When he isn't hurtling down a straight at 290kmph or tweaking the marinade for a cloud-kitchen bao, Naga Chaitanya is building something that defies celebrity archetypes. At 37, he's equally an actor, a racing patron, and a food entrepreneur, and altogether disinterested in noise. Describing his current state of mind as 'calm, happy,' he adds that home is his 'safest and happiest place.' Perhaps it is also down to him stepping out of his comfort zone with Thandel and being rewarded with a career milestone that not only marked commercial success but also critical validation. The gritty, coastal-set drama, where Chaitanya sheds his usual urbane, polished persona for something earthier and more rooted, allowed audiences to witness a transformative performance. It was a risk that paid off—emotionally and financially. The film grossed over Rs 100 crore, becoming the highest-grossing movie of his career. In breaking away from the typecast of the charming city boy, Chaitanya embraced raw vulnerability and regional nuance, and in doing so, proved that his range as an actor extends far beyond familiar terrain. He exudes the understated confidence of someone deeply in tune with his evolving journey of someone who'd rather play the long game—on the track, on set, and at the dinner table.

Watch; by Longines. Knit; by Canali. Trousers; by Riccaro Corduso. Jewellery; Hermes.

'Judgement' is the quality he most wants to perfect—a value that echoes through each deliberate, sometimes counterintuitive choice he's made in recent years. "Being in this industry, judgement is the biggest talent you have to have," he says. Turning down formulaic commercial roles in favour of character-driven stories, choosing to back a motorsport team instead of investing in trendier ventures, and opting to launch a niche gourmet cloud kitchen post-COVID instead of a flashy flagship restaurant all confirm that he is mastering that skill through a multi-faceted approach. What makes his trajectory unusual is not just that he thrives in three wildly different domains—cinema, motorsport, and food—but that he approaches each with the same understated intentionality, not moonlighting across interests for optics. Whether it is the rush of a timed lap, the tension in a shot before the director calls 'cut,' or the finesse of a perfectly packed meal, Chaitanya shows up with the same quiet discipline.

Between Takes and Track Days

For someone so enamoured by speed and control, Chaitanya brings an unusual stillness to the sets. It's not a passive quietude, but a kind of razor-sharp focus that allows him to block out clutter and tune in to the moment. Ask him about the arc from Josh to Thandel, and he reflects on it not through the lens of stardom or commercial milestones, but growth. "Each role has taught me something. But I'm still very hungry. This industry never stops teaching you."

His trajectory on screen is peppered with choices that show range—from the breezy romantic lead in Ye Maaya Chesave that made him a household name, to intense dramas like Majili and Love Story, where he brought vulnerability and grit in equal measure. Even his recent turn in Custody saw him navigate a complex narrative with restraint, resisting the temptation to go over the top. This evolving body of work suggests an actor more interested in depth than dazzle.

His appetite for learning is evident not only in how he approaches scripts but also in the way he embraces setbacks. Failures, he says, are just another kind of data. They don't unnerve him. "If a film doesn't work, you learn. If it does, you push harder next time. The journey doesn't stop either way." It's the kind of stoicism that also redefines what success means to him. For him, success isn't about award-show selfies or Twitter applause. "If someone sees my name on a poster and chooses to buy a ticket, even without watching the trailer, that's success to me." He speaks with a conviction, the kind that suggests he's building a body of work for the long haul, not for the algorithm.

Even with NC24, his 24th film and a high-concept mythological thriller, the focus isn't on spectacle but sincerity. Directed by Karthik Varma Dandu of Virupaksha fame the project sees Chaitanya stepping into uncharted territory. "There's a lot of VFX [in NC24, his upcoming film], the scale is massive. But what excites me is how clear the director is. We've done workshops, rehearsals, even built a miniature cave set to understand the terrain. That process was new and really exciting."

The Starting Line

Footwear; by Birkenstock. Watch; by Longines. Knit; by Canali. Trousers; by Riccaro Corduso. Jewellery; by Hermes.

