
When Ram Charan travels abroad, a South Indian dish is a must-have, just like his father Chiranjeevi. Guess the meal?
About Athamma's Kitchen
On Ram Charan's personal and work fronts
When a global superstar like Ram Charan travels abroad and dines at some of the world's best restaurants, the places he visits often become landmarks for fans. But despite this, the RRR star seems deeply attached to his roots, especially when it comes to food. Fans often praise him for staying grounded, and his wife Upasana Kamineni reveals why: no matter where they are in the world, Ram Charan insists on having at least one home-cooked Indian meal a day, just like his father Chiranjeevi . And not just any meal, it has to be a proper South Indian spread, made with love. For him, nothing satisfies quite like rasam and rice over risotto and ravioli.During a candid chat with Curly Tales, Upasana, a businesswoman and vice-chairman of Apollo Charity, revealed the story behind her latest venture, Athamma's Kitchen. What began as a travel hack to satisfy her husband's cravings for traditional meals evolved into a full-fledged brand that now brings the Konidela family's culinary heritage to fans and foodies alike.Upasana recalled how, despite dining at top-tier global restaurants, Ram would often ask, "Okay, now I need Indian food.' The craving could strike at any hour, even at 11:30 p.m., leading the duo on late-night hunts for Indian cuisine in foreign cities. His one rule? The meal had to be South Indian, and home-cooked. Especially on days when he is shooting.This travel ritual gave Upasana the idea to start carrying dry, ready-to-cook South Indian mixes on their trips. And thus, Athamma's Kitchen was born, with the goal of bringing wholesome, home-style meals to life in just ten minutes, no matter where you are.The inspiration, however, runs even deeper. Ram Charan's love for traditional meals is something he inherited from his father, megastar Chiranjeevi, who was known to carry home-cooked meals during his shoots. It was Chiranjeevi's wife, Surekha, fondly known as Athamma (mother-in-law), who prepared convenient pre-mixes like upma and pongal for his travels. Now, those same recipes have become the foundation of Athamma's Kitchen.Launched in 2024, the brand is led by Upasana and backed by the legacy of Surekha. It offers a varied range of traditional South Indian recipes with a mission to deliver the warmth and comfort of a family kitchen. For Ram Charan, his go-to dish remains humble and healthy: "you get rasam that's good for health, protein from omlette. He likes it with onions and chillis."For the unversed, the couple's journey is rooted in friendship and tradition. Having met in college, Ram Charan and Upasana tied the knot in December 2011. In 2023, they welcomed their daughter, Klin Kaara Konidela.On the work front, Ram Charan was last seen in Game Changer. Now, he is gearing up for his upcoming movie, Peddi.
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