Alone at the top

"I can't do it with the same ease now", chiranjeevi says, as he flashes a smile and poses for our lensman. Clad in a white shirt and black trousers, tollywood's 'most colourful' personality, who had to forego his designer wear after turning politician, says, "i'm comfortable in my new atire."

Veering him away from politics we rewind to his 30year long film career. Does he regret not donning the director's cap and not featuring in his 150th land mark film? "After experiencing the love and affection of the people and the confidence they have placed in me, these landmarks are nothing in comparison. Yes, I wanted to turn director and dish out a magnum opus like BRAVEHEART but after getting in to politics, I have no regrets whatsover," he says.

Chiru (as he is popularly known) likens his FILMI career to two innings. The first innings was that of a struggling actor till KAIDI propelled him to stardom. His second innings saw him pooling in all his energy to sustain the stardom.

So, which of the two was challenging? "My third innings as a political leader seems to be more challenging," he retorts. However, he states that more than reaching the top, it was sustaining the stardom that was more demanding. "You are alone at the top. it's like being on a moutain pak, where you should be wary about glaciers, shortage of oxygen and every move has to be measured," he explains.

Now that he has left the top slot vacant, who among the preasent crop of stars, has thr potential to take his place? "I find most of them talented and obviously the best would emerge the winner," he says.

Going back in time, let's talk about his bollywood hits of the 90s- PRATIBANDH and AAJ KAA GOONDARAJ. So, what prompted him to do those films? "At that time some of my telugu films flopped, but after the bollywood hits, I returned to regain my stardom. I had done those films to prove myself- that a south star can make it in bollywood as well. Also the admiration of regional fans has no match," he resons.

So, does he miss the arc lights/ "I do. But i see myself in pawn, charan and allu arjun when thry act in their films," he reveals. "It's now my turn to repay the industry by addressing some of its pressing problems," he says.

The star-turned-politician feels that stars can enter politics like any other eligible citizen but should have a 'commitment to serve' people for a long innings. Is he wary of losing his fan following? "They may have come back to me," he says.

Is he nervous about the poll outcome? "I am cool and confident," he avers. "Films had prepared me for this because I learnt the art of not worrying about my new releases," he sighns off.