Citations

[February 2012 - on developing six-pack abs for Poola Rangadu (2012)] The main reason why I developed the six-pack is to bring believability. Audiences have seen me in 160 films as a comedian. If I fight seriously in my movie as a hero, nobody will take it seriously. But if I develop six-pack [abs] and do it, people will believe me.

[February 2012 - on his weight loss] I had been a fitness freak for the past 3 years. I spent around one year for weight reduction and then used 2 years to build body. I used to be 108 kgs [238 lbs] at one point of time and now I am 78 [172] (due to muscles and bones). My waist size used to be 44-1/2 inches before, and now it is 31 inches.

[February 2012 - on his special diet for the climax fight sequence in Poola Rangadu (2012)] We shot the climax for 10 days. I used to drink egg white and water. I used to eat ice cubes. I used to eat 12 egg whites a day (4 egg whites each in morning, afternoon, and night). I used to eat some carbohydrates 4 hours before shoot as it helps in getting the 6-pack right.

[February 2012 - comparing his characters in his first 3 hit films as hero] In Andala Ramudu, I did the role of an innocent (amayakudu). In Maryada Ramanna, I did the role of a coward (pikiri vaadu). In Poola Rangadu, I am doing the role of a man of patience (sahanam vunnavaadu). First half is going to be like Andala Ramudu and second half is going to be like Maryada Ramanna which [is] an intense climax.

During my college days, I used to be really fat, and never bothered to exercise. I just concentrated on eating!

Even as a kid, I was a popular dancer in my hometown, Bhimavaram. I used to watch a lot of Chiranjeevi films and I always wanted to dance like him.

[January 2013] I'm less busy now, but more stressed out. The good part about playing solo lead roles is that I get to work in one or two projects in a year and I am able to spend time with my family. As a comedian, I used to work in three to four films simultaneously and I used to be very busy. But being a comedian was a less stressful job. How the film fared at the BO [Box Office] did not affect my standing as an actor. After I started playing lead roles, I had come to know what fear is. I was so tensed when my first lead film released because the fate of a 'hero' depends on the number of hit movies he delivers!