Kalyan Dhev, the younger son-in-law of Chiranjeevi, recently announced his foray into films, making him the 10th actor from the Chiranjeevi family to enter the industry. This comes amidst reports that some more family members like Sai Dharam Tej’s younger brother may also pursue a film career soon. The Mega family is undoubtedly one of the biggest in the Telugu Film Industry, just like the Kapoor khandan is in Hindi cinema.
Sai Dharam Tej
Chiranjeevi, the numero uno in Tollywood, and other top actors like Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan and Allu Arjun have all made it big. Even Varun Tej is on his way to becoming a star, having proved his potential with his earlier film Fidaa and the recent Tholi Prema. Apart from these actors, they have the support of Allu Aravind, top producer, distributor and exhibitor, who is also part of this family. With all these actors and the producer as a backup, the Chiranjeevi family seems to be becoming extremely powerful in Tollywood.
Pawan Kalyan
When asked to comment on his younger son-in-law’s debut, Chiranjeevi says that he wants to support youngsters. “The entry of youngsters and new talent always infuses fresh blood and energy into the industry and makes it vibrant. We should welcome youngsters to pursue their dreams,” he says.
The actor is happy that his fans are encouraging actors coming from his family. “I feel indebted to the audience because they have always showered so much love for me and all the members of my family. Their encouragement and affection has made us excel and work harder towards our professional goals,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Sai Korrapati of Eega fame is producing Kalyan Dhev’s debut film. “Frankly speaking, when we first got his portfolio, we didn’t know that he was related to Chiranjeevi. Satyanand master sent a few portfolios from which we selected Kalyan. It was only afterwards that we came to know that he is Chiranjeevi’s son-in-law,” explains Sai Korrapati, adding that he has introduced new talent in many of his films and Kalyan is yet another new face in the industry.
The producer insists that he is not under any pressure even after knowing Kalyan’s background. “If I want to make movies with sons-in-law and sons, there are many. But I go according to my script and whoever is talented comes on top,” says Sai Korrapati.
Agreeing with Sai Korrapati, Chiranjeevi admits that it’s not that easy for any actor, even if they have a godfather. “I always tell these youngsters that it is not a cakewalk to find a foothold in this industry. For me, the real satisfaction is when each of these new entrants can carve a niche for themselves and prove themselves through hard work and excellence,” says the Mega Star.
Talking about his son-in-law, Chiranjeevi says, “Kalyan Dhev is a very passionate and talented youngster. I wish him all the best as he prepares to make his debut in films and seeks the people’s acceptance. As always, my mantra to him is ‘make your mark through hard work and win over people’s hearts’.”
Kalyan Dhev
With so many actors coming from his family, one wonders about the impact on Tollywood. “In the film industry, success comes from the audience and depends on the individual’s talent. Success is not dependent on whether he is related to a top actor or comes from a big family,” says Chiranjeevi.
