The Hindu : Front Page : Chiranjeevi to celebrate birthday with mother

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Friday, Aug 22, 2008
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Chiranjeevi to celebrate birthday with mother

Suresh Krishnamoorthy

If you love me, plant a tree: film actor’s appeal to fans

Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

LOVE AND AWE: Fans greet Chiranjeevi in Hyderabad on Thursday.

HYDERABAD: Film actor Chiranjeevi on Thursday made it clear that he would celebrate his 53rd birthday on Friday with his mother and spend quality time with the family, as he was not sure whether he could spare time in future, having decided to enter politics.

In tune with his decision, he reiterated his appeal to fans not to rush to Hyderabad to greet him. He asked each one of them to plant a tree instead, to show their love for him. In what was a first since his political entry, he joined presspersons for lunch. Initially reluctant to talk, the absence of cameras around him appeared to loosen his diplomatic cloak.

He said though former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was a powerful influence on him, he could not term anyone as an ‘icon’ among contemporary politicians, as he was inspired by one good trait in each of them. As in the earlier press conference, he refused to be drawn into debate over controversies like allotment of land for Special Economic Zones and the displacement of farmers.

The actor turned the tables on scribes by jocularly asking, “How do your family members put up with you? Do you ask questions even while having food?” He went on to say he would probably need to eat again in an hour’s time, as he was tired out by the relentless questioning by journalists.

Asked if he practised yoga or meditation to show such high levels of motivation, he said, “Meditation means focussing attention on a single object and I am now firmly concentrating on service to people through politics. I find it relaxing.”

Earlier, a former MLC, Kamineni Srinivas from Kaikalur in Krishna district and S. Chandrasekhar, a doctor and son of former Minister Simhadri Satyanarayana, joined his party. To a query why so many doctors were joining his camp, he said, “Wait and see. I am sure many more from different walks of life will join hands with me.”

On whether his August 26 public meeting would be ‘filmi’, Mr. Chiranjeevi had a repartee ready. “It will not be in filmi style, but in people’s style,” he quipped.

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