What Happened at the Vajrotsavam Event? Why Did Chiranjeevi "Bury" His Award?

On Monday, iconic actor Chiranjeevi was presented with the prestigious ANR National Award by Big B Amitabh Bachchan. After accepting the award, Chiranjeevi delivered an emotional speech, recalling a significant incident from the 2007 Telugu Cinema Vajrotsavam (Diamond Jubilee) celebrations.


He shared how he had been honored with a "Legendary Award" during the Vajrotsavam event but chose not to accept it fully, instead placing it in a time capsule. At the time, he faced criticism from certain individuals who felt he wasn’t yet deserving of the "Legend" title. Chiranjeevi explained that he didn’t feel he had earned it and promised to only accept the award when he truly felt worthy.


He stated, "Back then, I felt I couldn’t accept the title of a ‘Legend’ alongside stalwarts like Dr. D. Ramanaidu, DVS Raju, Bapu, and Dasari Narayana Rao. Compared to them, I felt like a newcomer. I saw myself as a contemporary to actors like Venkatesh, Nagarjuna, and Balakrishna. I didn’t want to be set apart as a ‘Legend’ from my peers. So, I placed the award in a capsule, intending to retrieve it 25 years later, during the Telugu cinema 
centenary, if the industry and my peers felt I was truly deserving."

At the Vajrotsavam event, actor Dr. Mohan Babu had also voiced his opinions about what it means to be called a "Legend" versus a "Celebrity." He openly questioned the distinction between the terms and suggested that clarity on the criteria for such titles would benefit the industry.

Reflecting on this incident during his recent acceptance of the ANR Award, Chiranjeevi expressed gratitude and a sense of fulfillment. He said, “Today, receiving this award from Amitabh Bachchan, with my dear friend Nagarjuna wholeheartedly honoring me, I feel like I have truly come home and finally won.”