Ram Charan Speaks On His Wedding - Interview

He will have two weddings -- one for the family and friends, and the other for his fans. Southern actor Ram Charan Teja, who will marry his childhood sweetheart Upasana Kamineni, says he is expecting 4,000 guests at each function and that Bollywood's names - Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan - will attend his wedding.

Son of superstar Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan is making his debut in Hindi films with Zanjeer remake and says: "There's just no question of not inviting my fans."

Upasana, granddaughter of Prathap C. Reddy, founder-chairman of Apollo Hospitals, and Ram Charan got engaged in December last year.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: So big day is around the corner?

A: Yup, I can't tell you what it is like. Upaasna is already my wife in my mind and heart and we are partying and attending poojas every night and catching up on some sleep during the day. On Sunday my father is hosting pre-wedding dinner and Salman Khan is landing here (Hyderabad) for it.

Q: When and where is the wedding?

A: Well, the first wedding is on June 14 morning at Upaasna's farmhouse (in Hyderabad), which we've converted into a banquet hall. And the second wedding is the next morning at the same venue.

Q: Please explain?

A: The wedding on June 14 is for family and friends. That's expected to be attended by around 4,000 people. Then the same evening we're hosting a reception for around 7,000 guests. The next morning we'll go through another wedding followed by lunch for my fans. We expect 4,000 people. But I suspect there will be a lot more people. And wait. It doesn't end there. On June 15 evening we're hosting a reception for the staff and family of the Apollo group of hospitals.

Q: A wedding specially for the fans?

A: There's just no question of not inviting my fans. They are a part of my father's and my extended family. And since we can't have so many people at one wedding we just extended the wedding into a double event.

Q: And the honeymoon?

A: Just a four-day break. We're yet to decide where we're going. But it will be somewhere quiet with no traffic or shopping. It has to be in India since I've to return in four days and resume shooting.

Q: Has your Hindi improved.

A: "Agar Hindi mein film karna hai toh Hindi bolni hogi." My first look for "Zanjeer" is out. I can't wait to know what Amitabh Bachchan saab thinks of it. He is coming here on June 14 for my wedding.

Q: Who else is coming from Mumbai?

A: Salman landed on Sunday with his friends who are also my friends... Salman wanted to spend some time with my dad. They go back a long way. Hope to workout with him. We've worked out together in Mumbai. Believe me, it was the toughest workout I've had. Salman made sure I didn't feel lonely in Mumbai.

Q: What about your friends from the Telugu film industry?

A: They've all taken time off to help with the preparations. Suriya, Shruti Haasan, Tamannah, Kajal Aggarwal, everyone. I left it to my fellow-actors to invite all my friends from the industry. Everybody has left their shooting to be part of the wedding preparations. It's like a family wedding for them. And considering this is the last wedding in my family, my two sisters are married, there is a lot of excitement.

Q: How do you feel about being a married actor?

A: I feel a man, when married, becomes more balanced. All the extra-curricular activities are done away with. The focus is on work and family. I am getting married young. I've known Upaasna for seven years. She was my best friend. Then we started dating two years back. So I am marrying my best friend. I can't ask for more. I sometimes ask her to switch off the wifely side and listen to me as a friend. She knows which buttons to press.

Q: How does she get along with your family?

A: You know, when I told her I am building a separate home for us at the Golf Course area for us to live in after marriage, she put her foot down. She insists we stay with my parents.

Q: That's so considerate

A: Well, she has a selfish motive. She says she can't handle me alone. She needs my parents' help. That was below the belt.

Q: So are you a spoilt brat at home?

A: I was pampered by all my father's directors and producers during childhood. But at home my father made sure I led a normal life.