Genelia Deshmukh says she is ‘proud’ of Jr NTR, Ram Charan, and Allu Arjun: ‘We all began our careers around the same time, so I’ve known them as friends’ |
Genelia D’Souza is back where it all began. After over a decade away from Telugu cinema, the beloved actress is returning to the big screen with Junior—a romantic drama that pairs her with debutant Kireeti Reddy and Sreeleela. As she steps back into the world that helped shape her early stardom, Genelia is not just revisiting her roots but also celebrating the journey of her former co-stars Jr NTR, Ram Charan, and Allu Arjun—actors she proudly calls her friends.
Reflecting on a Shared Journey
At a Hyderabad press conference, the actress spoke about her comeback and reflected on her journey, highlighting her strong bond with Telugu cinema and its biggest stars.Genelia fondly recalled working with Jr. NTR, Ram Charan, and Allu Arjun during her early days in Tollywood. Reflecting on their growth, she shared her amazement after watching RRR, saying it was surreal to see how far her former co-stars—whom she considers friends—have come since they all started out together.She also expressed pride in her former co-stars, calling their growth remarkable. She praised Jr. NTR for his exceptional talent, recalling how he had the ability to memorise and deliver lengthy dialogues flawlessly in just one take.Genelia described Allu Arjun as full of energy and Ram Charan as someone with a natural flair for acting. She shared how proud she feels watching them evolve from young actors to successful superstars and fathers, having been a part of their early journeys in the industry.
A Career Built in the South
She shared the screen with Ram Charan in Orange (2010), Jr. NTR in Samba (2004) and Naa Alludu (2005), and Allu Arjun in Happy (2006). Reflecting on her journey, she credited the South Indian film industry as the foundation of her career.Although the actress made her Bollywood debut with Tujhe Meri Kasam in 2003, she credits the South Indian film industry for shaping her career. She recalled being advised against doing films like Satyam in favor of more glamorous roles like Boys, but chose to follow her instincts and take on stories that truly resonated with her.
The ‘Newcomer’ Perception in Bollywood
Interestingly, when Genelia returned to Hindi cinema with Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na in 2008—after a six-year gap—many viewers assumed she was a newcomer. Amused by the perception, she often found herself reminding people that she had already done substantial work in the South before her Bollywood re-entry.She is now gearing up for the theatrical release of Junior on July 18, 2025, marking her much-anticipated return to Telugu cinema. This comes on the heels of her recent appearance in Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par. She’s also set to feature in the upcoming Hindi-Marathi historical drama Raja Shivaji.
