Hyderabad, (IANS)| They are compared to fine wine. And this is true in a sense as Nagarjuna is only getting better with each passing year. He turns 62 on Sunday. No wonder he is known as ‘Raja’ Nagarjuna in Tollywood. Apparently, on Sunday, social media stars and celebrities wished to be the evergreen hero on his special day. Best friend and megastar Chiranjeevi was among the first to reach out to Nagarjuna. He tweeted, “A very cool person who knows when it comes and makes the most of every moment. An actor who is constantly experimenting and pushing boundaries. And above all a dear friend, always and always For, dear at the rate I am Nagarjuna, wishing you a very Happy Birthday!”
Deodhar tweeted, “Among politicians, BJP co-in-charge for Andhra Pradesh Sunil Deodhar wished the star. Wishing at the rateIM Nagarjuna a Very Happy Birthday! A great actor who you are, you carry the legacy of ANR Garu Proudly growing. Wishing you more success, good health in the years to come!” Nagarjuna has been one of the most loved and enduring stars of Tollywood. His film releases are a mix of commercially and technically well-crafted offerings that churn out year after year in a flood of films from the Telugu film industry.
He is also known in Bollywood for films like ‘Khudagawah’, ‘Criminal’ and the soon to be released ‘Brahmastra’. As the son and heir to the acting legacy of his famous father Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna had an easy entry into Tollywood. But after that, it was just his show all the way. Although he started his film career as a child artist in several films, his formal entry into tinsel town was in 1986, when he appeared in Subhash Ghai’s ‘Hero’ (1983) starring Jackie Shroff and Meenakshi Seshadri. Made his debut in the remake of ‘Vikram’.
Since then, Nagarjuna has continued to remain relevant with Telugu audiences across the globe. From Tollywood to Bollywood, family films, mythology, thriller thrillers, romance and even comedies, he has done it all. His greatest asset is his ability to effortlessly ease himself into any role—old, middle-aged, or young—without looking awkward or out of place. Be it choosing a role or choosing a project, Nagarjuna is a good analyst at work. Many raised eyebrows when he stepped out to give director Ram Gopal Varma a break from his 1990 Telugu debut ‘Shiva’.
The film revolving around colleges and politics was a blockbuster and trendsetter. One of Nagarjuna’s iconic scenes is of the central character Shiva breaking a bicycle chain and wrapping it around his palm, taking down the bad guys. For Ram Gopal Varma, it was the ticket to big successes. Incidentally, ace director Mani Ratnam’s only Telugu directorial venture ‘Geethanjali’ starred Nagarjuna and was a super smash hit. Apart from giving new talent a break behind the camera, Nagarjuna is also known for introducing new faces to the silver screen, most prominent among them being ‘Baahubali’ fame Anushka Shetty.
A shrewd businessman, Nagarjuna set about nurturing new talent with his film school. He has also ventured into other businesses such as restaurant and hospitality. But showbiz remains his focus. His family is full of film stars. Nagarjuna tied the knot with Amala, who had acted with him in several films, during the production of which their romance blossomed somewhere. Apart from being a vocal supporter of animal rights, Amala nowadays also works in odd-films. His elder son Naga Chaitanya, from a previous marriage, is an established actor, while daughter-in-law Samantha is a prominent South Indian film star, playing a leading role in the second season of Manoj Bajpayee starrer web series ‘The Family Man’.
Nagarjuna and Amala’s son Akhil is also trying to make his place in the film industry. And then there are other stars in the extended family, as are nephews Sumant and Sushant. Be it on television or OTT platforms, Nagarjuna has made sure that he is a part of the game as it develops. Be it ‘Bigg Boss’ or ‘KBC’, he is dominating everyone. For now, ‘Raja’ Nagarjuna has his hands full as an actor, producer, television anchor, mentor and businessman. For Nagarjuna as his next Tollywood venture, life is about the journey and not the destination.