Mumbai, August 21: In the realm of South cinema, Chiranjeevi’s name stands out among the biggest stars. For decades, he has captivated audiences with his action, dance, and powerful performances. However, there was a time when he was just an ordinary college student.
One intriguing story from those days was shared by Chiranjeevi himself during an interview. He revealed that he had a crush on one of his teachers but never found the courage to express his feelings.
Born on August 22, 1955, in Andhra Pradesh, Chiranjeevi’s real name is Konidela Shivashankar Varaprasad. His father, Konidela Venkata Rao, worked in the police department. Chiranjeevi’s education took him to various places, and he eventually pursued commerce. His dream of acting led him to the Madras Film Institute in Chennai.
The story behind his name, “Chiranjeevi,” is quite special. His family worshipped Anjaneya, or Lord Hanuman. His mother suggested the name “Chiranjeevi,” which means immortal, and this name became his greatest identity in Indian cinema.
Before entering films, Chiranjeevi enjoyed his college life. In a podcast, when asked about his first crush, he recalled an interesting incident from his college days. He had a keen interest in biology, and during this time, he developed feelings for his biology teacher, who praised his studies.
Chiranjeevi mentioned that he never told his teacher about his feelings nor did he write her a love letter. Instead, his focus during college was on academics, drama, and acting.
He began his film career in 1978 with “Pranam Khardhu,” although he first worked in “Punadhirallu,” which was released later. In the early stages, he played both hero and anti-hero roles. His career took a significant turn with the 1983 film “Khaidi,” which established him as a major star in Telugu cinema.
Subsequent films like “Swayam Krishi,” “Rudraveena,” “Gang Leader,” “Gharana Mogudu,” “Indra,” “Tagore,” and “Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.” further solidified his reputation. He received accolades not only for his acting but also for his production work in “Rudraveena,” and won Nandi Awards for “Swayam Krishi” and “Indra.” He has also been a multiple winner at the Filmfare Awards South.
After nearly a decade-long break from films, Chiranjeevi made a comeback in 2017 with “Khaidi No. 150.” He has since appeared in films like “Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy,” “Acharya,” “Godfather,” and “Walther Veerayya.” In 2024, he was honored with the Padma Vibhushan award.
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