WAVES 2025: Chiranjeevi Credits Amitabh Bachchan, Mithun Chakraborty for Inspiring His Acting Journey

May 2, 2025: The WAVES 2025 Summit in Mumbai has brought together some of the biggest icons of Indian cinema in a powerful celebration of storytelling, resilience, and creative vision. Held at the Jio World Centre, the summit kicked off with a star-studded panel discussion led by Akshay Kumar, featuring cinema legends Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Mithun Chakraborty, Hema Malini, and Rajinikanth.

During the conversation, Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi opened up about his early struggles in the film industry and the actors who inspired him along the way. He shared how Amitabh Bachchan’s raw acting and action stunts left a deep impression on him and revealed that Mithun Chakraborty’s award-winning performance helped shape his approach to cinema.

“In 1977, I was a student at the Film Institute and I saw Mithun Da and the performance for which he won a National Award. I took inspiration from him to not wear makeup and look like an average boy,” Chiranjeevi said.

He added, “From Sholay, I learned to do all my stunts myself. I took inspiration from the great Amitabh Bachchan. For dancing, I took inspiration from Kamal [Haasan], my senior. I molded myself.”

Chiranjeevi also reflected on the competitive atmosphere of early cinema in Chennai, saying, “Right from the beginning, so many legends were already there. More than half a dozen superstars were already present. What extra could I contribute? My aim was to hit the bullseye.”

The WAVES 2025 Summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation. PM Modi called the event a “historic milestone” in India’s cultural and creative journey.

The four-day summit, themed “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries”, runs from May 1 to May 4 and features over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, and 350 startups. From film and OTT to AVGC-XR, comics, and AI, the event spans the entire spectrum of storytelling and emerging technologies