Teja Sajja’s untold struggles with replacements before Mirai and HanuMan

Teja Sajja has made a powerful comeback to the silver screen with Mirai, following the phenomenal success of last year’s blockbuster HanuMan. The young actor, who impressed audiences with his superhero avatar, is now back with a fantasy adventure that has already created a storm of excitement. Early social media reactions hint at a visually stunning spectacle filled with thrilling action, raising expectations that Teja might continue his winning streak.

Yet, behind the current success lies a story of struggle- one where he was replaced in several films before finally finding his place.

Also Read: Mirai review: Teja Sajja leads a fantasy spectacle where mythology meets Odisha’s timeless echoes

From Child Artist to Aspiring Hero

Teja Sajja’s cinematic journey began at a young age. As a child actor, he worked with many leading directors and stars in Telugu cinema. After years in front of the camera, he took a break, only to return at 19 with hopes of establishing himself as a male lead.

Young Teja Sajja with Chiranjeevi (Left) and Mahesh Babu (Right)

But while he thought his earlier connections would ease the path, the reality of the industry soon hit him hard.

Facing the Harsh Realities

A couple of days back, during an exclusive interview with Zoom, Teja opened up about how he was frequently replaced in films during his early attempts at restarting his career. 

“I thought things would be easy since I had worked with many directors and producers as a child actor. But soon I realised this is real business. People will only invest in you if you are apt for the role,” he said.

He revealed how some projects collapsed due to budget issues, while others were snatched away when producers or families pushed for their own candidates. 

“Few wanted to cast somebody from a film family after finalising me,” Teja recalled.

Broken Dreams, Unshaken Spirit

Every time a project was offered, Teja would let his imagination run wild- picturing his posters on streets, rehearsing his pre-release event speech, and visualising every scene. But when the call came that someone else had been cast, it felt like heartbreak. “It used to happen every four to five months,” he said, recalling how crushing those moments were.

Also Read: HanuMan star Teja Sajja’s heartfelt moment with fan having speech disability wins hearts, watch

Triumph After Struggles

Despite constant setbacks, Teja never gave up. His persistence finally paid off with HanuMan, which became a massive hit and changed his career trajectory. Now, with Mirai already winning praise, Teja’s journey stands as an inspiring reminder that even repeated heartbreaks can lead to extraordinary triumphs.