Telugu actor Chiranjeevi's entry into politics has drawn the most obvious comparison. He is being compared to mega star and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh N T Rama Rao.
Both announced their entry into politics when they were at the peak of their careers and both had to contend with the Congress as the main opposition.
Chiranjeevi's grand entry into politics
However, some believe that it is unfair to compare the two. While Chiranjeevi is considered a mega star, NTR enjoyed the status of a demi god thanks to his role in hit mythological films. He had charmed the audience with his portrayal of Krishna, Rama and Karna.
But the two stars also have several things in common. Fans point out that after a certain point of time, neither was interested in merely raking in the money.
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Like NTR, Chiranjeevi too has a social approach to life -- the welfare of people and his fans matter the most to him. Neither star had previously indicated their inclination towards politics.
NTR had dished out blockbusters such as Justice Chaudhary, Yamagola and Bobbili Puli before entering politics. Chiranjeevi has also delivered blockbusters such as Stalin, Shankar Dada, Indra and Hitler before taking the political route. Chiranjeevi, like NTR, will be banking heavily on his mass image to win the political battle.
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Fans, who have watched both these actors closely, say that NTR surly had an edge over Chiranjeevi when it came to public speaking.
NTR was a strong orator and was never scared to take a stand. During public meetings, he could easily command the attention of his audience
Chiranjeevi comes across as a shy person and he has not clarified his stand on several issues, including the contentious issue of Telangana.
Chiranjeevi's new political office
Another advantage that NTR had over Chiranjeevi is the number of political parties in the state. NTR's fight was only against the Congress as it was the only major party in the state at that time. Many voted for NTR as he was the only alternative to the Congress.
Chiranjeevi will have to take on the Congress as well as the Telugu Desam Party.
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On the other hand, Chiranjeevi definitely has an advantage over NTR in terms of the immense media coverage that he receives, which in turn helps him reach out to the masses.
But in the 1980s, the heyday of NTR's political career, the presence of the electronic media was minimal.
Even the people's attitude has undergone a major change. Unlike the 80s, they no longer blindly vote for on-screen demi-gods. The number of educated voters has increased and the society has adopted a more capitalistic approach.
The people are going to consider the pertinent issues and the stand being taken by the leader -- rather than his on-screen image -- while casting their crucial vote.
