When Mohan Babu questioned Chiranjeevi getting the Legendary award: What makes me a celebrity and him a legend?

Throwback to the incident where Mohanlal and Chiranjeevi had a rift

Mohan Babu, marking his 73rd birthday today, is a revered figure in the Telugu film industry. Over the course of his career, he has seen many of his peers rise, with Chiranjeevi being the most prominent among them. Although Mohan Babu earned his stature through years of hard work and dedication, Chiranjeevi, who joined the industry later, quickly outpaced his seniors and became the dominant force in Telugu cinema.

A memorable moment that highlighted the rift between the two occurred during the Telugu cinema Platinum Jubilee celebrations in January 2007. At this prestigious event, Mohan Babu was to receive the ‘Celebrity Award,’ while Chiranjeevi was being honored with the ‘Legend Award.’ In an unexpected move, Mohan Babu questioned the decision, wondering why Chiranjeevi had been given the higher accolade while he was relegated to the lesser one.

While Chiranjeevi’s influence extended beyond cinema, leading him into politics, the ongoing tension between him and Mohan Babu has sparked multiple confrontations over the years.

What seemed like a moment of celebration for both actors turned into a spectacle of mockery. Mohan Babu, always known for his unapologetic and bold nature, took the stage and questioned the criteria for receiving the 'Legend Award.' He, in his signature style, wondered what made someone eligible for such an accolade, especially when compared to the ‘lesser’ ‘Celebrity Award’ he was about to receive. His words were charged with a sense of dissatisfaction, reflecting his displeasure with the entire situation.

“What makes me a celebrity and him a legend?” he questioned.

In a surprising turn of events, Mohan Babu, who is often referred to with the honorary title 'Padma Shree,' refused to accept the award, publicly expressing his unhappiness.

"I belong to the generation of Nagarjuna, Venkatesh and Balakrishna. Don't put me on a pedestal by giving the 'Legendary Award'. Everyone knows I privately made this request," Chiru said, declining to receive the award.

The crowd, already taken aback by his words, was even more surprised when he addressed Chiranjeevi as ‘Annayya’—a term traditionally used by younger actors to show respect to elder ones, but in Mohan Babu’s case, it carried a sense of mocking irony. By using the term, Mohan Babu seemed to take a jab at the industry’s perceived favoritism towards Chiranjeevi and his mega family.

The industry's long-standing reverence for Chiranjeevi was no secret, and Mohan Babu’s use of ‘Annayya’ underscored his feelings about this hierarchy.

Chiranjeevi, known for his grace under pressure, refrained from responding to Mohan Babu’s pointed remarks.

However, Pawan Kalyan, Chiranjeevi’s younger brother and a man known for his emotional expressions, couldn’t let the comment slide. Taking the microphone, Pawan Kalyan addressed Mohan Babu as ‘Thammudu’ (meaning younger brother). This marked the beginning of an ongoing war of words between the two families.

The tensions between the Chiranjeevi family and Mohan Babu didn’t end with this event. The rift has persisted over the years, with occasional flare-ups. Pawan Kalyan, in a subtle tribute to Mohan Babu, even replicated his distinctive dialogue delivery in one of his hit films, Attarintiki Daredi. In this film, Pawan Kalyan’s character, a wealthy man disguised as a regular car driver, delivers a lengthy dialogue that mimics Mohan Babu’s style.

Many have speculated that Pawan Kalyan’s choice of dialogue delivery was a deliberate attempt to poke fun at Mohan Babu’s signature style, suggesting that his iconic dialogue delivery was nothing special.

Despite this ongoing tension, the two families have continued to put on a united front in public. They often show togetherness during industry events or when required, but the underlying coldness in their personal relationship remains. The Mohan Babu-Chiranjeevi feud is a long-standing one, and though time has passed, the rivalry and occasional barbs between the two families continue to ripple through the Telugu film industry.