Sai Dharam Tej is an Indian film actor. He is 39 years old and was born on 15 October 1986 in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
He mainly works in Telugu cinema. He made his lead debut with Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014).
The film did well, and he won the SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut (Telugu) for his performance.
Quick Facts Sai Dharam Tej
| Full Name | Panja Sai Durgha Tej |
| Profession | Actor |
| Age | 39 years old |
| Date of Birth | 15 October 1986 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Libra |
| Birthplace | Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Current Address | Yet to be updated |
| Gender | Male |
Sai Dharam Tej Early Life and Education
Sai Durgha Tej, widely known by his former screen name Sai Dharam Tej, is a prominent Indian actor working primarily in Telugu cinema. He was born into the highly influential Allu–Konidela family.
He has deep ties to the Tollywood entertainment industry. His maternal uncles are megastar Pawan Kalyan and actor-producer Nagendra Babu. He is also cousins with actors Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, and Panja Vaisshnav Tej.
In March 2024, he officially changed his screen name from Sai Dharam Tej to Sai Durgha Tej, incorporating his mother’s name to honour her.
Education
Tej completed his early education at Chettinad Vidyashram in Chennai and Nalanda School in Hyderabad.
He later graduated with a degree from St. Mary’s College in Hyderabad, an institution known for producing several other actors in the Tollywood film industry.
| School | Chettinad Vidyashram, Chennai; Nalanda School, Hyderabad |
| Alma Mater | Indian Institute of Planning and Management |
| Highest Qualification | Post-Graduated in MBA |
Sai Dharam Tej Personal Life
He is currently unmarried and widely known in the media as one of the most eligible bachelors in the Telugu film industry.
Relationship Rumors
Regina Cassandra and After starring together in films like Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham and Subramanyam for Sale, the two were heavily rumoured to be dating. Both parties publicly shot down the rumours, affirming they were just very good friends.
Mehreen Pirzada, following her co-starring role in Jawaan, rumours circulated that they were in a real-life romance. Sai Dharam Tej casually debunked this at a public event, downplaying it as a one-sided interest.
Rumours suggested that he was engaged to his cousin and actress Niharika Konidela. He officially put those rumours to rest, citing that they are cousins and the reports were baseless hoaxes.
Family
Sai Dharam Tej hails from the prominent Mega family. He is the nephew of Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan, and a first cousin to actors Ram Charan, Varun Tej, Allu Arjun, and Allu Sirish. Because of these close family ties, he frequently attends family weddings but has maintained that he is in no rush to tie the knot himself.
Father
His father’s name is Dr Panja Siva Prasad.
Mother
His mother’s name is Vijaya Durga.
Siblings
He has a younger brother, Panja Vaisshnav Tej, who is also an actor.
| Relationship Status | Yet to be updated |
| Parents | Father: Dr Panja Siva Prasad Mother: Vijaya Durga |
| Siblings | Brother: Panja Vaisshnav Tej |
Sai Dharam Tej Career
Sai Dharam Tej began as a lead actor in Telugu cinema with Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014). He acted with Regina Cassandra, and the film also had Jagapathi Babu and Prakash Raj in key roles.
In 2015, he acted in Rey with Saiyami Kher and Shraddha Das. That same year, he worked again with Regina Cassandra in Subramanyam for Sale, which also starred Adah Sharma.
In 2016, he played the lead in Supreme with Raashii Khanna. Later that year, he acted in Thikka with Larissa Bonesi and Mannara Chopra.
In 2017, he starred in Winner with Rakul Preet Singh, and Jagapathi Babu played an important role.
He also appeared in Nakshatram in an extended special appearance; the film’s leads included Sundeep Kishan, Regina Cassandra, Pragya Jaiswal, and Prakash Raj. In the same year, he acted in Jawaan with Mehreen Pirzada.
In 2018, he starred in Intelligent with Lavanya Tripathi. He then acted in Tej I Love You (2018) with Anupama Parameswaran.
In 2019, he acted in Chitralahari with Kalyani Priyadarshan and Nivetha Pethuraj. Later that year, he starred in Prati Roju Pandage with Raashii Khanna, and the film also featured Sathyaraj.
In 2020, he played the lead in Solo Brathuke So Better with Nabha Natesh.
In 2021, he acted in the political drama Republic with Aishwarya Rajesh, Ramya Krishna, and Jagapathi Babu.
