|
Telugu's super-film star
The Telugu film industry has had many stars but no
one has had such an effective hold over the outpouring
box-office collections like Chiranjeevi. No
star till date has been able to match a fan following
as vast as that of Chiranjeevi. To add to this it is
interesting to know that this screen hero Chiranjeevi
started right from the scratch - when he was Sivasankara
Vara Prasad, an ordinary youth with starry eyes
and yearning to make it big in the films.
Son of Venkat Rao and Anjana Devi, Vara
Prasad was born on August 22 in Mogaltur of Prakasham
district. After his graduation he came to Madras
and joined the film institute run by the South
Indian Film Chamber of Commerce. The opportunity
to act in Punaadi Rallu was offered here.
But the film got delayed. Meanwhile, T Kranthi
Kumar took him in Pranam Khareedu (1978)
which became his debut film.
His very next film, Bapu's Mana Voori Pandavulu,
did well and Chiranjeevi was accepted as an actor.
After the smashing success of Khaidi Chiranjeevi
did not look back.
The enviable success of films like Punnami Naagu,
Goonda, Adavi Donga, Devantakudu, Gang Leader, Jagadeka
Veerudu-Atiloka Sundari, Mutha Maistri, Gharana Mogudu,
Master, Annaiah, Hitler and Sneham Kosam has
more than established this mega star. He has built a
perfect rapport with people of all ages, especially
children. His popularity has led to diehard fans donating
blood for the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust. The
Telugu periodical, Mega star Chiranjeeviis
another instance of his popularity.
Chiranjeevi entered Hindi films with Pratibandh,
a remake of Ankusham and was instantly accepted.
He remade his Telugu hit films into Hindi. Gentleman
(Gentleman in Tamil) and Aaj ka Goondaraj (Gang
Leader in Telugu) did well. Chiranjeevi also tried off-beat
movies like Aradhana, Rudraveena, Swayamkrushi and
Aapadbandhavudu.
These movies didn't do well in the box office with
only Swayamkrushi being moderately successful.
The rest failed at the box-office. However, Rudraveena,
produced by his own production unit Anjan Productions,
fetched him the coveted Nargis Dutt National
Award and Swayamkrushi and Aapadbandhavudu
fetched him the State Government's Nandi Best
Actor award. Chiranjeevi also won the Filmfare's
award for his role in Mutha Maistri. With
a mesmerising screen presence, good acting and graceful
dancing, Chiranjeevi's films are known for their clean
entertainment and value-based stories.
But what perhaps makes Chiranjeevi a lasting mega star
is that in spite of his mega successes, he continues
to be a down to earth Sivasankara Vara Prasad. Happily
married to Surekha, daughter of Telugu film character
actor Alluri Ramalingaiah, he is a happy father
to his two daughters, Susmita and Sreeja and
one son, Ramcharan Teja.
|
