Chaitanya Rao interview: Mayasabha will be riveting and a game changer in my career

Chaitanya Rao the young actor in Tollywood is playing one of the leads in Deva Katta's new series based on two political legends, Nara Chandra Babu Naidu and Y S Rajasekhar Reddy.

Chaitanya Rao as Rami Reddy in Mayasabha

Mayasabha is Sony Liv's new series that will premiere on August 7, 2025. Chaitanya Rao plays one of the leads and speaks about bagging such a big offer, playing a legendary politician, working with the likes of Deva Katta, and what to expect from the series. Here is the transcript:

Chaitanya Rao Interview on Mayasabha series

How did you bag Mayasabha?

One of the key members from Sithara Entertainments suggested my name to Deva Katta. He watched my hit YouTube show 31 Weds 21 and loved my performance. One fine day, Deva called me, narrated the part, and asked if I was okay with giving an audition. I asked him for two weeks, prepped myself for the role of Rami Reddy, and gave it my best. Deva was thoroughly impressed, and I was roped in right away.

Were you tense about playing such an iconic character based on Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, the late CM?

Mayasabha is a fictional series inspired by real-life characters. We haven’t named anyone directly; everything has been fictionalized. For me, this is a breakthrough role. If the series clicks, it could be a game-changer in my career. The moment I was offered the role, I felt thrilled and grabbed it with both hands.

Tell us about your prep for the role.

As my character spans various age groups, the most challenging part was looking the part at different stages. Some portions required me to appear as a bodybuilder, for which I put on 8 kilos. My changing looks as I age will be a surprise package. We also had intense reading sessions for weeks. Only after we were confident in our lines and character arcs did we start shooting.

Do you remember any particularly difficult part of playing the character?

Looking the part was one thing, but portraying the emotional depth as the character aged was the real challenge. I had several strong confrontational scenes with Aadhi Pinisetty. His support and the way we bonded on set really helped ease my performance.

Working with the likes of Deva Katta?

Deva Katta is a sensational director, and I’ve been a fan of his work for the longest time. He's known for intense drama in all his films. Making Mayasabha for OTT was a great decision, as the format suits the layered storytelling and emotional beats. Deva Garu has presented me like never before, and I owe him a lot for trusting me with this role.

Did you ever feel Mayasabha should have been made as a film?

At the back of my mind, yes, I always wished it would be a feature film. Even Deva initially started writing it as a movie. But given the vast scope and the amount of detail required to portray two legendary politicians, he opted for a series. I’m sure that if Mayasabha were released as a film, it would be a solid hit too.

Working with Aadhi Pinisetty?

He’s a seasoned actor who can play both hero and villain with ease. When you're acting opposite such a powerful performer, it brings out the best in you. Since I’ve known Aadhi for a long time, it was easy to work together. He’s portraying a crazy role in this series and will shock everyone with his performance.

Will this series attract political controversies?

The story angle involving the two leaders shows sides that not many are aware of. But since we haven’t directly named anyone, I don’t expect any issues. Mayasabha is a political thriller packed with intense drama and suspense, something anyone can watch and understand, without it being politically provocative.

FAQs:

Q. Is Mayasabha based on real life politicians?

A. Yes, it is losely based on Chandra Babu Naidu and YS Rajasekhar Reddy

Q. Where to stream Mayasabha in Tamil and Hindi?

A. You can stream the show on Sony Liv and OTTplay Premium

Q. How many episodes are there in Mayasabha?

A. Mayasabha has nine episodes in total

Q. When is Mayasabha OTT release date?

A. Mayasabha will be available for streaming from August 7, 2025, on Sony Liv and OTTplay

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