Born on this date in 1955, Konidela Siva Shankara Vara Prasad is one of the biggest mega stars to come out of Andhra Pradesh. After starting his career in the 1970s as a villain, he was catapulted into the big league with Khaidi, directed by A. Kodanda Rami Reddy. This movie heralded a huge change in the way heroism was portrayed in Telugu movies. Soon, Chiranjeevi became a one-man army with his hair-raising fights that garnered him many fans.
Pasivadi Pranam, released in 1987, catapulted him into superstardom, earning him the moniker Supreme Hero. Chiranjeevi introduced break dancing to worshipful Telugu fans in this movie. Adavi Donga, Donga Mogudu, Yamudiki Mogudu, Aaradhana, Rudraveena, Challenge, Vijetha, and Kondaveeti Donga were some of his super hit movies that propelled his stardom into the stratosphere.
The title 'Megastar' was first used as a publicity gimmick during the release of Marana Mrudangam. Though the title didn’t catch on with his fans at that time, it was used in all his film posters consistently from then on.
He has also his fair share of box office glitches and went on a self-imposed break from movies to re-examine his goals. He got back with Hitler, a more mature portrayal that signalled the arrival of a Chiranjeevi who thought deeply of the future.
Though his movies were all entertainers, (he claimed “my movies are entertainment oriented, not moral or political,”) his political intentions were made clear when he recently held a press conference to announce his party’s launch on August 26th. He is sure to be successful in this field as well due to his enormous fan base and the affection which Telugu people the world over have for him.
Just as a rolling stone gathers no moss, Chiranjeevi is always reinventing himself and going beyond the world of entertainment as he wishes to serve society and the best way to do this is through politics.
Galatta.com wishes Chiranjeevi a very Happy Birthday.
