Chowdhary), was an industrialist involved in exports and imports, with primary operations based in Tokyo, Japan.[4][5] His mother was Jasti Rani.[4]Following the deaths of both parents, Teja left home during his formative years and supported himself through various odd jobs, including as a restaurant waiter, garment shop salesman, and furniture shop helper.[6][4] These circumstances marked a significant shift from his privileged family background, fostering self-reliance before his entry into the film industry.[6] No formal education details are widely documented in available biographical accounts, though his early independence shaped his path toward creative pursuits.[4]
Professional career
Entry into cinematography
Teja debuted in the film industry as a cinematographer with Ram Gopal Varma's bilingual horror filmRaat (1992), marking his entry into professional cinematography.[2] His visual work on this project earned him the Nandi Award for Best Cinematography from the Andhra Pradesh government.[2]Following the debut, Teja contributed to numerous Hindi and Telugu films, often collaborating with Ram Gopal Varma.He ventured into direction with hits such as Chitram, Nuvvu Nenu, and Jayam.
CAREER:
Teja’s next film was Nijam, was released in 2003 starring Mahesh Babu and Rakshitha in lead roles. Additionally, Aata Nade Veta Nade is in pre-production as another Teja-helmed Telugu project, emphasizing sports drama elements, with no confirmed release date as of October 2025.[19] Teja has indicated via social media updates ongoing auditions and script refinements for these ventures, signaling a return to high-concept narratives post-Ahimsa's underperformance.[20] A third potential project, Vikramaditya, appears listed in select databases as an upcoming drama, but lacks verified production timelines or official confirmations from Teja's team.[21]
Film distribution ventures
Key distributions and business involvement
Teja established Chitram Movies in 2002 as a production banner that produced successful Telugu films including Jayam (2002) and Nijam (2003).[15] The company later expanded into film distribution, with offices set up in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam to manage releases in the Nizam and coastal Andhra territories.[22]Through Chitram Movies' distribution arm, Teja handled territorial rights for select Telugu releases such as Dhairyam (2005) and Oosaravelli (2011), alongside dubbing and exhibition of Hollywood imports from the Harry Potter series, including Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009).[22] These efforts targeted Telugu-speaking audiences, leveraging his industry experience to secure and promote content in regional markets.Teja further diversified into exhibition by acquiring Rama Talkies, a cinema hall in Visakhapatnam, which he began renovating in 2010 to enhance screening infrastructure amid industry challenges.[23] His business approach emphasized direct involvement in the supply chain, from production to theater operations, though specific financial outcomes of these ventures remain undocumented in public records.Controversies and criticisms
Legal and professional disputes
In 2010, Teja became embroiled in a property dispute with producer Chadalavada Srinivasa Rao, who filed cheating and trespassing cases against Teja, his wife, brother-in-law, and father-in-law for allegedly encroaching on a property.[24] The Andhra Pradesh High Court rejected Teja's petition to quash the criminal proceedings in April 2010, upholding the lower court's actions.[25] In March 2010, the High Court had temporarily stayed ongoing criminal actions amid claims of property encroachment, but the dispute persisted.[26]The conflict extended to allegations in 2012 that Teja sought assistance from gangster Bhanu Kiran to resolve the property issue with Rao, which Teja publicly denied, asserting no involvement with such figures.[27]In April 2016, Banjara Hills police registered a criminal case against Teja and associates Vaddera Satyam and members of the Kaiser gang for allegedly issuing death threats to timber depot owner R.V.Krishna Rao.[28][29] The threats stemmed from an ongoing court case over disputed ownership of a house in Hyderabad, with police noting prior tensions between the parties.[30]Professionally, following the commercial failure of a big-budget film in 2005, Teja faced backlash from producers who filed police complaints against him, prompting the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce to impose a one-year ban on his operations in the state; the chamber conditioned resolution on withdrawal of mutual complaints.[17] In April 2015, the Andhra Pradesh Film Employees Federation (APFEF) announced a ban on cooperation from its 14,000 members across 24 crafts, citing unspecified grievances against Teja.[31]In May 2025, Teja claimed ownership of the film title "Duet," objecting to its use by Tamil director Pradeep Ranganathan and Telugu distributors Mythri Movie Makers, though no formal legal resolution was reported at the time.[32]
On-set incidents and industry perceptions
Teja earned a reputation in Telugu cinema for enforcing rigorous discipline on film sets, emphasizing punctuality and adherence to schedules, which contrasted with the more relaxed norms prevalent in the industry.Teja once in conversation with Ramoji Rao said it was possible to shoot an entire film in Ramoji Film City with a very small budget. He directed many blockbusters such as Chitram, Nuvvu Nenu, Jayam, and Nijam. He then joined the bandwagon of Bollywood.
