NTR Jr who rose to global fame with RRR spotted in Nihonbashi surprised by Mario Kart

Fans in saris rush to see him

In late March, a small group of foreigners was seen chatting near the entrance of the Mitsui Tower, a landmark in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo’s Chuo Ward. Among them was a man wearing a maroon T-shirt, sporting a thick beard around his mouth. It was Indian actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr. (41).

“Commonly known as ‘NTR Jr.’ and affectionately called ‘Tarak,’ he is a well-known Indian actor. He made his debut as a lead actor at the age of 17, and his 2002 film Aadi (not released in Japan) was a major hit in India, propelling him to stardom. In Japan, he gained recognition for his starring role in the epic musical action film RRR, which became a global sensation in 2022. It surpassed the 1998 film Muthu to become the highest-grossing Indian film domestically. RRR also won the Excellent Foreign Film Award at the 46th Japan Academy Film Prize,” says a film magazine writer.

This time, he visited Japan for the first time in two and a half years, ahead of the release of his latest film Devara. In an interview published by Cinema Today on April 4, he commented:

“There was definitely pressure, as this is the highly anticipated follow-up to the global success of RRR.”

The film has already grossed approximately 9 billion yen worldwide, according to its distributor. On March 24, at the Japan premiere held at Shinjuku Piccadilly, the venue was thrown into chaos as a large number of fans in saris flocked to the event.

In RRR, Tarak showcased intense action scenes and sharp, high-energy dancing, but on the day he was spotted, he wore a relaxed expression, casually chatting while observing passersby. Just then, a group of public road go-karts—commonly referred to as “Mario Kart,” with drivers dressed in Mario costumes—passed by in front of him. He furrowed his brows and stared at them in astonishment.

There are even rumors of a sequel to RRR, and perhaps seeing Mario Kart gave him a new idea—who knows?

 

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