CELEBS FACTORY

Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi has decided not to quit acting following the advice of Amitabh Bachchan.

The 55-year-old actor-politician had announced that he was bidding adieu to acting because of his involvement in politics but Bachchan convinced him otherwise.

"I will do my 150th film which will be directed by Puri Jagannath," Chiranjeevi announced at the premier of Bbuddha...hoga tera baap, starring Amitabh Bachchan and directed by Jagannath.

Interestingly, Bachchan offered to play a guest role in Chiranjeevi's next film, much to the cheer of the fans.

Another Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma said he was ready to direct Chiranjeevi in his 151st film, if he was willing to continue acting.

"Yes, I will act again. Puri Jagannath will direct the film," Chiranjeevi declared amidst loud cheers by scores of fans and film personalities present at the multiplex complex.

At the launch of UTV's Action Telugu movie channel two days ago, Chiranjeevi - who is now a member of Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly - said he would not act in films henceforth and the gap would be filled by his actor-son Ram Charan Tej.

Incidentally, Charan will be producing his father's 150th movie.

Chiranjeevi, who debuted in 1977 with Punadhirallu, has been part of critically and commercially hit films like Idi Katha Kaadu, Punnami Naagu, Subhalekha, Khaidi, Pasivadi Pranam, Hitler and Rudraveena.

Raju Sundaram, the acclaimed choreographer and Prabhu Deva’s brother who directed Ajith Kumar in Aegan is all set to make his directorial debut in Telugu.

Megastar Chiranjeevi's younger brother Power Star Pawan Kalyan has asked him to direct his next film which has been scripted by S J Suryah.

Of course, Raju Sundaram was only happy to accept this offer and will be making preparations for the film and searching for a suitable heroine as the film might be a bilingual.

The project will hit the floors very soon once Pawan completes 'Gabbar Singh' and another film with Vishnuvardhan.

Actor Ram Charan, son of Chiranjeevi, whose Maaveeran will be hitting the theatres shortly is overwhelmed with the warm reception he received from the Tamil industry. The journos were very surprised when he addressed them in perfect Tamil. Even the director Rajamouli and producer, Allu Aravind spoke in Tamil. This is amazing in an age where most of the heroines can barely string a sentence together in Tamil despite doing so many films in that language. They all received a thunderous applause from the delighted onlookers.

Ram Charan conveyed his gratitude to Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam for their kind words and encouragement. He said he loves Chennai as he spent his younger days in the city and it is close to his heart and hopes there will be more collaboration between the Tamil and Telugu film fraternities.