India, Sept. 5 -- Sixteen years ago, on this day (September 5), when Naga Chaitanya debuted as a spunky student in the 2009 film Josh, fans of the Akkineni clan were overjoyed to see his grandfather Nageswara Rao and father Nagarjuna's legacy being carried on. He was soon given the moniker 'Yuva Samrat' (Young King to match his father's moniker, King), and Chaitanya remembers the feeling of not wanting to disappoint the fans he had inherited from his family.

Today, he feels more surefooted. He delivered the highest-grossing film of his career this year with Thandel (his first Rs.100 crore film) and married the love of his life, Sobhita Dhulipala, last year. In a freewheeling chat with Hindustan Times, the actor reflects on the ups and do...