PERSONAL LIFE:
The baby was taken to Beijing, China and Berlin, Germany for medical treatment.
They described him as a "shark" exploiting the system, urging a one-year ban on his operations within Andhra Pradesh to safeguard industry stability from such practices.[17] This episode solidified a narrative among some stakeholders that Teja prioritized creative autonomy over budgetary prudence, contributing to his image as a controversial figure despite his earlier successes.
Personal life
Family dynamics and tragedies
Teja was born on February 22, 1966, in Madras (now Chennai) to industrialist Jasti Balaram Krishna Chowdhary and Jasti Rani, in an affluent family.[4] He lost his mother at the age of three, an event that marked the beginning of a challenging childhood, after which he was raised primarily by his father.[35] His father passed away later in Teja's life, though specific details on the circumstances or date remain undocumented in public records.[35]Teja's most profound family tragedy occurred with the death of his younger son, Aurov Teja, on March 19, 2011, at the age of three (or four, per varying accounts), following a prolonged illness stemming from birth complications including breathing problems and cerebral palsy, attributed to faulty medical procedures during delivery.[4][36] Teja sought treatment across multiple countries and consulted specialists but could not save the child, later attributing the loss partly to medical negligence and his own divided attention due to professional stresses.[37] The grief led Teja to halt film work from 2008 to 2012, describing the pain as "inexplicable" and stating, "I lost my son who was close to my heart."[37][38]Teja is married to Srivalli, who manages an organic farm and follows the teachings of Sri Aurobindo; the couple has an elder son, Amitov Teja (born circa 2001, residing in New York and pursuing studies alongside stand-up comedy), and a daughter, Aila (born circa 2001, noted for talents in music, instruments, and painting).[37] Public accounts of family interactions emphasize resilience amid loss, with Teja crediting spiritual practices and familial support for his recovery, though detailed dynamics remain private.[37]Financial struggles and personal philosophy
In the late 2000s, Teja faced acute financial distress triggered by his infant son's terminal illness, requiring specialized treatment in Germany that exhausted his resources.To cover the costs, he mortgaged his Hyderabad residence for ₹3 crore.[39] The child's death at age four in approximately 2012 intensified the strain, prompting a filmmaking hiatus from 2008 to 2012 amid profound grief and halted income.[37]Extended gaps in directing assignments compounded these challenges; in one instance spanning four years without projects, Teja defaulted on a home loan, leading the bank to post a publicconfiscation notice on his house wall.
In 2007, he directed Lakshmi Kalyanam, featuring Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, focusing on familial bonds and rural life, though it underperformed at the box office amid competition from bigger releases. Following the 2003 release of a high-budget film that underperformed commercially—where costs reportedly ballooned from an initial 4 crore rupees to 12 crore—prominent figures including Akkineni Nageswar Rao, D.
Rama Naidu, and G. Krishna publicly condemned Teja for mismanaging resources and inflating expenses through impulsive decisions. Chowdhary suffered heavy losses in his business which forced Teja to start working at an early age.
Teja identifies himself as anti-caste, anti-religion, and anti-region. The film became a huge hit and paved way for a variety of new age romantic films in Tollywood.
is an Indian cinema turned director and screenwriter, known for his work primarily in Telugu cinema. He then took up assignments for documentaries presented in National Geographic Channel. Over the years, he has received multiple Nandi Awards and won the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu for Nuvvu Nenu.
Teja began his cinematography career with Ram Gopal Varma’s 1992 bilingual film Raat, which earned him the Nandi Award for Best Cinematography.
In the year 2000, Teja changed the face of Telugu cinema with his revolutionary film Chitram.
Teja was born in Madras, Tamil Nadu into one of the richest of business families in India. He did many assignments for documentaries presented in National Geographic Channel. He later worked with Ram Gopal Varma on films like Shiva (Telugu), Kshana Kshanam, Rangeela etc.
By 2008, Teja delivered Keka, a youthful entertainer with Sriram Chandra in the lead, emphasizing friendship and romance, which garnered a cult following among younger audiences despite modest earnings.Teja's mid-career also included production under his banner Chitram Movies, established in 2002, where he backed projects like Jayam and Nijam earlier, but shifted focus amid directing slowdowns.[15] Gaps in his filmography lengthened after 2008, with no major releases until 1000 Abaddalu in 2013, a comedy-drama that struggled commercially due to limited promotion and audience fatigue with ensemble casts.
Due to the unfortunate demise of both his parents, Teja ran away from home and did all sorts of odd jobs to finally stumble upon the TV industry.