In dad’s footsteps: Mahesh Babu
City’s famous personalities on the men they were inspired by
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-06-21 01:06 GMT
My father has been and will always be my inspiration — my true idol. As a child actor, I grew up watching his films and when I thought about what I would do after growing up... I decided that I just want to be like him. Because yes, after seeing my father in films from the time I was born, it was the natural path for me to take.
And was I under pressure? I would be lying if I said no. But my father — being the kind of man he is — never let me feel it. During his career (Krishna would often work three shifts in a single day), dad was a busy man. I would get time with him only during my vacations — when I was acting alongside him in a movie. As kids, we didn’t get to see much of him at all. But he did manage to imbibe in us certain principles — humility, generosity and discipline.
Any memorable anecdotes? “Sure. When he saw Okkadu (the movie that turned Mahesh into a superstar) he came out of the theatre and put his arms on my shoulder and just smiled. I knew that instant what he wanted to say. I’m proud of my father and even more proud of the fact that I’m his son.
Glad I train under dad: Pullela Gayatri Gopichand
At the Academy, father is the coach, so he is the same way with us as he is with the other players. He is not partial towards us even slightly. This is the reason why I have been playing well. I probably wouldn’t learn as well as I do now if he was lenient with me. At home, he’s much more relaxed, a little less strict and very affectionate. I am glad that I train at dad’s academy as I get to see more of him than I would normally have.
I now understand dad’s sacrifice: K T Rama Rao
Did I always know, I’ll be in politics? No... it was only after the elections that my father came to me saying I’ll have a bigger role. And he’s not the man who believes in half measures or half-hearted initiatives. He said “Whatever you do, give it your all”. There was also that quote from Spider-Man — ‘With great power, comes great responsibility’. Those are his principles and now, they are mine. Dad wasn’t around much when we were growing up because of his duties. So largely, it was mum who brought us up. But I understand his sacrifice more than ever now, because I’m a father myself. It took a little growing up but yes, I now completely understand how much of a great dad he has been, throughout. Because that’s the thing... dads worldwide may spend their days traveling or they must be busy with work but we keep our kids in our minds all the time, trying to make them better people than what we are.