# Teja Sajja (తేజ సజ్జా)
**Teja Sajja** (తేజ సజ్జా) is an Indian actor who works primarily in [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema), first known as one of that industry's most visible child actors and later as the lead of the 2024 mythological superhero film *[Hanu Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/hanu-man)*, which made him a pan-Indian star.[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/the-pandemic-has-made-it-harder-for-newcomers-like-me-to-survive-teja-sajja/articleshow/83780486.cms) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/hanu-man-actor-teja-sajja-on-the-responsibility-of-a-pan-indian-film-we-wanted-it-to-look-as-grand-as-possible-9114153/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1994 according to Filmibeat; ZEE5 lists 1995[3](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/celebs/teja-sajja.html) • [4](https://www.zee5.com/celebs/teja-sajja/filmography) |
| Screen debut | Age three in Chiranjeevi's *Choodalani Vundi* (1998)[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/the-pandemic-has-made-it-harder-for-newcomers-like-me-to-survive-teja-sajja/articleshow/83780486.cms) |
| Child career | 1998 to 2006, in over 50 films by one count and about 24 by another[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/the-pandemic-has-made-it-harder-for-newcomers-like-me-to-survive-teja-sajja/articleshow/83780486.cms) • [5](https://telugu.abplive.com/web-stories/cinema/teja-sajja-super-hit-movies-as-child-artist-before-hanuman-mirai-208632) |
| Lead debut | *Zombie Reddy* (2021), directed by Prasanth Varma[4](https://www.zee5.com/celebs/teja-sajja/filmography) |
| Breakthrough | *Hanu Man* (2024), which earned Rs 680 million (Rs 68 crore) domestically after a slow start[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/hanu-man-actor-teja-sajja-on-the-responsibility-of-a-pan-indian-film-we-wanted-it-to-look-as-grand-as-possible-9114153/) |
| Rotten Tomatoes | *Hanu Man* 86% critics and 94% audience; *Mirai* 85%[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/teja_sajja) |
| Television | Debut as reality-show host with *The Traitors Telugu* (Prime Video, October 15, 2026)[7](https://www.primevideo.com/-/es/detail/0PRMQ6MT7VCHALCGCT18K1RDKY?tr=lk) |
## Child actor career
Sajja entered films almost by accident. A chance encounter with director [Gunasekhar](https://www.edgepedia.org/gunasekhar) at a bookstore, when he was two years old, led to work on film sets, and his silver-screen debut came at age three as a child actor in Chiranjeevi's *[Choodalani Vundi](https://www.edgepedia.org/choodalani-vundi)* (1998).[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/im-a-total-directors-actor-says-teja-sajja/amp_articleshow/106244937.cms) • [1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/the-pandemic-has-made-it-harder-for-newcomers-like-me-to-survive-teja-sajja/articleshow/83780486.cms) He worked steadily as a child actor between 1998 and 2006; the Times of India puts his childhood output at over 50 films, while an ABP Telugu retrospective counts about 24, a difference the sources do not reconcile.[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/the-pandemic-has-made-it-harder-for-newcomers-like-me-to-survive-teja-sajja/articleshow/83780486.cms) • [5](https://telugu.abplive.com/web-stories/cinema/teja-sajja-super-hit-movies-as-child-artist-before-hanuman-mirai-208632)
His roles were largely the childhood versions of the era's biggest stars. He played young [Chiranjeevi](https://www.edgepedia.org/chiranjeevi) in *Indra*, where his line "Nenunnanu Nayanamma" became the role audiences remember him by, and appeared in Chiranjeevi's *Choodalani Undi*, *Tagore*, and *Andarivadu* after it.[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/the-pandemic-has-made-it-harder-for-newcomers-like-me-to-survive-teja-sajja/articleshow/83780486.cms) • [5](https://telugu.abplive.com/web-stories/cinema/teja-sajja-super-hit-movies-as-child-artist-before-hanuman-mirai-208632) Other remembered parts include Vengala Rayudu in *Rajakumarudu*, roles in [Pawan Kalyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/pawan-kalyan)'s *Balu*, Venkatesh's *Kalisundam Raa* and as young Venky in *Lakshmi*, and NTR films including *Adivi Ramudu*, *Samba*, and *Na Alludu*, in the last of which he played a double role.[5](https://telugu.abplive.com/web-stories/cinema/teja-sajja-super-hit-movies-as-child-artist-before-hanuman-mirai-208632) His last film as a child actor was Nagarjuna's *Boss*.[5](https://telugu.abplive.com/web-stories/cinema/teja-sajja-super-hit-movies-as-child-artist-before-hanuman-mirai-208632)
