The Master of all

Two decades in the Telugu film industry as the hero his fans are a legion. His films still get an astounding initial and big time producers wait for years for his dates. His charisma and popularity is unique so is the zeal to improve upon his performances. After all, isn't he `Chiranjeevi'! An apt screen name for Shivasankaravara Vara Prasad hailing from a remote village of Mogalthuru in West Godavari district who went on to become a screen icon. No small achievement considering his background. V. GEETANATH met the `Megastar' to find out how he has remained in the top for so long and also overcoming a mid- career slump.

HAVING JUST arrived from a workout, Chiranjeevi looks fresh. "I am into shedding some extra kilos. I have neglected my exercises of late because of night schedules," he says. Was there a negative feedback? "No. I realised it myself," says the self-made hero with a refreshing candour.

Hard work, determination and discipline are the essential ingredients in the successful career graph of Chiranjeevi. "I always wanted to maintain good relations with everyone, be careful about my behaviour and have a healthy atmosphere around me," he explains on his relatively `non-controversial' image.

A passion for films and dramas staged during college days made him want to try his luck in films. "My parents did not object but pointed out that having no acquaintances would not make it easy for me," he recalls, adding, "I wanted to try for an year and then pursue ICWA".

There was no need as this film institute graduate was lucky to get a break in films under the baton of directors like Bapu, Kranthikumar, Balachander, among others, in the initial days. "I got encouragement from all quarters. I was keen to do good roles and did not bother whether they were character or anti-hero roles. Of course, like any aspiring actor, the ambition was always to be a top hero".

Amazingly, Chiranjeevi has never learnt dance formally but has made a name for himself in dances and fights. "I used to entertain my friends during my NCC camp days. Somehow, my body moves with the music naturally". Brushing aside the notion of he being caught in an action hero image, he says, "I never did roles with an image perspective. With `Khaidi' my commercial value shot up and I took up roles which came my way. I had my producers and directors whom I was very comfortable working with".

He alludes to films like `Swayam Krushi', `Rudraveena' and others where he took up characters away from the commercial milieu. "Perhaps, there was an inner feeling that I was repeating myself but I did not let it affect my professionalism".

Though he is loathe to admit, Chiranjeevi got stuck in his commercial action-oriented films. A string of flops in the '90s made him take a break and revaluate his career. He admits candidly: "At one point of time I did not have the time to think beyond schedules, rushing from one shoot to another. A few failures made me sit back and think hard."

A year later, he was back with a bang with `Hitler' followed by `Master' and a row of successful films before the `Mrugaraju' debacle happened. Sitting in discussions over a new movie to be directed by Suresh Krishna, Chiranjeevi has taken the failure in his stride. "We tried our best, maybe we failed somewhere," he philosophises.

He is his own best critic. "There is no point in depending on my fans' reaction because they are terribly biased. When I sit as a normal viewer in a theatre I can easily make out my flaws." Discerning viewers keep telling him to take the lead in promoting `good cinema'. "I am open to that but when a film actually goes on the floors comes an insecure feeling because over the years viewers were fed with format of melodrama, songs and fights. The pressure to such inputs is quite high from the buyers since music rights earn a lot of money," he points out.

"I want to act my age now. How long can I keep doing the song and dance bits? But the response to these in my films is too overwhelming to ignore," he says, earnestly. He insists, he is content with his movies and has no political ambitions. "I think one can do public service without being in politics. My charitable trust is a step in that direction and I want to enlarge its scope."

"I am still looking for challenging roles and wish they come my way," says Chiranjeevi, with a smile.

``Like any aspiring actor, the ambition was always there to be a top hero.''

``I am still looking for challenging roles and wish they come my way.''

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