Meet the director who said NO to Chiranjeevi before giving him a super hit
A director rejecting an offer from Megastar Chiranjeevi is rare. Most filmmakers consider working with him a great opportunity. However, director Bobby Kolli once turned down a project with Chiranjeevi before later delivering the biggest blockbuster of the star’s career.
Chiranjeevi has delivered numerous hits in his career, but his highest-grossing film to date is Waltair Veerayya. Released in 2023, the movie collected around ₹230 crores, becoming a massive success. The film was directed by Bobby Kolli, making it a significant achievement for both the actor and the director.
Before Waltair Veerayya, Chiranjeevi planned to remake the Malayalam hit Lucifer into Godfather. Initially, he approached several directors, including Bobby, to take on the project. However, after reading the script, Bobby felt he could not do justice to the remake. He believed he would not be able to adapt someone else’s story effectively. So, he respectfully declined Chiranjeevi’s offer.
Despite rejecting Godfather, Bobby did not lose his chance to work with Chiranjeevi. Instead, Chiranjeevi asked him how he envisioned making a movie with him. Bobby then narrated the story of Waltair Veerayya. Chiranjeevi liked the concept, and the project quickly took shape. Within a short time, the film was ready for production, and the result was a blockbuster.
Currently, Chiranjeevi is busy with Vishwambhara and is set to collaborate with director Anil Ravipudi for another film. Additionally, he has a project lined up with Srikanth Odela. Interestingly, he is also expected to work with Bobby again for another film.
