Entering the industry as the heir of the legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna has undertaken experiments that no other hero would dare to attempt. He fearlessly moved forward in his career with a variety of unique films, earning a distinct recognition in genres ranging from mass and class to spiritual and romantic. He successfully introduced his sons, Naga Chaitanya and Akhil, as the third generation from the Akkineni family into the industry. Behind Nagarjuna’s success in the industry are some daring steps. Let’s learn about them on the occasion of his birthday today (August 29).
‘Siva’ Sensation
Typically, early in their careers, most heroes opt for safe stories. However, Nagarjuna made a big impact with the experimental film ‘Siva‘. He took a significant risk by giving Ram Gopal Varma, who had never even been an assistant director, a chance to direct. This daring step turned his career around, creating a sensation with ‘Siva’ in a way no one anticipated. This film not only changed the trajectory of Nag’s career but also altered the course of Tollywood, challenging the traditional perceptions of a hero’s role with ‘Siva’.
Diversity a Priority
With ‘Siva’, Nagarjuna became a top hero in the industry. While typically a single hit film would set a repetitive pattern in stories, Nagarjuna planned his career to ensure diversity in every film. This strategy led him to star in a supernatural heist film ‘Govinda Govinda‘, a family drama ‘Ninne Pelladatha‘, and an action entertainer ‘Hello Brother‘, continually delighting his fans and establishing a dedicated fan base, thereby solidifying his status as a star hero.
‘Annamayya’
At a time when peers like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, and Venkatesh were dominating with commercial films, Nagarjuna shocked everyone by signing on to the devotional project ‘Annamayya‘. Already popular for his mass image, his decision to do a devotional film raised eyebrows within the industry. Committed to portraying diverse roles, Nagarjuna embraced the challenge without hesitation, delivering a performance in ‘Annamayya’ that became a landmark in his career. Directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, the film was a sensational success, capturing the true essence of Annamayya and earning two National Awards, nine Nandi Awards, and three Filmfare Awards.
More Spiritual Films
Following the success of ‘Annamayya’, Nagarjuna didn’t stop there. While continuing to act in commercial films, he also starred in more devotional films. Films like ‘Sri Ramadasu‘, ‘Shirdi Sai‘, ‘Om Namo Venkatesaya‘, and ‘Jagadguru Adi Shankar‘ under the combination of Raghavendra Rao and Nagarjuna also achieved great success at the box office.
Opportunities for Newcomers
Nagarjuna has proven time and again that not only is giving chances to newcomers not a risk, but it can also lead to success. Throughout his extensive acting career, he has introduced around 40 directors to Tollywood. Directors like Ram Gopal Varma (‘Siva’), YVS Chowdary (Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chootamu Raarandi), Lawrence (‘Mass‘), and Vijay Binni (‘Naa Saami Ranga‘) are included in this list. Nagarjuna often credits these new directors for playing a pivotal role in his stardom.
The First Pan-India Star from Telugu Cinema
Director Krishna Vamsi, in an interview, made interesting remarks about Nagarjuna, describing him as the hero who took Telugu cinema global. Nagarjuna brought directors from various industries and produced diverse films with his own money, significantly altering the audience’s perspective. He worked with directors like Mani Ratnam, Priyadarshan, Ravichandran, and Mahesh Bhatt from Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, and Tamil industries, becoming a true Pan-India foundation.
As the Host of Bigg Boss…
Unlike most stars who shy away from television, Nagarjuna embraced it. He has been hosting the Telugu Bigg Boss show for several years, entertaining the television audience with his charm. While younger heroes like NTR and Tarak hosted for only a season, Nagarjuna has been continuously hosting, completing five seasons (Bigg Boss 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and is set to host the upcoming eighth season. He has also been notable as the host of the ‘Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu’ game show.
The Fitness Mantra
Even at the age of sixty, Nagarjuna’s fitness level amazes the younger generation of heroes. Maintaining his physique from his ‘Siva’ days, he continues to give tough competition to younger heroes. Nagarjuna often shares that his secret to looking great is his calm demeanor and regular workouts. Having debuted as a hero in 1986 with ‘Vikram’, Nagarjuna has now acted in over a hundred films. Currently, he is working under the direction of Shekhar Kammula in ‘Kubera’.
