Among Tollywood’s star heroes, Akkineni Naga Chaitanya holds a special place. As the heir to Akkineni Nagarjuna, he has carved a unique identity for himself in the industry. With solid hits, he has earned a reputation as a talented actor, endearing himself to Telugu audiences with his boy-next-door charm. Today (November 23), Naga Chaitanya celebrates his birthday, stepping into his 38th year. Let’s uncover some secrets about Chay’s personal life on this special day.
Naga Chaitanya comes from a distinguished family background that’s unparalleled in the Telugu film industry. He is a proud heir to the Akkineni and Daggubati legacies.
He was born on November 23, 1986, in Hyderabad to Akkineni Nagarjuna and Lakshmi (daughter of D. Ramanaidu and sister of Venkatesh).
When Chaitanya was young, his parents separated, and he grew up with his mother in Chennai. He completed his schooling at PSBB School in Chennai before moving to Hyderabad.
In Hyderabad, he studied commerce at St. Mary’s College. Chay has mentioned in interviews that he was never brilliant in academics, describing himself as an average student.
At 38, Naga Chaitanya (HBD Akkineni Naga Chaitanya) looks incredibly fit and doesn’t show his age. However, during his teenage years, he weighed around 98 kilograms and was quite chubby.
Because of his weight, he was often teased and called “Dumbu” by people around him. Interestingly, the Daggubati family, rather than the Akkineni side, reportedly pampered him a lot.
Becoming a hero wasn’t a childhood dream for Naga Chaitanya. Even during his degree days, he lacked clarity about his career. His interest in films grew as he accompanied his father to film shoots.
When he expressed his desire to enter films, Nagarjuna supported him, reportedly advising him to lose weight first.
Taking his father’s advice seriously, Naga Chaitanya focused on fitness and lost significant weight. He also trained for 18 months at an acting school in California.
Thus, in 2009, Naga Chaitanya (HBD Akkineni Naga Chaitanya) made his debut with “Josh.” His career took a turn for the better with “Ye Maaya Chesave,” which became a landmark film for him.
Naga Chaitanya is known for staying away from social media, making him one of the least active Telugu actors online. Initially, he even avoided mainstream media interviews.
He often says that sharing on social media compromises privacy. Chay firmly believes in keeping his personal life private.
Though he appears soft and calm, Naga Chaitanya loves racing. He skillfully handles high-speed bikes and cars.
Initially, he aspired to be a racer and even participated in a few competitions, according to his close friends. However, he eventually gave up on this dream for various reasons.
Even though he didn’t become a professional racer, Chay still considers himself a racer. Collecting racing cars has become a passion for him, and he enjoys high-speed drives in his leisure time.
Currently, his garage houses speed monsters like Ferrari, Nissan GT-R, Porsche Panamera, Porsche Cayenne, and Range Rover Vogue. He also owns racing bikes like MV Agusta and BMW.
Fitness is a priority for Chay (HBD Akkineni Naga Chaitanya). He regularly works out and has set up a home gym to stay in shape.
Chay is known for being reserved. His friends often say that anyone who spends a few minutes talking to him can sense this quality.
Chay has very few friends in the industry. His best friend is actor Daggubati Rana, with whom he shares a bond that transcends family ties.
Rana once mentioned in an interview that he nicknamed Chay “Sweet Kid” because of his kind nature and personality, adding that anyone would like Chay.
When it comes to food, Naga Chaitanya loves butter chicken. He ensures it’s on his plate at least twice a week.
Naga Chaitanya (HBD Akkineni Naga Chaitanya) has a favorite phrase, though it’s hard to notice unless you pay attention. That phrase is “You know.”
During his teenage years, Naga Chaitanya reportedly had a crush on a Bollywood actress. She’s none other than Katrina Kaif.
After dating actress Samantha for seven years, Chay married her in October 2017. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in divorce in 2021 due to unavoidable reasons.
Naga Chaitanya got engaged to actress Sobhita Dhulipala on August 8, 2024. Their grand wedding is scheduled for December.
On the work front, Chay is set to collaborate with “Virupaksha” director Karthik Dandu for an upcoming project. On his birthday (November 23), a poster for this movie was released.
Titled “NC 24” as a working title, the film will be produced by B.V.S.N. Prasad and co-produced by director Sukumar.
