Ram Charan Becomes More Grounded with His Success: Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan Hopes the 'Game Changer' Breaks Box Office Records

Ram Charan, the global superstar, has joined forces with the famous director Shankar for the big-budget political action-drama, Game Changer. Kiara Advani stars as the female lead. The film is presented by Smt. Anita and produced by Dil Raju and Sirish under the banners of Sri Venkateshwara Creations, Dil Raju Productions, and Zee Studios.

Game Changer is set to hit theaters worldwide on January 10. Before its release, the team threw a lavish pre-release event in Rajahmundry on January 4, with Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan as the chief guest. The event also saw the attendance of the state's cinematography minister Kandula Durgesh, along with MLAs Gorantla Buchaiah Chowdary, Adireddy Vasu, Bathula Balaram, Kolikapudi Srinivas, MLC Hari Prasad, and KUDA chairman Thummala Babu.

The cast and crew, including Ram Charan, director Shankar, producers Dil Raju and Sirish, music director Thaman, and lyricists Ramajogaiah Sastry, Ananta Sriram, and Kasarla Shyam, were all present. Dialogue writer Sai Madhav Burra and actors Naveen Chandra, Anjali, Srikanth, Pruthvi, and Racha Ravi also attended, along with director Sujeeth and producer Hanshitha.

At the event, Pawan Kalyan shared his thoughts, saying, "A big hello to everyone here at the Game Changer event! And a shoutout to all the folks tuning in from different platforms. Special greetings to my fans (smiles). We can’t overlook the legends of our film industry like Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, Dadasaheb Phalke, Satyajit Ray, and Raj Kapoor. We also have to honor the pride of Telugu cinema—NT Rama Rao garu, ANR garu, BN Reddy garu, and Ramabrahmam garu. If you see Pawan Kalyan or Ram Charan today, it’s all thanks to Chiranjeevi garu. You can call me Kalyan Babu, OG, or even Deputy CM, but it’s Chiranjeevi garu who paved the way for us. We’re able to host this event thanks to the support of our honorable Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu garu. A big thank you to Home Minister Anita garu, the state DGP, and the entire district team who worked tirelessly over the last four days to make this happen. I also want to acknowledge the ministers and MLAs present here. I caught Shankar garu's Gentleman in Chennai and watched Premikudu with my grandmother. His films always carry a strong social message. Today, filmmakers like Ram Charan garu, Rajamouli garu, and Jr NTR garu have taken Indian cinema to new heights. Some Southern directors laid the groundwork for this success, and Shankar garu is definitely one of them. Telugu audiences have embraced his films, and I’ve always wanted to see him create a straight Telugu movie. I’m thrilled that he’s making his debut with Game Changer."

Dil Raju garu played a big role in my career by distributing my film Tholi Prema. When I faced some challenges, he stepped in and helped me with Vakeel Saab. Honestly, he was a key player in supporting the Jana Sena party. Our family has always been devoted to Lord Hanuman. When Chiranjeevi garu had a son, our dad put a lot of thought into naming him Ram Charan, which signifies someone who serves at the feet of Lord Rama, just like Lord Hanuman. No matter how powerful he is, Charan stays humble and loyal. To me, Chiranjeevi garu is like a father figure. I may not be Ram Charan's uncle, but he feels like a younger brother to me. I really thought he would snag an award for his role in Rangasthalam. Even though he wasn't born or raised in the Godavari area, he nailed that character perfectly. While his dad is the Mega Star, Charan has become a Global Star. With dedication and hard work, anyone can achieve Mega Star status. I owe a lot to Chiranjeevi garu for my success. I remember him coming home exhausted after shoots, and I would be there to help him out. I’d take off his shoes and socks and wash his feet. We were never the type to harbor ill feelings towards other actors. Our dad always taught us to embrace the idea of 'Sarvejana Sukhinobhavanthu,' wishing well for everyone. I do feel a bit envious of Charan's horse-riding skills since I can't ride at all. Even though I admitted that, I still had to do a horse-riding scene in Gabbar Singh. I approached the horse and fed it a carrot, and it ended up taking good care of me during the shoot. Charan, on the other hand, is a pro at horse riding. I recently watched the trailer for Game Changer, and I really liked it. The film carries a powerful social message.

Everyone who came to the event should make it home safely. It would really hurt us if anything happened to you. Ticket prices vary based on demand and supply. The standards of Telugu films have definitely gone up. There’s a GST on every ticket sold, which means the government benefits from ticket sales. People from all sectors are coming together to create films. Instead of just copying Hollywood, we should focus on making films that reflect our own culture. Even NT Rama Rao garu treated everyone fairly. Chandrababu Naidu garu has also been a big supporter of the film industry’s growth. I always feel fulfilled watching Shankar garu's movies like Oke Okkadu and Shivaji. Films have their right and wrong, and it’s up to the audience to decide what they take away from them. I hope we see more thought-provoking films alongside the entertaining ones. It would be great to have more films that teach values in the future. On behalf of Andhra Pradesh, I want to congratulate Ram Charan garu, Shankar garu, Dil Raju garu, and Sirish garu. SJ Suryah garu is an amazing director and a talented actor. He’s always expressed his passion for acting, and now he’s really impressing everyone with his performances. I wish all the best for Game Changer and hope it kicks off the New Year by smashing box office records. Ram Charan truly embodied his roles in Magadheera and Alluri Seetharama Raju. He’s a good friend to all the heroes in the industry. He practices Ayyappa Deeksha and Hanuman Deeksha for at least 100 days each year, saying it helps him stay humble. Even if he reaches the Oscars, he remains down-to-earth. When he dresses up, he might wear a suit, but otherwise, you’ll find him in an Ayyappa mala and barefoot. Ram Charan is like a treasure to me, almost like a younger brother. The more he achieves, the more humble he becomes. I bless him not just as an uncle but as an elder brother, wishing him incredible success.