Rana Daggubati reveals why he returned to working in films after his health deteriorated
Actor Rana Daggubati has opened up about his decision to return the advance money for films he signed before health problems. He reflected on the impact his physical transformation had on his career and personal identity.
Actor Rana Daggubati has opened up about the deep impact his health challenges have had on both his personal and professional life. In his recent appearance on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast, Chapter 2, the actor reflected on the period following his kidney failure and cardiac complications, which led him to take a break from acting and undergo a transplant in the United States. Daggubati’s return to the film industry saw him make significant adjustments, including returning advances for projects he had committed to before his illness.
After achieving huge commercial success, Daggubati faced a turning point when his health deteriorated, forcing him to take a break from the industry. Upon recovery and return to India, he discovered that the physical changes he had undergone had affected his image for certain film roles. He explained that his focus during his time in the US was on survival, noting the challenges of adapting to a changed appearance after a year of treatment and recovery.
Speaking about his experience with fellow actor Varun Tej, Daggubati recounted a moment that highlighted the extent of his transformation. He said, “I remember I had a friend, Varun Tej, who is an actor. He came to meet me at some point. He is also a very big guy. In the middle of the conversation, the guy looked just like me whom I knew.” This conversation, he shared, highlighted the complexity of grappling with an altered self-image.
Daggubati elaborated on the emotional impact of this realization, saying, “I was like why don’t I just hand over all these stories to this guy and be done with it? It was weird, it was confusing not recognizing a version of you. I think if I wasn’t an actor, I don’t know if I would have been able to cope with it.”
The actor also discussed his decision to return the advances for films that he had agreed to before his surgery, admitting that he was no longer suitable for the roles that those roles demanded. “I had a lot of films that I had to do. There was a big wrestler story and those kind of films. So, I don’t look like those guys. I was returning advances and all that was going on,” Daggubati shared on the podcast, reflecting his pragmatic approach to his changed circumstances.
In the conversation, Rhea Chakraborty commented that Daggubati was known as “this hot guy from Hyderabad” who broke into Bollywood. He responded by emphasizing that his priorities changed dramatically during his health crisis, focusing first on survival and later facing the reality that his career path may also need to change.
Since his recovery, Daggubati has prioritized select projects. In 2025, he starred in kantha with dulquer salmanBhagyashree Borse, and Samuthirakani, a project he also co-produced. He made a cameo in the post-credits scene of *Mirai* and appeared in *Parashakti* this year, also taking up hosting duties. rana daggubati show and for dubbing solo leveling.