In 2023, he returned with the horror thriller Virupaksha, co-starring Samyuktha, with Sunil also in the cast. The same year, he appeared in Bro with Pawan Kalyan, and the film also includes actors such as Ketika Sharma.
On television, he made a guest appearance as himself in 2017 in Nenu Mee Kalyan.
Upcoming Projects
- Sambarla Yeti Gattu (Telugu): Filming project. Sai Durgha Tej plays Bali. The first-look poster was reported in January 2026.
- SDT19 (Telugu): Announced and listed as pre-production. Reported as a mythic sci-fi film, directed by Sujith and Sandeep. A pre-look poster was reported in April 2026.
- Gaanja Shankar (Telugu): Listed as pre-production. Director: Sampath Nandi.
- Cheetila Chinni (Telugu): Listed as pre-production. Director: Jayanth Gali.
Sai Dharam Tej Awards and Achievements
Sai Dharam Tej has received awards and nominations mainly for his Telugu films. His first major award came for his debut film Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014), which earned him a debut award at SIIMA.
His major wins
- SIIMA (South Indian International Movie Awards): Won Best Male Debut (Telugu) for Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014).
- Eugenix Filmfare Glamour & Style Awards South (2025): Won Most Desirable (Male).
His key nominations
- SIIMA (2024): Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Telugu) for Virupaksha (2023).
Sai Dharam Tej Controversies
Sai Dharam Tej has mostly avoided major disputes, but a few incidents have been reported by mainstream news outlets.
September 2021 (Severe motorcycle accident and police case): Sai Dharam Tej met with a serious motorcycle accident in Hyderabad. Reports said Cyberabad Police booked him for rash and negligent driving after the incident.
October 2021 (Republic film protests in Kolleru region): After the Republic released, reports said people from the Kolleru region protested and filed complaints, claiming some scenes showed them in a bad way and hurt their sentiments.
February 2024 (Gaanja Shankar title notice): Reports said the Telangana State Anti-Narcotics Bureau raised objections to the film title Gaanja Shankar and issued a notice to the makers, asking for changes.
July 2024 to 2025 (YouTuber child safety controversy): In July 2024, he condemned YouTuber Praneeth Hanumantu over a sexual remark involving a girl child during a livestream and asked for government action. Reports later said police booked the YouTuber. In 2025, he spoke again about the issue at a child safety event in Hyderabad.
Sai Dharam Tej Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Sai Dharam Tej is about ₹55 to ₹60 crore($7 million), and his annual salary is around ₹3 to ₹6 crore per film.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $7 million |
| Salary (Approx.) | ₹4 to ₹6 crore per film |
Sai Dharam Tej Height, Weight, and Physical states
Sai Dharam Tej’s height is around 5’6¼” inches (168 cm), and he weighs 78kg (172 lbs). Though it is known that he has Dark Brown eyes and Black hair.
| Height | In centimetres: 168 cm In meters: 1.68 m In feet & inches: 5’6¼” |
| Weight | In kg: 78 kg In lbs: 172 lbs |
| Body Measurements | 40-32-12 inches |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Sai Dharam Tej Instagram, X, Facebook
 @jetpanja | |
| X |  @IamSaiDharamTej |
 @SaiDharamTej |
Interesting Facts About Sai Dharam Tej
- He is the nephew of Pawan Kalyan and Nagendra Babu. They are his maternal uncles.
- He is related to the Allu family by marriage through Chiranjeevi. Sources list Allu Arjun, Allu Sirish, and producer Allu Aravind as relatives through this link.
- He donated money for flood relief in both Telugu states in September 2024. Reports said he pledged Rs 10 lakh each to the Chief Minister’s Relief Funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- He also donated to charities in Vijayawada in 2024. Coverage said he gave money to Amma Orphanage and support for health-related causes.
- He made an extended special appearance in the film Nakshatram (2017).
FAQs
Who is Sai Dharam Tej?
Sai Dharam Tej (also known as Sai Durgha Tej) is an Indian actor who works mainly in Telugu films.
What is Sai Dharam Tej’s age and date of birth?
He was born on 15 October 1986 and is 39 years old.
Where is Sai Dharam Tej from?
He was born in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
What was Sai Dharam Tej’s debut film?
His lead debut film was Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014).
Who is Sai Dharam Tej’s brother?
His younger brother is actor Panja Vaisshnav Tej.
Which award did he win for his debut?
He won the SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut (Telugu).
