Chiranjeevi and his dreams

DESARAJU SURYA

Hyderabad: Chiranjeevi now has two dreams unfulfilled. As an actor he wanted to don the role of Shahid Bhagat Singh but that remained a dream in his 30-year career.

As a politician, his dream was to become the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. In his first attempt, however, he failed to realize that and will now have to wait for many years if he seriously intends to make the dream a reality.

Chiranjeevi played a villain, an anti-hero, lover boy, lawyer, dancer, ruffian, a Cowboy, politician, a sportsman, a thief, a cobbler, a murderer, professor, Lord Siva, IPS officer, industrialist, Charlie Chaplin, a woman and a host of other characters in the 148 films he has acted in, in a career spanning 30 years. 
But Bhagat Singh’s role was close to his heart as he adored the legendary freedom fighter.

Ever since he became an actor in 1978, Chiranjeevi wanted to don that role as Bhagat Singh was always his “inspiration.” Sometime after his first mighty hit Khaidi was released in late 1983, Chiranjeevi himself had stated this in an interview to a film magazine. Years passed and he gradually was caught in a rigid image frame which did not allow him to do off beat roles like Bhagat Singh. Hence, it remained an unrealized dream for Chiranjeevi. 
“Yes, it is certainly my dream role but I am unable to don it because of my current image. People are used to my dances and fights and Bhagat Singh’s role certainly doesn’t have scope for this. I doubt if my fans would accept me in that role, so I am hesitant to do Bhagat Singh,” Chiranjeevi once admitted. 
He was repentant but was equally helpless! A price he had to pay for being a Mega Star! 
Interestingly, Chiranjeevi never again spoke about his dream role as he acquired a larger-than-life image as an actor.

What happens to politician Chiranjeevi’s dream is a question which only the people of AP could decide.