Megastar Chiranjeevi recently refused to be called the industry 'pedda'. Back then, many criticized him for not being a willing contender for the leadership role. We miss Dasari Narayana Rao more than ever, critics and genuine industry observers lamented.

But Chiranjeevi is a 'pedda' (elder) in the guise of a 'bidda' (son). He is not a leader but a servant! This is what SS Rajamouli made everyone understand at the pre-release event of 'RRR' on Saturday. His speech drove home the point about Chiru's untiring efforts to work for the industry by dealing with the most Tollywood-unfriendly government ever - the YS Jaganmohan Reddy sarkar. "He came to be belittled. But he went about his way by leveraging his links to the Chief Minister," Rajamouli said, talking about how the legendary actor used his influence with the government to undo the unsustainable cinema ticket prices government order. If anybody needed a resounding endorsement, the 'Baahubali' maker gave one.

The 'Acharya' actor has always carried a great amount of goodwill. And Rajamouli's speech only cements it further, perhaps for eternity. The event where he delivered the speech was a grand one, with both Chiru's son and Jr NTR being present. Rajamouli is one person who doesn't speak an extra word, both on stage and in interviews. If he said that Chiru is a true megastar, it means Chiru is indeed one.

Chiru has been working behind the doors, as Rajamouli's speech confirms, with the TRS government as well. In the end, the 'Bholaa Shankar' actor is the 'Godfather' of the pandemic-battered Tollywood.

చిరంజీవి గారిని చాలా మంది చాలా మాటలు అన్నారు... రకరకాల మాటలు అన్నారు.

మమ్మల్ని నెగ్గించడానికి చిరంజీవి గారు తగ్గి అందరి దగ్గిర అన్ని మాటలు పడ్డారు.

ఆయనకి ఇండస్ట్రీ పెద్ద అనిపించుకువడం ఇష్టం ఉండదు... ఇండస్ట్రీ బిడ్డ అని పించుకోవడం ఇష్టం. ఇండస్ట్రీ ఆయనికి రుణపడి ఉండాలి?? #RRR pic.twitter.com/55EvC0PL2D

— IndiaGlitz Telugu™ (@igtelugu) March 20, 2022