Megastar Chiranjeevi was recently celebrated with the prestigious ANR Award, presented by Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan in an event hosted by Nagarjuna. Overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, Chiranjeevi conveyed the deep, personal significance of this award, despite having previously received national honors like the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. For Chiranjeevi, the ANR Award represents a “homecoming” victory within the Telugu Film Industry, a sentiment he expressed through the Telugu phrase, “Inta Gelichi Racha Gelavatam,” meaning “conquering at home before conquering elsewhere.”
In a heartfelt address, Chiranjeevi reminisced about the 2007 Vajrotsavam event, where he was initially given the Legendary Award. Choosing not to accept it then, he felt the award’s presentation had led to division within the industry. As a symbol of unity, he pledged to place that award in a time capsule until he felt he had genuinely earned the collective recognition of his peers. Today, Chiranjeevi sees the ANR Award as a culmination of that journey—a true acknowledgment from the Telugu film fraternity.
Receiving the award from Amitabh Bachchan, with Nagarjuna present, Chiranjeevi felt a profound sense of fulfillment. His emotional speech resonated deeply with attendees and fans, symbolically closing the chapter on the Vajrotsavam controversy and reinforcing his legacy in the hearts of his home industry.
