It was on March 23, 2002 that 'Aadi' was released. Till then, NTR was just a three-films-old performer with no apparent sights set on winning over the mass audience. Before the film's release, Not many took his potential seriously even though the genre of 'Aadi' was perhaps the most commercial one at that time: faction-action.

Silently, debutante director VV Vinayak metamorphosed this Nandamuri scion into a massive star by portraying him as an ultra-angry factionist out to wipe out the villains. In village after village, people who hadn't talked ever about NTR started seeing in him a worthy successor of the Nanddamuri legacy.

His dance moves in the song 'Nee navvula thelladannani' became a rage. It was not even item song-like; it was a duet with soft lyrics. And NTR came off as a terrific dancer in such a duet.

The dialogues said by other characters, not just the hero, found huge resonance. Sample this line delivered by the villain to his son: 'Nee badulu vaadu naku puttunte, State ni shake chesundun ra'. Sample this line said to Aadi by his lieutenant: 'Oka sari thoda kottu Chinna'.

Since then, NTR has only cemented his position as a star with a massive fan following among the masses. Of late, as 'Nannaku Prematho' proves, he is trying to turn a new leaf by focusing on concept-driven films/songs.