Hyderabad: Celebrated actor Chiranjeevi expressed profound gratitude as he received the prestigious ANR National Award, presented by legendary Hindi actor Amitabh Bachchan. During the award ceremony on Monday, Chiranjeevi shared his emotions, stating, “While I have received accolades like the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, this award holds a special significance as it comes from my people.”
Amitabh Bachchan, in his speech, praised Chiranjeevi’s contributions to Indian cinema, expressing gratitude for the friendship and hospitality he received during their collaborations on films like Saira Narasimha Reddy and Kalki 2898AD. He also humorously requested future opportunities in Telugu films, stating, “I am proud to say that I am now an actor from the Telugu film industry.”
Chiranjeevi reflected on his journey, recalling a pivotal moment when Amitabh referred to him as “the king of Indian cinema.” He cherished this award as a culmination of his career, emphasizing the emotional weight it carried. The actor also shared a touching anecdote about his mother, a devoted fan of Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), who influenced his passion for cinema.
“This award is a milestone in my career and I will cherish this feeling for the rest of my life,” he concluded.
