Megastar Chiranjeevi, who is celebrating his 70th birthday today, ventured into a few off-beat films in the 1980s and early 1990s amidst his routine commercial potboilers, showcasing his acting versatility.Having been mostly seen as a dancer and fighter on screen, Chiranjeevi wanted to explore his histrionic skills and collaborated with legendary producer Edida Nageswara Rao—celebrated for path-breaking films like Sankarabharanam and Sagara Sangamam. Their collaboration gave Telugu cinema two memorable films: Swayamkrushi and Aapadhbhandavudu.“No doubt, the megastar took a daring step since he was an undisputed commercial hero in Tollywood after a string of thunderous hits. Nonetheless, he essayed down-to-earth roles in our films and showcased his acting prowess. He used to call our films ‘heart-beat movies’ instead of ‘off-beat ones,’” recalls producer Edida Sriram, son of Edida Nageswara Rao. “We were like an extended family to Chiranjeevi garu. He was with us during my father’s funeral and offered us immense support,” he adds.Out of his 150-odd films, these two different roles fetched him two prestigious Best Actor Nandi Awards, proving that he was truly an actor par excellence. “For Swayamkrushi, Chiranjeevi observed a real-life cobbler closely for days before stepping into the role of one who rises to riches through sheer hard work. Despite coming off the commercial blockbuster Pasivadi Pranam, he seamlessly slipped into the simple, down-to-earth character shaped by director K. Vishwanath. His attire, body language, and natural performance won him the Best Actor Nandi Award,” says Sriram.Talking about Apadbhandavudu, Sriram adds, “Chiranjeevigaru joined the shoot soon after delivering the record-breaking hit Gharana Mogudu. Yet, he chose to shed his larger-than-life image and essayed the role of a cowherd with perfection. As a loyal servant who deeply admires his master’s daughter (played by Meenakshi Seshadri), he brought rare dignity and depth to the role. This performance too earned him the Best Actor Nandi Award and widespread acclaim.”Sriram further reveals that Chiranjeevi narrowly missed a National Award for Apadbhandavudu. “We heard his name was almost finalized for Best Actor, but last-minute influences dented his chances,” he concludes.
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