Having been bowled over by 'Mahanati', Chiranjeevi today felicitated Nag Ashwin, Priyanka and Swapna Dutts at his Jubilee Hills residence.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, "Savitri garu is my favourite actress. It was in 'Punadi Rallu' that I first stood in front of the camera. And she played the hero's mother in the film. I played one of the friends of the hero. I regard it as my fortune that I got to share screen space with Savitri garu in a couple of scenes in the film! I have always been a 'veera abhimani' of hers from childhood."

Chiru revealed further, saying, "When I told her that I am a big fan of hers, Savitri garu blessed me and told me I will become a big star in future. It was a wonderful moment in my life."

"It's gladdening that the life history of such an actress has been made into a biopic by my producer Ashwini Dutt garu. Nag Ashwin is a young director. His first film was very nice. But I still had my reservations about how well he can do 'Mahanati'. But once I watched the biopic, all my doubts vanished. As long as I watched the film, my heart was heavy! I can understand how much of research he did. Nag Ashwin has raised the stature of Telugu cinema," Chiru observed.

"Films like this one should be made. They should inspire others. The film shows so well how Savitri garu lived as a child, as an adult and later. Keerthy Suresh has done a remarkable job. She lived the role! It felt as if I was watching Savitri garu herself! Dulquer Salman is excellent. Mohan Babu, Samantha, Vijay Devarakonda, Naga Chaitanya and others are all good," the 'Sye Raa' actor said.

"Ashwini Dutt was always feeling incomplete because he couldn't make award-winning films of the kind that Poornodaya Movie Creations made. But 'Mahanati' fulfills the hitherto unfulfilled wish," Chiru said.