"Koenigsegg," he blurts out instinctively when asked about his dream car. For automotive enthusiasts, the Swedish brand is synonymous with pushing hypercar boundaries—from shattering the 0–400–0 kmph record with the Agera RS to pioneering camless engines and 3D-printed turbos. "It's not just about speed—it's about feedback, weight, balance. I'm a sucker for well-engineered cars that talk to you." Having started his supercar journey with the Nissan GT-R, for Chaitanya, the thrill lies as much in the tactile experience as in the technical brilliance. "It's the engineering that blows my mind," he says. "Everything about it feels like it's been crafted to defy limits—power, aerodynamics, design. It's a brand that truly thinks out of the box." He still rues the day he sold off the GT-R. "It was my first real indulgence—a car I chased for years. Letting it go still stings a bit."

A thoroughbred petrolhead, Chaitanya has cut his teeth not just with high-end supercars, but by racing in grassroots motorsport. He's driven both the Etios Cup and Polo Cup cars on Indian circuits, absorbing the nuances of racing firsthand. "They're not glamorous, but they teach you control and discipline—how to extract the most from a machine that doesn't forgive sloppy driving." That foundational experience has only fuelled his reverence for the craft.

The roots of this passion run deep. Growing up in Chennai, he spent many weekends at the Sriperumbudur racetrack. "They used to have these races with Maruti 800s and 1000s," he reminisces. "Twice a month, I'd go with my friends." That racing culture crept in early, and as he grew, that fascination evolved into a worldview. His obsession deepened through Formula One, with Michael Schumacher at the centre of it. "Now, following F1 is almost a religious ritual for me," he says, smiling. "I love cars that are raw, that make you feel the road. Not everything needs to be smooth or refined. I need to feel connected to the machine," he explains.

From Pit Lane to Prime Time

Passion, of course, isn't enough to run a racing team. "Honestly, it was a dream come true—and very unexpected," Chaitanya says of his involvement with the Hyderabad Blackbirds in the Indian Racing League (IRL). The decision wasn't a casual celebrity endorsement; it was the culmination of a long-standing dream nurtured through years of watching and participating in grassroots motorsport. "Racing is expensive. It's not something you can just walk into. The cars, the logistics, the repairs—everything requires commitment."

Footwear; by Birkenstock. Watch; by Longines. Knit; by H&M. Suit; by Rajesh Pratap Singh. Jewellery; by Hermes.

So, when the Indian Racing League launched with a city-franchise format modelled after cricket and kabaddi, Chaitanya went all in. From strategy meetings and garage briefings to technical breakdowns, he was actively involved in the day-to-day workings of the team. The Hyderabad Blackbirds—his team—quickly became a dominant force. In 2023, they clinched the F4 Indian Championship title, with South African driver Aqil Alibhai topping the standings with six wins, four pole positions, and 12 fastest laps. In 2022, the team secured the Entrant Championship in the IRL's debut season, with key drivers like Akhil Rabindra leading consistent podium finishes. Their standout performance at MIC Chennai, where they bagged both Sprint and Feature races with 1-2 finishes, cemented their reputation.

"Being part of the pits, talking to the drivers, understanding the mechanics—it was surreal. I had only watched these things on TV growing up," he says. It's this hands-on fluency—not just fandom—that defines his involvement. More significantly, he's pragmatic about the motorsport ecosystem in India. "It's not growing like other sports here, but there is steady interest. You see more kids wanting to race, more go-karting tracks. We already have Indian names in global teams. The curiosity is there. Who knows—maybe we'll see an Indian F1 champion someday."

From Track to Takeout

Food, like racing, is another personal narrative-driven endeavour for Chaitanya. "I'm a foodie. I travel for food. I plan my holidays around what to eat," he laughs. His affection spans Michelin-star temples and anonymous roadside stalls. "Food gives you a story about a place." That idea birthed Shoyu, a pan-Asian cloud kitchen that launched post-COVID. "There was a void in the delivery space. Gourmet options didn't focus on packaging or plating. Food would arrive in plastic containers with tape, all jumbled up," he says. "I wanted to fix that." It was also about translating his favourite cuisine—Asian—to Indian sensibilities without compromising quality. Shoyu focuses on carefully curated dishes like baos, dim sums, ramen bowls, and sushi, delivered in elegant, minimal packaging designed for both function and aesthetic appeal. The attention to detail is reflected in everything from the portioning to the plating within the box—each element calibrated to evoke the experience of dining out.

