Mumbai: Actor Rana Daggubati recently opened up about a deeply challenging period in his life on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast Chapter 2.
He spoke candidly about battling kidney failure and heart-related complications and how he chose to return the signing advances for multiple films he had previously committed to, as he felt his changed physique no longer suited the demanding physical roles he had been cast in. “I had a bunch of films lined up — stories about big wrestlers and physically imposing characters. I didn’t look like any of those guys anymore. I started returning advances.”
Following the massive success of ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’, the actor underwent a transplant surgery in the US and subsequently took a break from acting.
When Rhea remarked during the conversation that Rana was known as “a hot guy from Hyderabad” working in Bollywood, the actor replied that after the health scare, his only focus was survival.
Recollecting a special moment, Rana Daggubati shared that while returning to India from the US, an immigration officer recognised him as King Bhallaladeva, his iconic character from ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’, which reminded him of the powerful on-screen persona he had before his health scare.
Speaking about meeting actor Varun Tej during his recovery, Rana said, “He’s a big guy too. Halfway through our conversation, he looked more like the version of me I knew than I did.”
He added, “If I wasn’t an actor, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to cope with that.”
After recovering, Rana has been selective about his projects.
In 2025, he co-produced and starred in ‘Kaantha’ alongside Dulquer Salmaan, Bhagyashri Borse and Samuthirakani.
