Megastar Chiranjeevi has long been the elderly man of the Telugu film industry, not just by age, but by his experience and, above all, his unmatched stardom. Though he doesn't appear physically aged, he holds the same revered position as Dasari Narayana Rao did in recent years, often attending film events and book launches on invitation. This is the kind of respect he deserves, and it is expected from him.
Chiranjeevi is not a product of nepotism; rather, he built his empire through personal grit and immense talent. Therefore, when he speaks, his words are rooted in experience and act as a guide for aspiring and budding artists.
One quality that makes Chiranjeevi unique is his ability to speak in a balanced and entertaining way in public. Whether it's through a well-timed joke or an endearing speech, he manages to entertain effortlessly. His speeches have clarity, flow, and a natural charm. To gain the respect he has, one must be a good public speaker, and Chiranjeevi has mastered that skill in the realm of cinema.
However, in recent times, Chiranjeevi has gone a bit overboard in certain aspects. For instance, at a recent event, he boasted about his journey, discussing how he grew in the industry and how he worked with a director on more films than the legendary Sr. NTR. While the intent behind his words might be to highlight his hard work and talent, it came across as self-boasting, which is not something one would expect from Chiranjeevi. He can be humble like Rajnikanth while conveying the essence of his hardwork. Yes, he an take a positive leaf from someone else.
In another instance, at the Laila pre-release event, Chiranjeevi commented a little too casually about Vishwak Sen's female character look in the film, using words like "bugga korikeyali anipinchindi." While his intention may have been to praise and entertain, he must remember that his audience is not just the mass, young crowd, but also many who appreciate decency and decorum, living across the world. He should avoid losing their respect with off-the-cuff remarks.
Similarly, there’s no need to imitate Balakrishna in irrelevanttalk... like when he jokingly proposed to anchor Suma to take her to London.
Similarly, Chiranjeevi need not imitate ANR, who used to express his romantic side by making playful comments when young heroines were around. ANR, for example, used to say, "Anushka ni chooste naaku thanato steps veyyalanipistondi," which was a playful line, but kept ANR low with such liners. Likewise, Chiranjeevi also made a comment to the heroine of Laila, saying, "cheyyi kalipaavugaa, gurtundipothaavu." These types of remarks can diminish his stature.
Chiranjeevi should avoid following the wrong examples.
Putting that aside, it is Chiranjeevi's responsibility to project the right image to the public. There have been numerous rumors and open discussions about the strained relationship between the Allu and Mega families. Chiranjeevi did not publicly praise the success of Pushpa 2, but today he claims that the entire industry should be celebrating its success. If he had expressed this sentiment earlier, it would have put an end to all the speculations, and he could have shown his support for the film. Had he done so, even Allu Arjun would have been in defense. By not displaying that leadership, Chiranjeevi has once again failed to fulfill his role as the head of the family.
Another point to note is that Chiranjeevi has consistently portrayed himself as an apolitical figure. However, attending film events and bringing up the forgotten chapter of Prajarajyam, stating that Janasena was born out of Prajarajyam, is quite absurd. He did this in Laila pre release event. Is it really necessary to comment on such matters? Doesn’t Chiranjeevi realize that political statements like these can alienate a section of his audience, potentially harming the film's appeal? In this regard, he could learn from Balakrishna, who never brings up politics during film events.
Chiranjeevi has always been known for his decency and endearing nature, which is why he should continue to uphold these qualities in public. As an ardent admirer of the Megastar, this is the only thing I wish to say. I hope he and his fans will take this feedback in a positive spirit.
Usha Chowdhary
