Megastar Chiranjeevi is a well-known figure across India. He has reached the pinnacle of success in the film industry, and even major Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan treat him with immense respect.
He also had a brief stint in politics, serving as a Rajya Sabha member and even as a Union Minister in Dr. Manmohan Singh’s cabinet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, holds him in high regard. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award.
Given all this, Chiranjeevi has surpassed the need for further felicitations and awards. Yet, he travelled all the way to London to receive an award from a private organisation or trust.
Nobody knew exactly what the award was or who the organisers were, but his fans were led to believe that he was being honoured by the UK government itself.
To make it more sensational, it was projected as a historic, first-of-its-kind event.
In reality, any private organisation can apply to the UK authorities, follow a set of guidelines, pay a prescribed fee, and host an event at venues like the Parliament or Council Hall. As part of such events, a few dignitaries are typically invited to add credibility.
In this case, the event was organised by a private trust founded by Indian-origin businessmen settled in London. The trust reportedly has a parent company that is a private limited firm. The true motives behind the event may be revealed in due course.
According to reports, the venue where Chiranjeevi was felicitated was quite small, accommodating only around 100 to 150 people. Shockingly, it later came to light that attendees had to make a donation to receive an invitation.
This was all done under the guise of official procedure. Fundraising events like this are common among private organisations, and it has now become clear that the Megastar’s felicitation was part of such an initiative.
Apparently, Chiranjeevi himself became aware of the situation after arriving there. He realised that the organisers were making a profit by leveraging his image.
However, he could not openly express his discontent, as doing so would not only embarrass the organisers but also reflect poorly on himself for accepting the honour.
Instead, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concern: “My Dear Fans, I am deeply touched by all your love and affection in wanting to meet me in the UK. However, I’ve been informed that some individuals are attempting to charge a fee for fan meetings. I strongly condemn this behaviour. Any fee collected by anyone will be refunded immediately.
Please be cautious and know that I will NEVER support these actions, anywhere. The bond of love and affection we share is priceless. It cannot be commercialised by anyone in any manner. Let’s keep our interactions genuine and free from any kind of exploitation.”
While Chiranjeevi’s statement appeared to be a heartfelt message to his fans, it also served as a subtle but firm warning against monetising their admiration.
Clearly, the UK trip has left the Megastar red-faced!
