Ram Charan’s Special Gift: Srikanth Odela Reveals the Story Behind His Locket

Director Srikanth Odela has opened up about the sentimental story behind the rudraksh locket he has continued to wear since working on Rangasthalam, revealing that it was gifted to him by Ram Charan on the final day of the film’s shoot.

Srikanth shared the story during a recent video diary with actor Raghav Juyal, who noticed the locket around the director’s neck. Recalling his days on the sets of Sukumar’s 2018 film, Srikanth said he was extremely particular about costumes, shooting schedules and early-morning call times. He jokingly described his demanding approach as “torturing” Ram Charan’s team, while clarifying that he meant it in a positive sense.

Srikanth was working as an assistant director under Sukumar during Rangasthalam and was also closely involved with the costume department. As the production neared its end, an unexpected gesture from Ram Charan left a lasting impression on him.

According to Srikanth, someone from Charan’s team called him to the actor’s vanity van around the last day of the shoot. Srikanth said he was surprised because Charan did not usually call him directly. When he entered the van, Charan suddenly gave him the locket and asked him to keep it.

The director revealed that the same locket had been worn by Charan in Rangasthalam and that only two pieces had been made after being ordered by Chiranjeevi. Srikanth said he did not ask Charan why he was giving it to him. Instead, he was so emotional about the gesture that he simply accepted it and has continued wearing it ever since.

Srikanth also recalled meeting Charan recently and bringing up the locket. Interestingly, he said the actor seemed to have forgotten about the incident, making the keepsake even more meaningful from the director’s perspective.

The anecdote comes as Srikanth is preparing for the release of his second directorial, The Paradise, starring Nani. The action drama also features Raghav Juyal, Kayadu Lohar and Mohan Babu, with music by Anirudh Ravichander. Produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under SLV Cinemas, the film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on September 24, 2026.

Srikanth previously made his directorial debut with Dasara, also starring Nani. His latest revelation offers a personal glimpse into his early years in the industry and the unexpected memories he carried forward from his time working on Rangasthalam.