Megastar Chiranjeevi completed 48 years in cinema on September 22, 2026, marking the milestone with a note on X in which he thanked the producers, directors, actors and technicians who shaped his career. He told fans that their affection mattered more to him than any award or box-office record.
The date is tied to his debut release, Pranam Khareedu, which reached theatres on September 22, 1978, and introduced audiences to the actor born Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad.
A Note of Gratitude, Not Trophies
In his anniversary message, Chiranjeevi wrote that the years had brought him an extraordinary range of roles and successes. He said he had portrayed many characters, witnessed many victories and received many awards and honours, and that he owed his position to the collective effort of everyone who worked on his films.
He was clear that public affection outweighed professional recognition. He wrote that the love shown to him was greater than all those victories, and that the place fans had given him in their hearts was more valuable than any honour, thanking every admirer who had treated him as a family member.
The note returned to his screen name, which he adopted early in his career and which he said had become his lasting identity through fan devotion. He recalled that Chiranjeevi was the name he took on that first day, and said that with the audience's love it had become his eternal identity. He signed off with the words "eternal gratitude". The name means immortal and is tied to his family's devotion to Lord Hanuman.
From Pranam Khareedu to Khaidi
The milestone rests on a career that began without a film dynasty behind it. Chiranjeevi, born on August 22, 1955, in Mogalthur, Andhra Pradesh, was the son of a police constable and graduated in commerce before joining the Madras Film Institute in 1976.
His first released film, Pranam Khareedu, was directed by K. Vasu and starred Jayasudha, Rao Gopal Rao, Chandra Mohan, Mahasweta Ray and Madhavi, with Chiranjeevi playing the role of Narasimha. Another early film, Punadhirallu, was shot first but reached screens later.
His rise was gradual rather than instant. He took supporting and antagonistic roles before the 1983 release Khaidi turned him into a leading star, and the decade that followed cemented his standing in Telugu cinema.
His filmography runs past 150 titles and includes Pasivadi Pranam, Yamudiki Mogudu and Gang Leader, while Rudraveena won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.
Beyond Telugu Cinema and the Road Ahead
Chiranjeevi also built a presence in Hindi cinema with Pratibandh (1990), Aaj Ka Goonda Raj (1992) and The Gentleman (1994). Aaj Ka Goonda Raj was the Hindi remake of his Telugu blockbuster Gang Leader, and several of his Telugu films were dubbed and released in Hindi, widening his reach beyond the Telugu-speaking states.
After a break from acting, he returned with Khaidi No. 150 in 2017, followed by Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy and Waltair Veerayya. His most recent release, the action comedy Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, directed by Anil Ravipudi and co-starring Nayanthara, arrived in theatres on January 12, 2026 as a Sankranthi release and emerged as a major commercial success.
He remains active on multiple fronts. Kaaka, directed by Bobby Kolli and featuring Anaswara Rajan, is scheduled for a worldwide release on January 13, 2027.
Vishwambhara, a fantasy drama directed by Mallidi Vassishta and starring Trisha Krishnan, Ashika Ranganath, Mouni Roy and Kunal Kapoor, is in post-production. His contributions have been recognised with the Padma Bhushan in 2006 and the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, in 2024.