“Anaganaga Oka Raju Will Offer Brand-New Entertainment” – Meenakshi Chaudhary
Anaganaga Oka Raju is all set to arrive this Sankranti as a complete festive entertainer. Starring popular performer Naveen Polishetty in the lead role, the film features Meenakshi Chaudhary as the female protagonist. Produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under the banners of Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, and presented by Srikara Studios, the film is directed by debutant Maari. Music is composed by Mickey J Meyer.
From the beginning, the film has grabbed attention with its unique promotional content. Positioned as a perfect festival watch, Anaganaga Oka Raju is scheduled for a theatrical release on January 14, 2026. Coming after Naveen Polishetty’s streak of successful films, expectations around this project are high. The recently released trailer has further increased the buzz.
Ahead of the release, actress Meenakshi Chaudhary interacted with the media and shared interesting insights about the film and her journey.
Back-to-back Sankranti releases how does it feel?
It feels incredibly special. Last year, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam gave me a memorable Sankranti success. Returning again this festival season with Anaganaga Oka Raju makes me very happy, and I truly hope the audience connects with it just as strongly.
Tell us about your character.
My character’s name is Charulatha. She comes from a wealthy family and is brought up like a princess at home. She’s soft-hearted, innocent, emotionally sensitive, and very sweet by nature. Audiences will see me in a full-fledged comic role, which is something new for me.
How did you prepare for this role?
Charulatha is very different from who I am in real life. During my college days, I came across a few people with similar personalities, which helped me understand the character better. I relied a lot on the director’s inputs and tried to adapt myself accordingly. While I’m quite practical in real life, Charulatha is emotional and delicate, so stepping into her mindset was an interesting challenge.
How was it working with Naveen Polishetty?
Working with Naveen feels like attending a masterclass in cinema. His sense of comedy is very unique. In Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, although the film had humor, my role was relatively serious. But in this film, I’m completely into comedy, where timing is everything. Delivering punch dialogues at the right moment was challenging, and honestly, this is the most demanding role I’ve done so far. Comedy is not easy, especially when it has to feel fresh. I’m very happy to be part of this film.
How important is Charulatha to your career?
This is my first complete comedy-oriented role, and it really helped me open up as an actor. Charulatha is entirely different from Sumathi in Lucky Bhaskar. I enjoy reshaping myself according to the vision of the director and the demands of the character. Audiences will definitely notice my comic timing in this film.
You also performed mass dance numbers in the film. How was that experience?
Yes, there are cute mass numbers like Bhimavaram Balma and Raju Gari Pelli Ro. Normally, I feel shy while dancing, but I felt very comfortable here. We shot these songs in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, and every song in the film has turned out really well.
Shooting experience in the Godavari region?
It was wonderful. The people were extremely warm and hospitable. I enjoyed local food, visited temples, and explored nearby places. Their love for cinema is very special. The entire shooting experience there is something I will always cherish.
Your thoughts on the importance of female roles in films today?
Heroine roles today carry much more weight, and I’m grateful to be getting such meaningful characters. I played a mother in Lucky Bhaskar, an IPS officer in Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, and now a completely different role in this film. Charulatha shows me in a new light as an actor.
How do you choose your stories?
For me, the story is the real hero. I focus on how strong the narrative is and how the director plans to present the characters. The star value doesn’t matter as much as the impact of the role and how it helps me grow in my career.
This is your third film with Sithara Entertainments. How do you see this association?
Sithara feels like family to me. They actively encourage young talent and strong storytelling. Getting consecutive opportunities from the same banner feels like a blessing, and I’m happy to be doing diverse roles with them.
A word about director Maari?
Even though he’s a first-time director, he has great clarity. He’s very talented and extremely patient. No matter how many takes a scene requires, he remains calm and cheerful. He managed to bring out strong performances from everyone.
How do you look at your journey in cinema?
I see this journey as a never-ending race. New talent keeps coming in, so we must constantly evolve and challenge ourselves. I don’t believe in thinking I’ve “settled” or reached a particular stage. For me, having good work in hand is what truly matters.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on Vrushakarma with Naga Chaitanya. A few other interesting projects are also in discussion, and official announcements will be made soon.
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