King Akkineni Nagarjuna has been entertaining film lovers for over four decades. Entering the industry as the heir of legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), he went on to carve a unique identity of his own. Over the years, he has emerged as one of the leading stars of Tollywood, successfully continuing his family’s cinematic legacy. Alongside acting, he has also proven himself as a producer and has taken on the responsibility of managing Annapurna Studios. Now, as he approaches the milestone of 100 films, Nagarjuna recently made some key remarks about his career.
Nagarjuna’s Honest Take: The Truth Behind His Film Choices
It is well known that senior actor Jagapathi Babu is hosting a celebrity talk show titled “Jayammu Nischayammura.” For the very first episode, Nagarjuna appeared as the chief guest. The episode is now streaming on ZEE5 OTT, where Nagarjuna opened up about his film career and personal life, sharing several interesting insights. From stepping into cinema as ANR’s son to consistently experimenting with different kinds of films, Nagarjuna spoke about how he managed to create a distinct path for himself in the industry. He added with a smile: “In this industry, there are no heroes or villains — everyone here is a star in their own right.”
Nagarjuna Reflects on His Early Career
“‘Vikram’ was my first film. At that time, I didn’t know much about cinema. My father suggested it would be a good choice for my debut. Interestingly, it was also Jackie Shroff’s first film in Hindi. Since the story had many shades, they felt it would suit a newcomer well, so I did it. The movie performed well. Honestly, people came to see it just because ‘ANR’s son is entering films — let’s see how he does.’ That curiosity helped the film. Some people liked me, others didn’t. Beyond that, there wasn’t much. For almost seven films after that, I was just doing whatever I was asked to do.”
He went on to share how things slowly began to change:
“Around that time, I acted in ‘Collector Gari Abbayi’ with my father. Then I worked with Dasari Narayana Rao on ‘Majnu’. That film gave me a real break — audiences finally recognized that there was an actor in me. After that, ‘Aakhari Poratam’ gave me a commercial breakthrough, but the credit went more to director Raghavendra Rao garu and heroine Sridevi than to me. I was just like a puppet in that film. Honestly, I didn’t like the movies I had done up to that point. That’s when I decided — no matter what others say, I should do films that I personally feel good about.”
Chasing Mani Ratnam for ‘Geethanjali’
Nagarjuna revealed an interesting story behind ‘Geethanjali’:
“When I watched Mani Ratnam’s ‘Mouna Ragam,’ I felt his sensibilities matched mine. I found out he used to go for walks at 6 AM every day in Chennai. So, I started waiting outside his house at that exact time. I’d walk with him for ten minutes daily. I did this for nearly a month until he finally agreed to make a film with me. Initially, he wanted to make ‘Geethanjali’ in Tamil. But I suggested doing it in Telugu since the market was already strong there, and it would help expand his reach. That’s how ‘Geethanjali’ happened. It boosted Mani Ratnam’s market in Telugu and gave me the hit I was desperately waiting for.”
The Game-Changer: ‘Shiva’
On his life-changing film ‘Shiva’, Nagarjuna recalled:
Ram Gopal Varma, who owned a video rental store at the time, narrated a story to me while I was still shooting for ‘Geethanjali’. I immediately felt I had found another director whose vision I liked. That’s how ‘Shiva’ started — and the film went on to create history.
But right after those two back-to-back massive hits (‘Geethanjali’ and ‘Shiva’), I faced a tough phase. I struggled a lot because the next six films flopped in a row. Only ‘Nirnayam’ with Priyadarshan performed decently. In that movie, I opened up completely — I did loud comedy and pure entertainment. After that, director K. Kodandarami Reddy made ‘President Gari Pellam’, a rural mass film. Since I didn’t have curly hair, they even made me wear a wig for the role. Surprisingly, the movie became a hit. From there, I started delivering consecutive successes.”
Nagarjuna Opens Up: From ‘Vikram’ to ‘Shiva,’ King Nag Shares His Inspiring Journey
Tollywood’s King Nagarjuna recently appeared as the chief guest on senior actor Jagapathi Babu’s celebrity talk show, Jayammu Nischayammura, streaming now on ZEE5 OTT. In the candid conversation, Nagarjuna revealed several fascinating aspects of his film career, personal journey, and family legacy, offering fans a rare glimpse into his thoughts.
From ‘Vikram’ to ‘Shiva’: A Journey of Transformation
Looking back on his career, Nagarjuna recalled his early days, starting from his debut film ‘Vikram’ to the groundbreaking ‘Shiva’, which marked a turning point not only in his career but also in Telugu cinema.
Despite being the son of the legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), Nagarjuna emphasized that he always strived to carve his own path.
He shared how he convinced Mani Ratnam to make the classic ‘Geethanjali’, a film that remains etched in the hearts of audiences.
Nagarjuna also reflected on his collaboration with Ram Gopal Varma for ‘Shiva’, calling it a life-changing moment that redefined his image and established him as a star.
Four Decades of Stardom
For over four decades, Nagarjuna has entertained audiences with his versatility, moving seamlessly between commercial blockbusters, romantic dramas, and experimental films. As a true successor to his father ANR, Nagarjuna has successfully upheld the Akkineni legacy while creating a unique identity for himself in the industry.
Beyond acting, he has also:
Excelled as a producer, backing meaningful cinema.
Managed the prestigious Annapurna Studios, contributing to Telugu cinema’s growth.
Nearing the 100-film milestone, proving his consistent passion for storytelling.
Highlights from the Talk Show
During the talk show, Nagarjuna spoke openly about his journey:
On being ANR’s son: “Though I entered cinema as my father’s son, I wanted to build my own road instead of walking the one already paved.”
On industry dynamics: “There are no heroes or villains in this industry. Everyone is a star in their own right.”
On personal growth: He stressed the importance of experimenting with roles, constantly learning, and not being afraid of failures.
The episode gave fans a chance to see the more personal side of Nagarjuna—his struggles, his pride in continuing the family’s cinematic legacy, and his hopes for the future.
Nagarjuna’s Legacy
Nagarjuna’s contribution to cinema extends far beyond acting. He has been instrumental in introducing new-age filmmaking, supporting fresh talent, and maintaining Annapurna Studios as a hub for creativity. His ability to reinvent himself with changing times has made him one of Tollywood’s evergreen stars.
As he approaches the 100-film mark, fans eagerly await his upcoming projects while cherishing the classics that made him a household name.
Final Note
Nagarjuna’s candid revelations on Jagapathi Babu’s talk show prove why he remains an inspiration—not just as an actor but also as a visionary, producer, and industry leader. From ‘Vikram’ to ‘Shiva’ and beyond, his journey is a testimony to hard work, reinvention, and resilience.
