GUNTUR: After adopting a village in Telangana but doing no such thing in his own native land, Telugu film star Mahesh Babu arrived in his ancestral village of Burripalem in Tenali mandal on Sunday to a rousing reception from the people. He promised to take up charitable work here too, mainly focused on health and education.
Braving the hot sun, people lined the streets, crowded the terraces, and clambered atop trees as Mahesh, accompanied by his father Krishna and his brother-in-law Galla Jayadev, the MP for Guntur, drove to their old house in the village. Security guards held off fans eager for a handshake with the star.
"I was last here after completing my debut movie Rajakumarudu and now I'm back to do something good," he said in a two-minute chat with the media.
The star's last big hit Sreemanthudu dealt with a rich young Samaritan who adopts his village and does good things for the people. It aimed to stir the social conscience of well-heeled people. In keeping with that sentiment, the star adopted Siddapur village in drought-hit Mahbubnagar district in Telangana. It raised questions why he wouldn't something similar in Andhra Pradesh, from where his father went on to become a major matinee idol himself.
Nicknamed Prince, the star said his grandparents and father had been involved in charity work in Burripalem. And it was his turn.
Mahesh Babu got things going by presenting a cheque for Rs 1 crore to the local self-help groups. A survey would be done in Burripalem the village and an agenda will be taken up to develop it into a model village.
PRINCE'S AGENDA
* Roads
* Drains
* Community hall
* Anganwadi Centre
"When Sreemanthudu was on the sets, my brother-in-law asked me to adopt Burripalem but I thought it would be seen as a publicity gimmick."
- Mahesh Babu, Telugu film star