Dad was with us during good and bad times, says Nagarjuna

Seasoned star Nagarjuna claimed that he didn’t check out the statue of his father and legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao until it was unveiled by former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday. “I was under the feeling that my dad was among us so I didn’t feel like checking out the statue beforehand. Also, I thank sculptors for their eminent work,” he says.

Describing his father as a great man, he added, “He has played numerous memorable roles and also received great honors from India and abroad for his enviable body of work. He was etched in the minds of crores of Telugu people. However, he was a loving and doting father for me and my siblings since he showered loads of love and affection,” he points out

He claimed that ANR was always there for them during their good and bad times. “He used to invite us into his house with a smile and our issues would be resolved after sitting with him for minutes. He always a had positive outlook towards life,” says Nagarjuna. He claimed that his father loved Annapoorna Studios so they erected this life-size statue in his favoured spot. "He is actually with us,” he quips.

“My heartful thanks to Venkaiah Naidu Garu, T Subbirami Reddy Garu, and others for gracing this occasion and making it a memorable one,” he adds. He reserved special thanks to Akkineni fans who arrived from different places. “Dad used to call his fans ‘his gods’ and I thank each one of them” he adds. He rounded up his Thanksgiving speech with ‘ANR Lives On’.