An Exclusive Interview With Chiranjeevi

Saving a life gives immense satisfaction

Being so busy as a hero, how did you think that you could take up service activities through Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust. What inspired you in taking up these service activities?
In the beginning of my career, I have no thought of taking up service activities. During those days, may sole aim is to earn a good name as an artiste. I concentrated on my career and in improving my acting talents to come up as hero. I utilised the opportunities that were come in my way in a positive manner and worked hard and reached to a certain stage. Once I got image and became financially sound, I started thinking who were responsible for my present stature. They are none other than the audiences, i.e., the people. I got an idea in my mind that I should do something in reciprocation to the people who admire me and encourage my films. The service activities have come from that thinking. I used to help any family that was in trouble or whenever there were natural calamities. But the help is reaching the people, when the incident coming to my notice. But I thought that the help should reach everyone in need and hence established the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust. At this juncture, I happened to read in a newspaper that hundreds of people were dying in road accidents and several other incidents, due to the non-availability of blood in time. This news item moved me. In fact, Hyderabad is not a small city and there are lots of people. It is inhuman to let the people die just because of the non-availability of blood. I have lakhs of fans. Instead of putting cut-outs in theatres, maintaining and recording the collections in theatres and wasting their valuable time to just admire me, if I was able to divert their attention towards service activities, it would be helpful to me as well as the people. The needy who got the help in necessity will remember me as he got the help from my fans and at the same time, the needy gets benefited. After reviewing the entire plan once, twice and thrice, finally I established the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust on October 02 some four years ago. The blood bank and eye bank were part of the trust. You asked me, how could I take up these service activities being a busy artiste. It is not the routine work, our will power should be strong. I could do it with the help Allu Aravind, my brothers, Dr Harsha, Swamynaidu and several others who were extending dedicated services in this regard. Even the government is extending its cooperation in this regard. My fans are coming forward as their favourite hero preached it. Unless we encourage them, those who came forward might not have continue their service. It is my fans who were behind the service activities taken up by me.

Did you ever have a dilemma whether you could continue your service activities through your trust, either before the establishment of the trust or afterwards?
Yes. We have a serious doubt that the fans will come forward and donate blood in the beginning, but after a few months they might not continue it with the same vigour. But my doubts were proved baseless. Thousands of fans were participating in the service activities. We were able to provide blood of rare groups to the needy. We are providing blood free of cost to the poor people holding white ration cards and also the corporate hospitals. Not only my fans, those who liked my ideals personally, but also those who wanted to participate in a good job, including family ladies were coming forward and donating blood. Though I established the trust after reading a news item in a newspaper, decided to emulate Mother Teresa. She was born somewhere, but came to India and extended her helping hand to the needy in our country. When a woman who was born in another country was able to serve the people of India, why can't we? That is the reason I wanted to extend the trust activities to more and more areas. We are planning to provide artificial limbs from Jaipur in Rajasthan to the physically challenged. Presently, it is in the stage of discussions. It may take some more time to give it a concrete shape. We will soon take a decision in this regard.

You said that you wanted to emulate Mother Teresa. Did you happen to meet her?
No. I couldn't. Though we could not meet some people, we will adore them. Like many people love me though they were away from me. I have hesitation whether I could meet her because she has a high stature. I had a doubt that whether I could talk to her even if I meet her. Of course, I could have definitely meet her if I firmly made an attempt. But somehow, I did not put in such effort. I heard that she was in serious condition and thought of going and meeting her but could not do because I am busy with my schedules. I tried to meet her at any cost, but she passed away. I felt very bad. Though she is not with us physically, her inspiration is still alive in me. So for me, she is still alive.

Generally you meet your fans on every Saturday while they donate blood, if you stay in Hyderabad. You will do it only to encourage them or is there any other reason?
My fans wanted to meet me when my film became a hit or on any other occasion. But I may not be able to meet them because I am busy. In order to not to discourage them, I evolved a system. Those who wanted to meet me, pose for a photograph with me, they could come and donate blood on Saturday. I will pose for a photograph with them and get an enlarged print for them. More than this, my fans did not want any more. Like this, I can satisfy my fans and at the same time, inculcate a good habit of donating blood. That habit will be helpful to the society. So, I allocated certain time for my fans.

  It seems you never think that a hero should only fight. You did many roles, which have preference for comedy, dance and sentiment. How do you feel when you shoot a comedy sequence?
I enjoy comedy scenes very much. Anyhow, I do know what kind of scene to be shot the next day. So I will come to the shooting spot in the same mood. Not only me, the entire unit will enjoy such scenes on that day. In a serious film like 'Tagore' also, I did not miss the comedy. In the flashback, a small character will come. In that scene, I did some comedy. I always try my best to make each scene come out well.

