4 minutes of readingNew DelhiJanuary 28, 2026 1:43 PM IST
Chiranjeevi is currently at the peak of his career. At 70, the megastar delivered the only major Sankranti blockbuster, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, beating big-budget releases including Prabhas’ The Raja Saab. With the film crossing the Rs 350 crore mark, conversations about star worth, budgets and age have been reignited across the Telugu film industry. In the midst of these discussions, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu by Chiranjeevi Co-star Harsha Vardhan opened up about the actor’s extraordinary dedication to fitness, even revealing that the veteran star is, in many ways, his biggest fan.
‘Chiranjeevi never compromises on his fitness’
Talking about Chiranjeevi’s physical discipline and his ability to direct films at 70, Harsha Vardhan told SumanTV Vijayawada: “I can’t compare myself to Chiranjeevi, especially in terms of physical fitness. It’s not about age. What matters is the passion to stay fit. The fire in him is different. His goals are different. There is a lot to learn from him. He doesn’t wear body pads to look fit. He has a natural build like that. He has extreme control over his He has performed several unique stunts and dance steps, and that is not possible without having complete control over your body.”
Recalling Chiranjeevi’s brief political stint, Harsha added, “When he entered politics, he lost form. I was shocked to see it. He didn’t have time to take care of himself. But when he returned to films, he never compromised on his fitness, be it diet or exercise.”
Sharing information about the megastar’s disciplined lifestyle, Harsha said, “He eats normal food, but in extremely limited quantities. By the time you start eating, he’s done. That’s how controlled his diet is. And you should see how he works out. Whether it’s raining or a shoot is cancelled, he never skips a workout.”
‘Chiranjeevi’s biggest fan is Chiranjeevi himself’
Revealing what motivates Chiranjeevi the most, Harsha shared his observation on the set: “What I noticed is that his biggest motivation is to preserve the image of ‘Chiranjeevi’.”
Explaining further, he said, “His real name is Shankara Vara Prasad, which is also the title of the film. Actually, he is Shankara Vara Prasad. And this man is a big fan of Chiranjeevi. He is the biggest fan of himself. All this effort is to protect Chiranjeevi’s image. Shankara Vara Prasad’s constant attempt to keep Chiranjeevi immortal is what motivates him.”
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Mana Shankara Vara Prasad crosses 350 crore mark
According to the creators, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad was produced at a film cost of Rs 28 crore. and has gone on to earn 358 million rupees worldwide. However, the overall project budgetincluding remunerations, reportedly reached Rs 200 million.
Talking about budget control in large-scale films, director Anil Ravipudi earlier told Great Andhra, “The cost of making the film was between Rs 28 crore and Rs 30 crore. There is a simple rule: If the remuneration is high, the production costs should be controlled. If the production costs are high, the remuneration should be adjusted. If both are high, it creates problems. Failing on costs is tantamount to suicide. I never enter that space.”