Panja Vaisshnav Tej

Panja Vaishnav Tej (born 13 January 1995) is an Indian actor who works in Telugu films. He made his debut as a lead in the romantic drama Uppena (2021), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South and SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut – Telugu, and later starred in the action thriller Konda Polam (2021) and the romance Ranga Ranga Vaibhavanga (2022), both critical and commercial failures. However, his second film (Konda Polam) won a national award in 2023 from the Government Of India.

Early life
Panja Vaishnav Tej is the younger brother of Sai Dharam Tej. A member of the Allu-Konidela family, he is nephew of actor Chiranjeevi. Tej did his schooling at Nalanda School, Hyderabad and completed his graduation from St. Mary's College, Hyderabad.

Career
Tej first appeared as a child actor in Johnny (2003), directed by and starring his maternal uncle Pawan Kalyan. He later played a wheelchair-ridden child in Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. (2004), starring his maternal uncle Chiranjeevi. In 2021, he made his debut as a lead with the film Uppena.

He then appeared in the rural drama, Konda Polam, co-starring Rakul Preet Singh, under the direction of Krish Jagarlamudi, which received mixed reviews from the critics. It was a huge flop at the box-office. It was followed by the romantic drama, Ranga Ranga Vaibhavanga, which was directed by debutant Gireeshaaya.

His next film, directed by debutant Srikanth N. Reddy and produced by Sithara Entertainments, was Aadikeshava, co-starring Sreeleela and released in 2023. He has signed a film under the production of Nagarjuna's Annapurna Studios.