  Generally, how is your lifestyle?
I am very simple. Keeping in mind my image, the outsiders who watch me at my home will really surprise. I wanted to remain very simple even while I go out to attend any functions. I feel comfortable while I maintain simplicity. Moreover, I like simplicity right from my childhood. At times I feel that everyone will like me because of my simplicity. Had I behave like a Mega Star at home also, none would come and join me and move closely with me. Because of my simplicity, I was able to get me called 'Brother' by everyone. I feel ver

  When we talk to child artistes and ask them what they want to be in future, without hesitation they reply that they wanted to be a hero like Chiranjeevi. Several child artistes play in your films along with you. How do you like children?
I like children very much. We generally attract towards the fresh minds. Take the love of a mother or father for example. They give a clean love to their children. The smile, behaviour, words, what not… everything that comes from children will be fresh and hearty. We will have several strenuous experiences professionally. When such thing happens, if we spend sometime with children, we could forget everything and get relaxed. Whenever I really find leisure, I would like to spend it with children.

  So, you like to spend leisure with children. Do you able to spend your time with your children, when they were kids?
No. At that time, I used to work for three shifts and am very busy. I was able to sleep for just four hours during the days of 'Punnami Nagu'. I worked so had during those days. At that time, I had my daughter. Later I was blessed with a boy. During the early days of my career, I hardly find time to spend with my children. I missed several sweet memories with my children because of my dedication towards profession. In the beginning of my career, I have a strong feeling that acting is my life. But now I realised that acting is a part of life and there are many other things in life. But there is no change in my dedication towards the profession.

  What kind of cooperation did you get from your wife Surekha, especially when you don't find time to spend with your family and very busy professionally?
I just can't limit the cooperation I got from my wife. Surekha was very positive and remained with the hope that I will definitely spend my time with her, whenever I get a small leisure. She did never have the feelings of behaving a star hero's wife. She really understood the intuition in me and my dedication towards my profession. Really, she extended complete cooperation to me to do cent per cent justice to my profession. Not only my wife, my entire family supported me or else I would not have reached this stage. Likewise, Aravind and Nagababu. They used to deal the financial matters efficiently, which enabled me to pay complete concentration on my profession.

  We learn many things from our parents. What did you learn from your parents?
I learnt how to love people from my mother. She behaves equally with our relatives or with unknown persons. I will tell you and example. When Amitabh Bachchan met with an accident during the shooting of 'Coolie', my mother prayed for his health and offered prayers in temples. But Amitabh did not know this. Likewise, Roja met with an accident in a shooting and my mother offered prayers on her behalf also. Like this, if anyone is in trouble, my mother will not just listen and keep quiet. She offers prayers for their welfare. When artistes like Raja Ravindra, Prakashraj come to our house, she complements them and pats them that they were acting very well. If we wish the welfare of others, her children would also do well must be her attitude. But, I learnt to love one and all through my mother. When it comes to my father, he loves acting. He is straightforward and open-minded. Only honest people could have these qualities. I learnt these qualities from my father.

  Your parents gave you complete freedom. How do you behave with your children?
Once acting is my life. After my children grew up, I need to give them proper guidance for their future. I have the responsibility to design their career excellently. We are encouraging them by learning their tastes. Likewise, we give them freedom but keep an eye on them how far they are going in the right path. When it comes to giving guidance to children Surekha and me together take a decision.

  Generally what kind of films do you like most?
I love action films most. I am not very interested in dramas and heavy stories. I like James Bond movies. I also love to watch Jackie Chan films. In fact, I really don't find time to watch films. If I get a chance to watch a film, I prefer to see films that give entertainment, rather than giving further stress to my mind by thinking about the film after watching it. That is why, I love action films.

  When you wanted to take up service activities, why did you choose services related to health like blood donation and eye donation, when there are several other kinds of activities?
Nothing is important than life. I strongly feel that saving life in need is better than any other service activity. We can help poor students for their education. That is also important. But, saving a life will give more satisfaction than any other service activity. A doctor gets immense satisfaction when he was able to give life to a patient by conducting a surgery. When I wanted to do something for those who like me and admire me, nothing struck me on what should I do. I just got inspired on reading that news item and established the trust. The work being taken up by me is giving me complete satisfaction. I don't say that I will dedicate my life to the trust. I wanted to do help to the maximum possible extent. I too have a career and family. I try my best to do justice to my personal life, profession and also to the trust.