Chiranjeevi set to don political robes

In several of his blockbusters, Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi makes a 'grand entry', often marked by tantalizing precursors that send his fans into rapturous joy. A similar sense of anticipation grips the political circles in Andhra Pradesh now as the actor is all set to enter politics and announce the launch of a new party this month. Fifty-three year old Chiranjeevi, who rose from humble background to become the reigning star of Telugu cinema, is expected to announce his political plans in the third week of August which will be followed by a series of public meetings and road shows across the state. "The announcement will be made without any fanfare. Later, a public meeting will be held in Hyderabad and Tirupati after August 15 where the party's name, agenda and programmes will be unveiled," the sources close to the actor said. For several months now, there has been a flurry of activity in Chiranjeevi's camp with two of his brothers and brother-in-law, all connected with the Telugu cinema industry, and his close aides organizing meetings with the fans associations and people from various walks of life and training programmes for the potential cadre ahead of the party formation. Chiranjeevi, a Padma Bhushan awardee who has acted in 148 films in his three decade long career, is among the highest paid actors in the country and has a massive following particularly among the youth. PTI