He received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Pace University in New York, United States in 1994 and completed a two-year course in film and television.

[5][6] Charan began working as a playback singer in 1997 with "Deepangal Pesum" from Devathai, which has its music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Charan's most popular songs include "Nagila Nagila" from Alaipayuthey, "Mellaga" from Varsham, "Nenu Nenuga Lene" from Manmadhudu, "I Love you Shailaja" from Mazhai, "Please Sir" from Boys, "Maaja Maaja" from Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, "Oru Nanban Irundhal" from Enakku 20 Unakku 18, "O Shanti" from Vaaranam Aayiram, "Nee Naan" from Mankatha.

He has also recorded alongside his father for the first time in Aadukalam, for which they both won the Vijay Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

[6] He further produced the Jayam Ravi-starrer Mazhai (2005), a remake of the Telugu film Varsham,[16] which was a failure at the box office.

[6] His next production was Venkat Prabhu's directorial debut Chennai 600028 (2007), featured eleven newcomers in the lead and became one of the year's most successful Tamil films.

[6][17] In 2011, his sixth production Aaranya Kaandam, was released to critical acclaim and became noted for getting 52 cuts by the regional Central Board of Film Certification.

[20] In 1996, he and childhood friends Venkat Prabhu and Premgi Amaren set up a music band called Next Generation, which also had Yugendran and Thaman as members.