Ram Charan Says He Felt "Mentally Low" During COVID, Recalls How SS Rajamouli's Advice Helped Him

The COVID-19 pandemic affected people across the world in unimaginable ways, and Ram Charan was no exception. 

Ahead of the release of his upcoming film Peddi, Ram Charan spoke candidly about the emotional toll the pandemic took on him and his wife, Upasana Kamineni Konidela, during a drive around Hyderabad with director Buchi Babu Sana.

"During COVID time, everyone was hit mentally, health-wise, and financially. It hit me too. We were all in a confused state. Fifty per cent of RRR was done by the time the break happened. I was at my peak physically and suddenly the film stopped. I used to stay in an apartment then," he shared.

Ram Charan On Feeling Isolated

Recalling those difficult months, the actor said the constant news of illness and death had a profound impact on him. 

"Seeing people die like that. I was staying at Upasana's home. She was constantly attending hospital calls from home. I used to sit alone in my home theatre. She would be beside me physically, but always occupied with something or the other," he said.

Ram Charan then revealed just how emotionally draining that period became.

"You won't believe it - during the entire COVID-19 phase, she stayed in one room managing patients while I lived alone in another room for months. That hit me really hard."

He admitted that spending months in isolation slowly pushed him into a mentally low phase.

"When you are alone for so many days, your thoughts begin to change. I became mentally low. When things started reopening after COVID, I called Rajamouli sir and told him I wanted to meet him once."

Charan about covid time struggles
How @ssrajamouli motivated during that times… overcoming from it and how to best in life and connecting all this with #Peddi

Ela open ga matladam continue chey @AlwaysRamCharan anna.. very pleasing ❤️ pic.twitter.com/cgjESoBhG2

— శివ (@batmanntweet) May 21, 2026

SS Rajamouli's Simple Advice

Opening up about that conversation, Ram Charan said he confessed to Rajamouli that he was struggling to feel motivated despite preparing to return to the sets of RRR.

"I told him the shoot was starting soon, but I wasn't getting the energy or motivation to return. I said, 'It's such a big film. I'm working with the biggest director. What's happening to me? Why am I unable to feel motivated?'"

According to the actor, Rajamouli's response changed his perspective entirely.

"He told me, 'Charan, motivation doesn't always come from something big.' What bigger motivation can there be than RRR? Yet even I feel lazy sometimes and don't feel like going to the gym or shoot. He said, 'So it's not like that. The lockdown will end in 20 days. Start small.'"

Ram Charan went on to explain how Rajamouli encouraged him to focus on simple daily tasks.

"He said, 'Find one small task that makes you wake up in the morning. During COVID, there was no work, so I started cleaning my room with the motivation that it should become the cleanest room in Jubilee Hills. Then I moved to the garden. Then the house. Then the farmhouse. Planning construction, improving spaces - these became my small motivations.'"

The actor added that the advice stayed with him and helped him emerge from one of the most emotionally challenging phases of his life.

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