Megastar Chiranjeevi poses with a replica of a full-sized wooden model of classic Harley Davidson bike, gifted by Telugu actor Mohan Babu, on his 65th birthday.
Tollywood actor Chiranjeevi and his wife Shobha stand in a queue to cast their votes for the state Assembly elections, at a polling station in Hyderabad.
Congress leader Chiranjeevi at parliament to cast his vote for the election of Vice President, in New Delhi.
Former Indian cricketer and co-owner of Tamil Thalaivas team Sachin Tendulkar, center, waves to his fans before the start of first Pro Kabaddi League match between Telugu Titans and Tamil Thalaivas in Hyderabad. On the right is Indian actor turned politician Chiranjeevi.
For Him, The Swinging Sixties Telugu movie's biggest superstar, Chiranjeevi, had a 60th birthday bash as opulent as the sets of his films in which he is wealthy. Seen here with Salman and son Ram Charan Teja (a leading light himself), the party was also graced by Surya, Allu Arjun and Venkatesh.
Actor Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi being given a floral board during the inauguration of Dr Rajkumar's Memorial in Bengaluru. Spread across 2.5 acres, the memorial is supposed to be the biggest built for any cine actor in the country.
Actors Rajinikanth (second right), Chiranjeevi (second left) and Parvatamma Rajkumar light the lamp during the inauguration of Dr Rajkumar's Memorial in Bengaluru. Spread across 2.5 acres, the memorial is supposed to be the biggest built for any cine actor in the country.
Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan
The Rajiv Shukla-Ravi Shankar Prasad Joint Family award to Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan for firmly planting the family flag in opposing political camps in Seemandhra.
Indian film actor and politician Chiranjeevi after casting his vote for the Lok Sabha elections in Hyderabad.
Union Minister Chiranjeevi and HRD minister Pallam Raju offered to quit over the Telangana issue.
Union Minister of State for Tourism K Chiranjeevi sharing a light moment with a drummer at the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) convention at Kochi.
Keep The Paint On Superstar K. Chiranjeevi is taking his Union minister’s role quite seriously. The man rarely smiles at press meets, doing his best imitation of a no-nonsense politician. At heart, though, he still remains the matinee idol. The tourism MoS paid a surprise visit recently to the sets of Zanjeer in Ramoji Film City. The Big B film remake stars Priyanka Chopra and Chiru’s son Ram Charan Tej. As news spread of his presence, fans from all over were lining up for the actor’s autograph. Shooting came to a standstill as the man obliged, and he had a broad smile on his face doing it too. Missing those starry, starry days, Chiru?
New Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi gestures as he is introduced to the Lok Sabha during Parliament's winter session, in New Delhi.
Minister of State for Tourism, K.Chiranjeevi addressing a press conference on his recently visit to World Travel Mart at London, in New Delhi.
No More Of Grease Paint The new Union minister for tourism and culture, Chiranjeevi, is mighty chuffed with this casting, but his fans in Tollywood are a disappointed lot. Till recently, the actor-turned-neta had kept reassuring Telugu cinephiles he was definitely eyeing a comeback. An oft-repeated comment was that his 150th film would be produced by actor-son Ram Charan Tej and would have “a social message”. But talking to journos after getting cast in his cabinet role, Chiranjeevi admitted it was farewell to movies. Still, netas are known for their flip-flop. Maybe a Telugu song ’n dance montage? One second here, the next there, then back?
K Chiranjeevi takes charge as the Minister of State for Tourism with Independent Charge at his office in New Delhi.
Kannada actor Ambareesh with his wife Sumalatha, actor Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi on his birthday during a celebration programme at Palace Grounds, in Bengaluru.
Actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi paying tributes to Babu Jagjivan Ram on the occasion of his 105th birth anniversary in Hyderabad.
Former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai, Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi, Congress MP Mohd Azharuddin and actor-politicians Shatrughan Sinha and Chiranjeevi during the inauguration of "Campaign for Clean India" workshop in New Delhi.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy welcomes actor-politician Chiranjeevi who joined Congress Party, at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad
Amitabh Bachchan hugs Telegu superstar Chiranjeevi at the premiere of his recently-released 'Buddha Hoga Tera Baap' in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi greets the newly wed couple Junior NTR and his wife Lakshmi Pranathi during their marriage party in Hyderabad.
PRP president Chiranjeevi paying floral tribute on 120th birth anniversary of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in Hyderabad.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy with PRP President Chiranjeevi at Camp Office in Hyderabad.
Praja Rajyam Party President Chiranjeevi being welcomed by his supporters on his arrival at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Shamshabad in Hyderabad.
