Nagarjuna Recalls His Grandmother's Desire For A Daughter; Says She Would Dress Up ANR As A Girl

Veteran actor Nagarjuna shared a heartfelt anecdote about his father, the legendary Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), during an in-conversation session at the International Film Festival of India.

Veteran actor Nagarjuna shared a heartfelt anecdote about his father, the legendary Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), during an in-conversation session at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Friday. He revealed that his grandmother had always wished for a daughter, and when that was not possible, she would dress up ANR as a girl, adorning him with plaits. Nagarjuna fondly recalled how ANR looked adorable in this attire, which may have contributed to his eventual passion for acting.

Nagarjuna reflects on his father's humble beginnings

The actor, whose father’s centenary was celebrated in September, reflected on ANR’s humble beginnings. Born into a farming family in a village without electricity, ANR’s early life was far from glamorous. Nagarjuna shared how ANR was dressed as a girl by his grandmother and how he resembled his older sister Sathya in those photos. These early experiences, he believes, may have played a role in his father’s interest in performance.

ANR’s acting journey began on the stage, where women were not permitted to perform. As a result, he started playing female roles, eventually becoming a "heroine" on stage. His big break came at a railway station when producer Ghantasala Balaramayya noticed him and invited him to act. This moment marked the start of his iconic career in cinema.

Nagarjuna also recalled how ANR faced ridicule early in his career for his "feminine" mannerisms. In fact, ANR once went to Marina Beach, feeling so dejected by the mockery that he contemplated suicide. However, something within him stopped him, and he chose to move forward.

In his journey to improve his craft, ANR worked tirelessly on his voice. He once heard that smoking cigars would make his voice rougher, and although he had never smoked, he took it up and even began yelling at the ocean in the mornings to strengthen his voice.

The session, held at IFFI, was part of a celebration of ANR’s legacy, which includes iconic films like Sri Ramadasu and Balaraju. Nagarjuna also launched the second season of the animated series Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum at the festival, which runs until November 28.