Film director and former Union minister Dasari Narayana Rao’s bottled up emotions against actor-politician Chiranjeevi, came out once again at a book release function here Thursday.
Without mentioning names, Narayana Rao, who does not see eye to eye with Chiranjeevi, burst out: “Those who used to come to me on bicycles everyday for a role in films and those who got admission into Adayar Film Institute in Chennai at my instance, believe they are very big stars. They are wondering whether they should get up when I show up at functions. I am ashamed that I am facing such situations now,” Narayan Rao said, after releasing director Suresh Krishna’s book on Rajnikanth titled ‘Baasha Tho Nenu’.
While praising Rajnikanth as the only superstar in the film world, Narayana Rao said there can be no other superstars. “I have an association with Rajnikanth which is very precious and unique,” Narayana Rao said, adding, “The actors in Telugu film industry do not compare with him at all.”
The divide between Narayana Rao and Chiranjeevi’s family has widened further after Chiraneevi became a Rajya Sabha member and then a Union minister.
“I gave addresses to those who had no address. They used to seek my blessings in the past. But they are a different kettle of fish now. They think they are so big that they look down upon even me,” Narayana Rao said.