“I am the luckiest man in the world,” said veteran actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who was jointly felicitated by TSR Kala Parishat and Telugu filmdom at a star-studded function held at Shiplakavedikda on Monday, for completing 75 years as an actor on film and stage.
Attributing his success to luck, he said he believed in hard work to overcome the struggles he faced at varied phases of an illustrious career. “Maybe luck favours the brave, and I should thank my mother who allowed me to be an actor from the age of nine, since I wasn't good at studies and did stage plays before getting into films,” he said.
His biggest luck, he says, was having filmmaker Bhalaramaiyah spot him at a railway station. “That changed my destiny,” ANR said, expressing his thanks to those present for their support. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said, “It’s an impeccable achievement. I enjoyed watching his movies from childhood and I would like to see more of his films.”
Rajya Sabha member T. Subbarami Reddy, who jointly organised the event with the Telugu film fraternity, and who has known the actor for 40 years, felt that ANR deserved the Bharat Ratna “for his memorable acting career and for being a great human being, also having a sharp mind”.