He has said that film sets were effectively where he grew up, and that the actors around him shaped his ambitions: on Chiranjeevi's suggestion he learned horse riding, and on NTR Jr's advice he trained in [Kuchipudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/kuchipudi) for three years, followed by western dance.[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/the-pandemic-has-made-it-harder-for-newcomers-like-me-to-survive-teja-sajja/articleshow/83780486.cms) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/im-a-total-directors-actor-says-teja-sajja/amp_articleshow/106244937.cms)
## The long return
The switch from child actor to lead took years. In a Filmfare Middle East interview, Sajja described a struggling phase of seven years after he decided to become an adult actor, visiting production offices while roughly 10 to 15 projects nearly materialized and then collapsed; he credits that period with forming his judgment of scripts.[9](https://filmfaremiddleeast.com/digital-cover-star-teja-sajja-on-going-pan-india-with-hanu-man-the-first-telugu-superhero-flick/)
His first adult role was a supporting part as the grandson in Samantha's *Oh Baby* (2019).[4](https://www.zee5.com/celebs/teja-sajja/filmography) • [5](https://telugu.abplive.com/web-stories/cinema/teja-sajja-super-hit-movies-as-child-artist-before-hanuman-mirai-208632) He became a lead actor with *Zombie Reddy* (2021), directed by [Prasanth Varma](https://www.edgepedia.org/prasanth-varma), a zombie comedy that was, by ZEE5's account, a first for Telugu cinema.[4](https://www.zee5.com/celebs/teja-sajja/filmography) In the same year he starred in the time-travel film *Adbhutham* and the thriller *Ishq: Not A Love Story*.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/teja_sajja)
## Hanu Man and pan-Indian fame
*Hanu Man* (2024), his second film with Prasanth Varma, is a mythological superhero story that launched the director's planned Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe.[10](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/hanuman-review-teja-sajja-s-film-is-a-delightful-addition-to-the-superhero-genre-101704999534726.html) Sajja plays Hanumanthu, a small-time thief in the fictional village of Anjanadri who gains powers through a totem.[10](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/hanuman-review-teja-sajja-s-film-is-a-delightful-addition-to-the-superhero-genre-101704999534726.html)
**Box office turnaround.** The film opened at Rs 80 million (Rs 8 crore) on its first day, against Rs 413 million (Rs 41.3 crore) for [Mahesh Babu](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahesh-babu)'s *Guntur Kaaram* released the same Sankranthi weekend, but it built word of mouth through the weekend and by its fifth day had overtaken *Guntur Kaaram* in daily collections, reaching Rs 680 million (Rs 68 crore) domestically by mid-January 2024.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/hanu-man-actor-teja-sajja-on-the-responsibility-of-a-pan-indian-film-we-wanted-it-to-look-as-grand-as-possible-9114153/) The December 2024 Pioneer noted that Sajja, until then a relatively small star, became a household name with the film, which premiered to positive reviews and became a hit across languages.[11](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2024/epaper/december/vijayawada-english-edition-2024-12-30.pdf)
## Mirai and current work
Sajja followed *Hanu Man* with *[Mirai](https://www.edgepedia.org/mirai-2025-film)* (2025), a pan-India fantasy action-adventure directed by Karthik Gattamneni, in which he plays a warrior, the "Super Yodha," protecting ancient scriptures from a dark force; the cast includes Manoj Manchu, Ritika Nayak, Shriya Saran, Jayaram, and [Jagapathi Babu](https://www.edgepedia.org/jagapathi-babu).[12](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/mirai-twitter-review-teja-sajja-actioner-blend-ambition-spectacle-fans-call-fusion-myth-modern-10245128/) The film was praised on social media for its visual spectacle while Sajja's own performance drew criticism from reviewers, and it holds an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes.[12](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/mirai-twitter-review-teja-sajja-actioner-blend-ambition-spectacle-fans-call-fusion-myth-modern-10245128/) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/teja_sajja)
