By Desaraju Surya
For the past few days – few months, in fact – there has been widespread speculation about the likely political entry of Mega Star Chiranjeevi into politics by floating his own party.
As far as I know, there had been anticipation about Chiranjeevi’s political foray right from the mid-1990s when he was at the peak of his filmy career, delivering one major hit after the other. But never did Chiranjeevi leave a hint about his supposed political ambitions.
In the later years, the talk about Chiranjeevi’s political moves continued -- in a subdued manner though.
Suddenly, somewhere around August 2007, there was a report in a leading Telugu newspaper about Chiranjeevi’s meeting with the CPM leaders and thus started the fresh round of speculation. I could only laugh at that report as I had known about the meeting way back in October 2006 and also since I had good information about what actually transpired between the actor and the CPM leaders.
All said and done, the August 2007 news story was undoubtedly a ‘major break’ and this fuelled all theories about Chiranjeevi’s motives and the likely fallout on the state political scene if indeed he took the plunge.
October 2007 was a shocking period for Chiranjeevi and the world knows the reasons for it. Thus, he got a brief reprieve from the media over his supposed political moves but by the end of November Chiranjeevi hit the headlines once again, thanks to his over-zealous friend. Since then – even after the death of his father in January first week – the talk did not end and in fact reached some ridiculous heights. At some point, I too had suggested – going by certain reliable information – that Chiranjeevi would indeed be launching his political party sooner than later. But personally, I strongly believe that Chiranjeevi does not nourish any political ambitions. And, I have many reasons to say that he will indeed not come into the political field.
Basically, many who know him closely say, Chiranjeevi is an introvert. He is happy with what he is now and understands pretty well that politics is not his cup of tea.
Other reasons are not too far to seek: He is rather a timid person; also, he is not a “leader” as such; he can’t take criticism since he is sensitive and that he got used to everything “positive” as a Mega Star.
As a film star – a Mega one at that – you get all accolades in the media as well as the public domain. The same cannot be fancied in the political arena. There will be more brickbats than bouquets at every step. Chiranjeevi undoubtedly can’t take this.
The so-called fans created a lot of hungama over Chiranjeevi’s political arangetram and this has resulted in a certain amount of backlash from the women. Above all, Chiranjeevi got “branded” as a single caste leader and this virtually distanced him from other sections – though as an actor he is widely hailed without any barriers.
In some districts, particularly the coastal region where his caste is dominant, prospective leaders distributed the Assembly and Parliament constituencies they would be contesting from on behalf of Chiranjeevi’s party. And, many ‘rebels’ too had emerged in these constituencies and a virtual fight began over nothing. “Nothing,” literally.
All this became a negative feedback for Chiranjeevi even before he made up his mind over his political career. In the scenario, would he dare to venture into the field?
I spoke to a senior political leader – a minister in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Cabinet – on the Chiranjeevi issue. This minister is close to Chiranjeevi family. I quote him on what he told me: “It is all in the media and not Chiranjeevi’s mind. If at all he wanted to come, he would have joined politics in the 1990s itself. When P V Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister, he sent me to Chiranjeevi as an emissary in 1993 to request him to join the Congress. If he (Chiru) was not interested, PV wanted to rope in his brother-in-law and Man Friday Allu Aravind into the party. I could not meet Chiranjeevi at that time and not even Aravind. But I tried to prevail upon Aravind’s father and noted actor Allu Ramalingaiah to let his son join Congress. Our calculation was that if Aravind contested the elections, Chiranjeevi would pledge support to him and send a message across that he too was with the Congress. Ramalingaiah spoke to his son and informed me that Aravind was not at all interested. And, I conveyed the same to PV.”
“Even very recently, I interacted with Chiranjeevi personally after talk began doing rounds about his political plans. He simply laughed at all such suggestions.”
The entire thing is not out of place. It only strengthens the fact Chiranjeevi is in no mood to take the political plunge.
For now, he and his family are keeping a stoic silence over the issue only because any knee-jerk reaction could cause an adverse impact.
Some more days have to pass till the Mega Star finally opens his mouth – either to shut others’ or leave them in awe.