Footwear; by Birkenstock. Watch; by Longines. Kurta; by MARGN. Pants; by Riccaro Corduso.

With Shoyu doing well, he launched Scuzi, a comfort food brand focused on burgers and pizzas—his go-to indulgences. "I love a great burger. Nothing fancy. Just the way it's supposed to be." Scuzi blends American diner nostalgia with modern flavour twists, offering items like smash burgers, garlic knots, and New York-style pizzas, all built for delivery without compromise on taste or texture. Both brands reflect Chaitanya's commitment to marrying authenticity with scalability, form with flavour.

Both ventures are more than vanity projects. A QSR at Hyderabad airport is already operational, with plans to expand to other cities. The method is meticulous: identify a gap, build thoughtfully, then scale.

Reset Rituals and the Road Ahead

Despite juggling films, fast cars, and food, there's a rhythm to Chaitanya's off-screen world that provides a counterweight to his high-octane passions. If both he and wife Sobhita are in Hyderabad, they make it a point to share breakfast and dinner together. Sundays are sacred for switching off—watching a movie, ordering in, going for a walk. Their dynamic, by his own admission, is built on contrast. "She's into reading, I'm into racing. But we're both creative people. We take turns planning holidays. One time it's her lead, the next time it's mine." That blend of contrast and coordination filters into their shared routines. In one particularly charming anecdote, he recalls teaching her how to drive—on a racetrack. "No pedestrians, no pressure," he chuckles. "Once she started driving, she didn't want to stop." For himself, he leans on simpler pleasures. "Just sitting by the water calms me like nothing else. I can stare at the ocean for hours," he says. He also ends each day watching an episode of a webseries or a film. Together, these rituals act as essential pit stops that let him reset and return grounded.

Footwear; by Birkenstock. Watch; by Longines. Clothes; by Canali

It would be easy to slot Chaitanya into a familiar legacy-kid trope. Grandfather. Father. Film dynasty. But he's not chasing symbolism; he's chasing sustainability. "First, I want to live up to the expectations my grandfather and father have set. But beyond that, I want audiences to trust me. If they see my name on a poster, I want them to walk in knowing I'll do justice to the role—whatever it may be. That kind of goodwill is what I hope to build." The weight of that legacy—from his grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao, a titan of Telugu cinema, to his father Nagarjuna, who redefined stardom across generations—isn't lost on him. In an industry that thrives on reinvention, Chaitanya isn't looking to disrupt. He's building a long-tail legacy—lap by lap, scene by scene, one bao at a time. If his rituals reveal the man behind the marquee, his answers to the Proust Questionnaire offer even more clues. Chaitanya's ambitions don't appear louder, just clearer.

The Proust Questionnaire

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

If you can go home every day and sleep without any chaos in your mind, just sleep, switch off for those seven hours and wake up fresh and lightheaded—that is perfect happiness. If that happens, that means everything in your life is in order.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing whatever I have.

What is the trait that you most deplore in yourself?

Once someone tells me a plan or someone gives me a schedule and later on, they change it, I get completely messed up. And in a way, it's good, but in a way, it's also very bad because I think as a human and especially being in this industry, you have to keep learning to adapt because things are always changing.

What is the one trait that you hate in others?

When they don't follow time. Especially in the film industry, time is always changing.

Which person do you most admire?

A lot of people.

Okay, give me three..

Obviously, my dad and my mom and I put my wife as number three.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I would say automobiles.

What is your current state of mind?

Calm and happy.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

When some people say that something is not meant to be and give up even without trying. I think, even if it's not meant to be...give it a shot if you want to. At least you will have the satisfaction that you tried. It's okay to fail, it makes you stronger.

On what occasion do you lie?

