June 3 , 2008
Hyderabad

Telugu film personalities, big or small, always maintained restraint over their colleague Chiranjeevi’s much-publicized political entry. Rajasekhar and his wife Jeevita were the early birds to turn sick at the megastar. Venkatesh chose reserve his stand till Chiranjeevi himself announced the party. Linked to Congress party, yet, Srihari was in the forefront to shot back salvos against Mayawati when she made veiled attack on Chiranjeevi, saying” “Film stars are unfit to serve people, who can’t believe them.” Kota Srinivasa Rao, who owes allegiance to Telugu Desam Party, too challenged the UP mass leader to join a public debate.

Senior TDP men in Tollywood, Murali Mohan, Ashwini Dutt, Ramanaidu, Mallikarjuna Rao and a few others have so far remained tightlipped on Chiru’s political entry. Actress Vijayshanti kept making strong remarks against almost all the political parties, but didn’t touch on her former screen hero. But for a few leaders at the middle level in Congress, no political party has spoken against the actor. Can this scenario continue post the fixing of date for the launch of Chiru’s Party – by Allu Arvind, Tollwood’s strongman?

Afresh, BJP leader and rebel star of yesteryears U. Krishnam Raju clarified that he would never be joining the Chiranjeevi’s party. However, he didn’t rule out the chances of BJP making an alliance with the Megastar party, provided, “we should have a clear idea about his party’s agenda.” He further stated that he would be contesting the Narsapur Lok Sabha seat in the coming general elections.

Senior director Kodi Ramakrishna said that he felt very unhappy at Chiranjeevi making his political entry. He wished that Chiranjeevi should continue as a film actor, giving even bigger hits. He also remarked that clubbing of politics and film industry would only result in prejudice.

Chiranjeevi and Roja made a hit pair onscreen. It is not the same with a political Roja. She speaks big words like alternative party and third front. “People are not in favour of any alternative political arrangement in the state,” she says, thus making her stand on Chiranjeevi’s party.

Dialogue King and BJP’s Saikumar, a couple of months before his defeat in Karnataka, welcomed Chiru into politics, but with a populist advice. “I want Chiranjeevi to keep himself closer to the people, throwing round-the-clock access.”

Ex-hero Suman, who is currently busy with both divine and villainous roles, was once considered to have given a cut-throat competition to many an actor in the 1980s. Recently, he stated that he was ever ready to join hands with Chiranjeevi and support his party, even actively campaigning for it.

No doubt, the public point of view in politics underwent sea of change over the last five years, more so thanks to mushrooming of news channels. Leaderships of various political parties seem to have not given much importance to luring them into their folds. “If they come, let them come; otherwise, no problem.” The yardstick is so set. The glamour world suffered a heart stroke in the recent Karnataka assembly elections. Even, Vijaykanth’s party had its bitter experience in Tamilnadu.

If the glamour part were to play a crucial role in AP politics, Chiranjeevi himself contributes the largest share of the element, doubly assisted by his actor-brothers Pawan Kalyan and Nagababu; and son Ramcharan Tej and nephew Allu Arjun.

Actor Balakrishna made a statement that he would be campaigning for the TDP in the coming general elections; but, he reserved the option to join or not to join the party. Same is the case with NTR and Kalyanram. Their share of glamour for the party was in the air in the past also, but it got certain in the recent days.

A talk about Tollywood glamor is not complete without Mohan Babu. A close associate of late NT Rama Rao, he took active part in TDP politics, till the time he got expelled from the party. There is a widespread belief that of late, he is showing interest with the ruling Congress party. At the same time, the versatile actor showed his utter disregard for the present-day politics, terming it as mud of corruption. Completing his three decades of film career, he even came out with a statement that he would soon turn active in politics to cleanse the politics of corruption. Seen as an arch rival to megastar Chiranjeevi, post the Tollywood Vajrotsavams last year, Mohan Babu's role, whether active or inactive, will have its own interest for the public.

All said and done, the coming months are going to throw a litmus test to the Tollywood personalities, both who contest and campaign in the backdrop of widespread criticism that the dynamics of glamour share is dwindling at a rapid pace.