Chiranjeevi 71st birthday: Mega stars, directors pay tribute

Megastar Chiranjeevi celebrated his 71st birthday on August 22 in Hyderabad, with a grand event attended by film industry figures, directors, and fans. The event featured speeches from director Bobby, actor and producer Bandla Ganesh, writer-director BVS Ravi, and actor Hyper Aadi, all of whom praised Chiranjeevi's character, generosity, and impact on Telugu cinema. Director Bobby announced details of Chiranjeevi's 158th film, tentatively titled #Mega158, revealing that the story combines the soul of classic films 'Rudraveena', 'Swayam Krushi', and 'Apadbandhavudu' with a commercial mass angle. He challenged fans to 'write it down', expressing confidence in the film's box office performance. Director Vashisht, who is making 'Vishwambhara' with Chiranjeevi, promised the film will break box office records despite delays.

Several speakers addressed social media trolls and negative comments about Chiranjeevi. BVS Ravi used the analogy 'When an elephant walks, dogs bark' to dismiss critics, while Hyper Aadi countered claims that Chiranjeevi had suppressed others, stating that he had crushed egos and created opportunities. Bandla Ganesh emotionally recalled Chiranjeevi's personal kindness, including visiting him when he was building his house and caring for his mother. Producer SKN posted a birthday message calling Chiranjeevi 'the only megastar' and 'my god, my inspiration, my oxygen'. The event also saw updates on other projects, including 'Spirit' and 'Toxic', and news of a missing Indian man in Dallas being found safe.

On the political front, a report highlighted that the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections are likely to be held in February-March 2027, with the BJP, SP, Congress, and BSP preparing strategies. In Telangana, the Hyderabad High Court stayed the implementation of the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme, citing a lack of legislative backing and financial concerns. Minister Ponnam Prabhakar assured the scheme will continue. Additionally, a report noted that smartphone technology can now detect earthquakes using built-in accelerometers, turning phones into a global seismic network that can send early warnings.