Congress leader and Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy and Prajya Rajyam Party President Chiranjeevi during a meeting in New Delhi.
PRP Chief Chiranjeevi (C) with senior Congress leader and Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily (L) addressing media after meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. Congress in Andhra Pradesh got a major boost when actor Chiranjeevi announced the merger of his Praja Rajyam Party with it that could come as a breather for the ruling party facing rebellion from Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and the sensitive Telangana issue.
Union Defence Minister A K Antony being welcomed by Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi at the latter's residence in Hyderabad.
PRP President Chiranjeei holds a meeting of party MLAs after resigning as an MLA to support United Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad.
Praja Rajiyam Party president Chiranjivi courting arrest at Chief Rationing office in Secunderabad in protest against rising prices of the essentials commodities.
Praja Rajyam party president Chiranjeevi with TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in state assembly in Hyderabad.
Movie star-turned-politician Chiranjeevi gestures as he speaks during an election campaign near Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Chiranjeevi, the beloved hero of 149 adventure-romance films, has quickly become a political force since leaving Tollywood, the Telugu-language film industry that he ruled for three decades, to create his own party Praja Rajyam. Postcript: As expected, he did act as a spoiler and the UPA gained thanks to him, as he cut into TDP/NDA voteshare. Before the year was out, however, he was to resign even his Assembly seat, protesting against the announcement of statehood for Telangana.
Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi stands in front of a poster during the inaugural function of publicity vans in Hyderabad.
The shape of things to come? A hoarding at a street of Hyderabad, shows actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi as a Sumo wrestler facing TDP Chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and Andhra Pradesh CM YSR Rajaseker Reddy. Is that the way the elections are poised?
Aug 26, 2008
MGR. Jayalalitha. NTR. Many more in between, and now Chiranjeevi -- the megastar and demi-god of Telugu
cinema announced the name of his party in typical filmi style with a countdown
before naming it Prajarajyam or People’s Party at a massive rally organised in
Tirupati. And people there were plenty. Estimates ranged between 9 and 10 lakhs. One woman was killed and 35 people were injured as utter chaos and stampede-like situation prevailed at the maiden public meeting.
Women and physically challenged people were the worst affected, as the unruly crowd pushed themselves and moved closer towards the podium.
No other political event in recent times had evoked so much enthusiasm as the megastar's maiden public rally. His entry into politics, with change and social justice as the main planks, is expected to have significant impact on the next year's Assembly elections.
Desertions had started from the main political parties soon after he first
announced his entry into politics on August 17. He played glowing tributes to Babasaheb
Ambedkar, APJ Kalam and Mother Teresa.Chiranjeevi comes from the backward `Kapu' community of Andhra
Pradesh and is clearly projecting himself as a leader of the backwards. Who's
upset with his entry into politics? Clearly all the established players. "His maiden political speech was virtually silent on key issues facing the state. It was only a piece of cinematic rhetoric," state ministers K Lakshminarayana, N Raghuveera Reddy and T Jeevan Reddy
have responded. "There was no clarity on important issues like Telangana, categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Naxalism. He also did not spell out his party's policies and
programmes". "What is the new thing that he has said?" wonders TDP Chief N Chandrababu
Naidu. "The people of Telangana will accept only if he unequivocally supports the demand for separate state. We will formulate our position only after he makes his stand clear," TRS President K Chandrasekhar
Rao says. The BJP has been most welcoming, as it is desperately looking for an
alliance after its breakup with TDP. But only time will tell who the actor would
throw his substantial weight behind.
Sunday August 17, 2008
And here's one more star on the horizon of Andhra Pradesh's politics. Though Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's fans were expecting that he would launch his political party on his 53rd birthday on August 22, he preferred to do it on the birth anniversary of Mother Teresa on August 17. Chiru, as he is popularly known (his real name is Konidela Siva Shankara Varaprasad) has a huge fan-following, comparable with that of thespian N.T. Rama Rao, who had taken the state politics by storm by floating Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982. Some prominent TDP and Congress leaders have already joined the party whose name, agenda and policies are expected to be unveiled in maiden public meeting in the temple town of Tirupati on August 26. The actor maintains that pro-poor policies and social justice will be his party's main agenda.
A die-hard fan of Telegu superstar Chiranjeevi committed suicide on Sunday, February 3, 2008 allegedly over the actor's delay in joining politics. Last week, Chiranjeevi had apologised after his fans attacked actor Rajasekhar and his family for "not supporting Chiru's party". Chiranjeevi, with a career spanning over three decades, is one of the highest paid actors in South India and enjoys massive fan following across the state. He is also a new entrant in Andhra politics and his fans sure seem eager to see him as CM soon!