Do I lie? I do not lie at all.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I won't say it's dislike, but you always want to keep bettering yourself. You know, when I watch my previous films, I'm like, shit, I could have done this better. I could have looked better there, you know? So, there's constant criticism, but it's constructive.

Which living person do you most despise?

No one.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

I feel it's a man's responsibility to look after his family or his partner or his pet or whatever. So, that's the quality I really think men should feel proud of and take up.

What is the quality that you most like in a woman?

She completes a man. I don't think any man is complete without the female energy or the partner's energy. So yeah, I won't say one single quality. It's just them as a whole, you know.

Which words or phrases do you overuse the most?

"Everything happens for a reason". I use it a lot with my friends, especially when I don't have an answer. To get away from that situation, I'll just say, "everything happens for a reason, don't worry".

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

It might sound very cheesy, but it is life. I really love life, I think it's such an amazing feeling to be able to live healthy, happy, and be doing what you want to do. All of that sums up life.

When and where are you the happiest?

I'm the happiest at home. I think home is such a safe place. And I think that's how it should be. If you're not going back home happy, then something is wrong. You need to sort of introspect and fix things. Because if everything is good and everything's happening the way it's supposed to happen, then going back home will be happy. So home is my happiest place.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Judgement. Being in this industry, judgement is the biggest talent you have to have. Not only being a great actor, it's also important how well you judge a script and pick a script. And it's also very important to judge what the audience is feeling, because that's what you need to take back and figure out. So, if these parameters of judgement are not aligned and not up to the fullest, it's going to sort of affect decisions.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Nothing. I'm good.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

I'm happy. I'll come back as myself, but I'll make a lot of corrections. I will implement my learnings from this life and do a few things differently.

Where would you most like to live?

By the beach.

What is your most treasured possession?

It is what I've built for myself—from my work to my family, to all this...these are my most treasured possessions.

What do you regard as the lowest level of misery?

When you're making mistakes, but you're not realising it.

What is your most marked characteristic?

A lot of people tell me I don't talk much... I'm quite a quiet person. So, my silence.

What do you value most in your friends?

Their honesty. These are friends I've had from school and college, so they're very, very black and white to me. They don't sugarcoat anything. They joke about me, pull my leg and tell me when things are not working as well as when things are working.

Who are your favourite writers?

I would say Christopher Nolan, of course. He is a director also, but he's one of my favourite writers. I know his brother heavily influences his writing. Apart from that, all my favourite writers are also directors. Like Mani Ratnam sir, Rajamouli garu.

Who is your hero of fiction?

Batman.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Osho.

Watch; by Longines. Clothes; by Canali

Who are your heroes in real life?

Apart from my family, who I mentioned earlier, Ratan Tata is someone I really looked up to. The journey of Elon Musk is something that amazes me. Again, Christopher Nolan. and from our Telugu industry, in my generation, S.S. Rajamouli garu.

What is it that you most dislike?

A manipulative attitude.

What is your greatest regret?

I won't say it's a regret, but when I look at my work, there are many things I feel like I could have done better. But you only learn with time by progressing from film to film.

What is your motto?

Live and let live.

And what's 2025 looking like for you?

2025 is looking good! I am very happy with Thandel. That's given me a lot of encouragement as an actor—it is based on a true story where I play a fisherman, I have never attempted anything like this before. The reactions to the film have given me a lot of encouragement. Next is NC24. Apart from movies, I have my F&B ventures, Shoyu and Scuzi— we have expansion plans for both. As far as Hyderabad Blackbirds are concerned, there's a new season, and the races are coming up. So, it's been a great year and I'm looking forward to an even better one.

Credits:

Photographer: Kunal Gupta (@kunalgupta91)

Stylist: Rahul Vijay (@rahulvijay1988)

Sr. Art Director: Hemali Limbachiya (@hema_limbachiya)

Hair: Hakim’s Aalim (@aalimhakim)

Makeup: Mansi Talwar (@mansitalwar7)

Location: Marriott Convention Centre, Hyderabad

Artist Reputation Management: Keerat Publicity (@kpublicity), Bhavika Karia ( @bhavikak27), Shilpi Duggal (@duggal_shilpi)