Teja Sajja on birthdays: 'Never really celebrated, hadn't achieved anything yet'

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Teja Sajja on birthdays: 'Never really celebrated, hadn't achieved anything yet'

Synopsis

Teja Sajja's birthday post was more than gratitude — it was a rare window into the actor's psychology. He says he never celebrated birthdays because he felt he hadn't earned it yet. Now, with two blockbusters behind him and 'Zombie Reddy 2 NXT LVL — Dead Or Alive' announced in seven languages, the celebration may finally be warranted.

Key Takeaways

Teja Sajja posted a birthday gratitude note on 25 August , saying he has historically never celebrated his birthdays.
He called this the first birthday on which he truly felt the distance travelled in his career.
Makers announced his next film's title — 'Zombie Reddy 2 NXT LVL — Dead Or Alive' — on his birthday, 24 August .
The sequel will release in 7 languages : Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Nepali, and Japanese.
Shanaya Kapoor makes her Telugu debut and Real Star Upendra plays a prominent role in the film.
Suparn S Varma directs, with Prasanth Varma serving as creator and People Media Factory producing.

Telugu star Teja Sajja took to social media on Monday, 25 August to express heartfelt gratitude after an outpouring of fan love on his birthday the previous day, revealing that he has historically avoided celebrating the occasion — until now. The actor, who has delivered back-to-back blockbusters, said this was the first birthday on which he genuinely felt the weight of how far he had come.

What Teja Sajja Said

In a candid post shared across his social media timelines, the actor wrote, 'As far as I can remember, I've never really celebrated my birthdays. I always felt that I hadn't achieved anything worth celebrating yet in life.' He added that birthdays had typically been a moment for personal reflection rather than festivities.

However, this year marked a shift. 'Yesterday, for the first time, I truly felt — from where we started to where we are today, we have come a very, very long way,' he wrote. The actor also extended a 'very special thanks' to his directors and producers, crediting the audience's love and 'the blessings of God' for whatever he has achieved.

Zombie Reddy 2 Title Unveiled on His Birthday

Adding to the celebratory mood, the makers of his next project chose his birthday on Sunday, 24 August to announce the film's title: 'Zombie Reddy 2 NXT LVL — Dead Or Alive'. The sequel is slated for release next year in seven languages — Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Nepali, and Japanese — marking a significant pan-Asia ambition for the franchise.

Director Prasanth Varma, who introduced the zombie genre to Telugu cinema with the original 'Zombie Reddy', steps into a creator role for this instalment, with Suparn S Varma taking the directorial chair. The film is produced by TG Vishwa Prasad and Krithi Prasad under the People Media Factory banner — the same production house behind Teja Sajja's pan-India blockbuster 'Mirai'.

Cast and Crew

The film features Real Star Upendra in a prominent role and marks the Telugu debut of Bollywood actress Shanaya Kapoor. On the technical side, composer Gowra Hari — who scored both 'HanuMan' and 'Mirai' — returns to score the music. Abhinandan Ramanujam handles cinematography, with Banglam as production designer and Vijay Velukutty as editor. The screenplay has been penned by Hussain Dalal, Abbas Dalal, Prasanth Varma, and Suparn S Varma, with dialogues by Subbu K.

What's Next for Teja Sajja

Teja Sajja closed his birthday note on an aspirational note: 'Hopefully, someday, I will celebrate when we achieve something that creates real change, makes an impact, and is truly meaningful and helpful to society. There is still a very long way to go. Big dreams ahead.' With a multi-language zombie franchise and a growing pan-India footprint, the actor's next chapter appears to be his most ambitious yet.

Point of View

By his own account, fuelled two consecutive blockbusters. The 'Zombie Reddy 2' announcement on his birthday is a well-timed industry move, but the more interesting story is the actor's evolving relationship with success: he's acknowledging it, but not yet surrendering to it. Whether that hunger sustains a seven-language franchise is the real question the industry will be watching.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Why has Teja Sajja never celebrated his birthdays?
Teja Sajja has said he never celebrated his birthdays because he always felt he hadn't achieved anything worth celebrating yet. In his own words, 'I always felt that I hadn't achieved anything worth celebrating yet in life,' adding that birthdays were usually a time for personal reflection on his journey.
What is 'Zombie Reddy 2 NXT LVL — Dead Or Alive'?
'Zombie Reddy 2 NXT LVL — Dead Or Alive' is the sequel to the Telugu zombie film 'Zombie Reddy', starring Teja Sajja. It is directed by Suparn S Varma, produced by People Media Factory, and is set to release in seven languages — Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Nepali, and Japanese.
Who is directing Zombie Reddy 2?
Suparn S Varma is directing 'Zombie Reddy 2 NXT LVL — Dead Or Alive'. Prasanth Varma, who directed the original 'Zombie Reddy' and introduced the zombie genre to Telugu cinema, serves as creator on this instalment.
Who else is in the cast of Zombie Reddy 2?
Real Star Upendra plays a prominent role in the film, and Bollywood actress Shanaya Kapoor makes her Telugu debut with this project. Teja Sajja leads the cast.
When is Zombie Reddy 2 releasing?
According to the makers' announcement, 'Zombie Reddy 2 NXT LVL — Dead Or Alive' is slated to hit screens next year, though a specific release date has not yet been confirmed.
Nation Press
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