Date:01/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/01/stories/2007040103270200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

No politics, just social service!

Special Correspondent

Star to launch trust for artificial limbs; Applabs staff donate blood

A FAN-STRUCK STAR!: A star-struck employee of Applabs is overjoyed after meeting filmstar Chiranjeevi at a blood donation camp in Hyderabad. The actor too is all beaming at the special attention.

HYDERABAD: Will he? Will he not? The big question popped up yet again, but filmstar Chiranjeevi chose to leave people guessing, saying it was too early for them to drag him into politics. "Do not pull me into the political world at this juncture," he said here on Friday, setting off rumour mills about his political ambitions all over again. With no outright dismissal of rumours about his launching a political party coming forth, political circles were abuzz once again about the actor's entry into politics.

Chiranjeevi was speaking to presspersons after launching a blood donation camp at Applabs, the city-based global IT services company, where 555 employees donated blood to the Chiranjeevi Eye and Blood Bank under the aegis of the Applabs Charitable Trust.

Saying he was content doing social service, Chiranjeevi announced that he would soon launch a trust to provide artificial limbs to the physically challenged. "In the initial days of the blood bank, I was doubtful whether I'd be able to continue the good work. Hence I made my fans partners in the mission. But, seeing the support extended by hundreds of people over the years, particularly educated youngsters from the software industry, I'm sure it is in safe hands," he said amid applause.

As many as 6,000 employees of software companies, including GE, Infosys and Satyam, have donated blood to the Chiranjeevi blood bank while 1,200 Applabs employees pledged to donate their eyes to the charitable trust on the occasion.

"The joy of serving the society can be fully understood only when one experiences it," he said, exuding confidence that the movement would be carried forward by fans and his son Ramcharan Teja after him.