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Chiranjeevi hugs an overwhelmed Anil Ravipudi following Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu's positive response

Megastar Chiranjeevi returns to theatres after three years with Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, a January 12 release directed by Anil Ravipudi that blends action, humour, and family emotions into a crowd-pleasing entertainer.

January 12, 2026 / 18:39 IST
Chiranjeevi hugs an overwhelmed Anil Ravipudi following Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu's positive response
Snapshot AI
  • Chiranjeevi returns to films with Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu after 3 years
  • Film praised for action, humour, and family emotions; positive audience response
  • Director Anil Ravipudi and Chiranjeevi share emotional moment post-release

Megastar Chiranjeevi has made a much-discussed return to the big screen with Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, marking his comeback after a three-year gap since Bhola Shankar. Directed by Anil Ravipudi, the film released in theatres on January 12 and has been receiving a warm response from audiences across Telugu states and beyond. Packed with action, humour, and strong family emotions, the film has been described by fans as a wholesome entertainer that plays to Chiranjeevi’s enduring strengths.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Anil Ravipudi (@anilravipudi)

The story revolves around an NIA officer who is on a mission to reunite his estranged family while simultaneously protecting them from an unknown assailant. Blending emotional stakes with Ravipudi’s signature comic timing, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu balances mass appeal with sentiment, making it particularly resonant for family audiences. Early shows witnessed celebratory reactions, with viewers praising the film’s light-hearted tone and Chiranjeevi’s effortless screen presence.

Following the positive word of mouth, a touching moment between the actor and his director surfaced on social media. Anil Ravipudi visited Chiranjeevi at his residence soon after the film’s release. A video shared by the filmmaker shows Chiranjeevi warmly hugging an emotional Ravipudi, who appears visibly overwhelmed and breaks down. The megastar is seen comforting him, turning the moment into a quiet but powerful reflection of creative relief and mutual respect.

Also Read: Rani Mukerji says she doesn’t count box office numbers or awards first as she marks 30 years in cinema

Sharing the video, Ravipudi wrote, “Sometimes, words aren’t needed at all.” The caption struck a chord with fans, who saw the gesture as a sign of the strong bond formed during the film’s journey, especially after the pressure surrounding Chiranjeevi’s comeback and the expectations riding on the project.

Earlier, during a pre-release press meet, Chiranjeevi had spoken enthusiastically about the film and his collaboration with Ravipudi. “It’s going to be a laugh riot from start to finish. Anil’s narration had me laughing out loud. We both were laughing, and I believe audiences will feel the same joy when they watch it,” he said.

Produced by Shine Screens and Goldbox Entertainments, the film stars Nayanthara as the female lead, with Venkatesh appearing in an extended cameo. Music is composed by Bheems Ceciroleo, while Sameer Reddy, Tammiraju, and AS Prakash handle cinematography, editing, and production design respectively. As Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu continues its theatrical run, the emotional exchange between Chiranjeevi and Anil Ravipudi has become a defining moment of its release narrative.

Vaishnavi Gavankar
first published: Jan 12, 2026 06:39 pm

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