Post the success of ‘Peddi’, superstar Chiranjeevi joined the film’s team for a special interaction which was later shared on Vriddhi Cinemas’ YouTube channel. During the conversation, the veteran actor spoke at length about the impact of the film, director Buchi Babu Sanna’s vision and Ram Charan’s performance.Chiranjeevi said that he heard from many people that Ram Charan had surpassed him as an actor in the film ‘Peddi’. He said, “People say that Ram Charan has surpassed Chiranjeevi in Peddi. As a father, I feel proud and happy. But as an actor, it is a bit difficult to accept. Watching my son’s performance has given me immense joy and pride.”
Chiranjeevi recalls advice from S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
During the interaction, Chiranjeevi spoke about a memorable conversation he once had with legendary singer S.
B Balasubrahmanyam. He revealed that the singer encouraged him to take up more performance-oriented films.Chiranjeevi recalls, “SP Balasubrahmanyam once told me: ‘You have done films like Aapadbandhavudu and Rudraveena. I know your acting abilities. But you are moving more towards commercial cinema. You have much more potential.’He also shared another observation that SPB conveyed to him.
“Balu told me that Balachander once said, ‘You have shades of both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.’” The actor said he always wanted to take up such content-driven films whenever the right opportunity presented itself.
Why did Chiranjeevi mention ‘Dangal’ and ‘Chuck D! India ‘
Talking about the sports drama, Chiranjeevi revealed that he liked films like ‘Dangal’ and ‘Chak De!’ India’. He said he often wished he had similar stories during his career.He said: “I told him: Why don’t I do such films if they come to me? I have the ability and confidence to perform in them.”
But stories like this have to come my way first. When films like Dangal and Chak De! India came out in Hindi. I liked these shows and hoped that such stories would reach me. But directors have to provide this kind of content. Now Bedi has come to a similar sporting background.” The actor added that he is happy to see Ram Charan bagging such a role.
Chiranjeevi says ‘Peddi’ has a different identity
Comparing ‘Peddi’ to ‘Dangal’, Chiranjeevi explained why he believes the two films offer different experiences despite belonging to the sports drama genre.He said, “Dangal is an emotional, family-oriented sports drama. It revolves around wrestling and the relationship within a family. The emotional conflicts between the characters grab your heart and move you deeply.”Highlighting the uniqueness of Peddi, he added, “Peddi is a rural sports drama. It creates awareness while also motivating people. In a way, it is an educational film for governments, children and parents.”
“It makes audiences think.”According to Chiranjeevi, the film’s rural setting and social message give it a distinct appeal. Explaining why he believes the film will have a long-lasting impact, Chiranjeevi said, “Even though this is a classic sports drama, Peddi is a rural drama rooted in village life. It’s a story of people connected to the soil. That’s why I feel it will have greater longevity and wider appeal.”“Such a story came to Ram Charan. It’s the kind of opportunity I missed, and he got it. That’s why people say Ram Charan has surpassed Chiranjeevi. I completely agree with them. As a father, I’m very proud. But as an actor, I have to accept it with little difficulty,” he concluded.
‘Peddi crosses Rs 200 crore net mark in India
Meanwhile, ‘Peddi’ continues its strong run at the box office. Ram Charan’s action sports drama saw a notable jump in its collections on Saturday 2nd.According to Sakneelek, the film collected a net collection of Rs 8.10 crore in India on the 10th day, registering a growth of 57.3 per cent from the Rs 5.15 crore collected on the ninth day. The latest figures have pushed the film’s total net collection in India to Rs 206.80 crore.