On television, Sajja made his debut as a reality-show host with *The Traitors Telugu*, the Telugu-language adaptation of the international *Traitors* format, following two Hindi seasons hosted by [Karan Johar](https://www.edgepedia.org/karan-johar).[7](https://www.primevideo.com/-/es/detail/0PRMQ6MT7VCHALCGCT18K1RDKY?tr=lk) • [13](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/tv-shows/watch-the-traitors-telugu) The first season premiered on Prime Video on October 15, 2026, with 20 celebrity contestants; in the format, three contestants secretly chosen by the host act as traitors eliminating the others nightly.[7](https://www.primevideo.com/-/es/detail/0PRMQ6MT7VCHALCGCT18K1RDKY?tr=lk) • [13](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/tv-shows/watch-the-traitors-telugu) In interviews he described the hosting role as a performance in itself, playing a mysterious persona rather than his usual screen manner.[14](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/teja-sajja-the-traitors-host-mystery-character-zombie-reddy-next-level-3012477-2026-10-09)
He also has a further film with the production house People Media Factory, the team behind *Mirai*, announced for a Sankranthi 2027 release.[15](https://www.capitalinformation.net/media/2025-08/24-8-25_pages.pdf)
## References
1. [The pandemic has made it harder for newcomers like me to survive: Teja Sajja, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/the-pandemic-has-made-it-harder-for-newcomers-like-me-to-survive-teja-sajja/articleshow/83780486.cms)
2. [Hanu Man actor Teja Sajja on the responsibility of a pan-Indian film, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/hanu-man-actor-teja-sajja-on-the-responsibility-of-a-pan-indian-film-we-wanted-it-to-look-as-grand-as-possible-9114153/)
3. [తేజా సజ్జా: సినిమాలు, వయస్సు, బయోగ్రఫీ, Filmibeat Telugu](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/celebs/teja-sajja.html)
4. [Teja Sajja filmography, ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/celebs/teja-sajja/filmography)
5. [చైల్డ్ ఆర్టిస్టుగా తేజ సజ్జా చేసిన సినిమాలు, ABP Live Telugu](https://telugu.abplive.com/web-stories/cinema/teja-sajja-super-hit-movies-as-child-artist-before-hanuman-mirai-208632)
6. [Teja Sajja Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/teja_sajja)
7. [The Traitors (Telugu), Season 1, Prime Video](https://www.primevideo.com/-/es/detail/0PRMQ6MT7VCHALCGCT18K1RDKY?tr=lk)
8. [I'm a total director's actor, says Teja Sajja, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/im-a-total-directors-actor-says-teja-sajja/amp_articleshow/106244937.cms)
9. [Digital Cover Star: Teja Sajja on going Pan India with Hanu Man, Filmfare Middle East](https://filmfaremiddleeast.com/digital-cover-star-teja-sajja-on-going-pan-india-with-hanu-man-the-first-telugu-superhero-flick/)
10. [HanuMan review: Teja Sajja's superhero film kicks off Prasanth Varma's cinematic universe, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/hanuman-review-teja-sajja-s-film-is-a-delightful-addition-to-the-superhero-genre-101704999534726.html)
11. [Controversies that overshadowed Telugu cinema's success, The Pioneer](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2024/epaper/december/vijayawada-english-edition-2024-12-30.pdf)
12. [Mirai Twitter Review: Teja Sajja's actioner a blend of ambition and spectacle, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/mirai-twitter-review-teja-sajja-actioner-blend-ambition-spectacle-fans-call-fusion-myth-modern-10245128/)
13. [How to watch The Traitors Telugu online, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/tv-shows/watch-the-traitors-telugu)
14. [Actor Teja Sajja on The Traitors Telugu and what makes a film truly pan-India, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/teja-sajja-the-traitors-host-mystery-character-zombie-reddy-next-level-3012477-2026-10-09)
15. [Teja Sajja & PMF reunite after Mirai; film locked for Sankranthi 2027 release, Capital Information](https://www.capitalinformation.net/media/2025-08/24-8-25_pages.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Telugu film actors › Surnames S to Z*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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