For the past few days – few months, in fact – there has been widespread speculation about the likely political entry of Mega Star Chiranjeevi into politics by floating his own party.
As far as I know, there had been anticipation about Chiranjeevi’s political foray right from the mid-1990s when he was at the peak of his filmy career, delivering one major hit after the other. But never did Chiranjeevi leave a hint about his supposed political ambitions.
In the later years, the talk about Chiranjeevi’s political moves continued -- in a subdued manner though.
Suddenly, somewhere around August 2007, there was a report in a leading Telugu newspaper about Chiranjeevi’s meeting with the CPM leaders and thus started the fresh round of speculation. I could only laugh at that report as I had known about the meeting way back in October 2006 and also since I had good information about what actually transpired between the actor and the CPM leaders.
All said and done, the August 2007 news story was undoubtedly a ‘major break’ and this fuelled all theories about Chiranjeevi’s motives and the likely fallout on the state political scene if indeed he took the plunge.
October 2007 was a shocking period for Chiranjeevi and the world knows the reasons for it. Thus, he got a brief reprieve from the media over his supposed political moves but by the end of November Chiranjeevi hit the headlines once again, thanks to his over-zealous friend. Since then – even after the death of his father in January first week – the talk did not end and in fact reached some ridiculous heights. At some point, I too had suggested – going by certain reliable information – that Chiranjeevi would indeed be launching his political party sooner than later. But personally, I strongly believe that Chiranjeevi does not nourish any political ambitions. And, I have many reasons to say that he will indeed not come into the political field.
Basically, many who know him closely say, Chiranjeevi is an introvert. He is happy with what he is now and understands pretty well that politics is not his cup of tea.
Other reasons are not too far to seek: He is rather a timid person; also, he is not a “leader” as such; he can’t take criticism since he is sensitive and that he got used to everything “positive” as a Mega Star.
As a film star – a Mega one at that – you get all accolades in the media as well as the public domain. The same cannot be fancied in the political arena. There will be more brickbats than bouquets at every step. Chiranjeevi undoubtedly can’t take this.
The so-called fans created a lot of hungama over Chiranjeevi’s political arangetram and this has resulted in a certain amount of backlash from the women. Above all, Chiranjeevi got “branded” as a single caste leader and this virtually distanced him from other sections – though as an actor he is widely hailed without any barriers.
In some districts, particularly the coastal region where his caste is dominant, prospective leaders distributed the Assembly and Parliament constituencies they would be contesting from on behalf of Chiranjeevi’s party. And, many ‘rebels’ too had emerged in these constituencies and a virtual fight began over nothing. “Nothing,” literally.
All this became a negative feedback for Chiranjeevi even before he made up his mind over his political career. In the scenario, would he dare to venture into the field?
I spoke to a senior political leader – a minister in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Cabinet – on the Chiranjeevi issue. This minister is close to Chiranjeevi family. I quote him on what he told me: “It is all in the media and not Chiranjeevi’s mind. If at all he wanted to come, he would have joined politics in the 1990s itself. When P V Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister, he sent me to Chiranjeevi as an emissary in 1993 to request him to join the Congress. If he (Chiru) was not interested, PV wanted to rope in his brother-in-law and Man Friday Allu Aravind into the party. I could not meet Chiranjeevi at that time and not even Aravind. But I tried to prevail upon Aravind’s father and noted actor Allu Ramalingaiah to let his son join Congress. Our calculation was that if Aravind contested the elections, Chiranjeevi would pledge support to him and send a message across that he too was with the Congress. Ramalingaiah spoke to his son and informed me that Aravind was not at all interested. And, I conveyed the same to PV.”
“Even very recently, I interacted with Chiranjeevi personally after talk began doing rounds about his political plans. He simply laughed at all such suggestions.”
The entire thing is not out of place. It only strengthens the fact Chiranjeevi is in no mood to take the political plunge.
For now, he and his family are keeping a stoic silence over the issue only because any knee-jerk reaction could cause an adverse impact.
Some more days have to pass till the Mega Star finally opens his mouth – either to shut others’ or leave them in awe.
I may be proved right or wrong, ultimately, but I am entitled to my views!
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