The sons are rising. Some have entered with a bang and others have quietly slipped in. There are still more waiting in the wings to create an impact with their arrival.
It’s happening in every sphere of activity - politics, business, cinema and sports. Well-known personalities in the city are slowly handing over their mantle to their heirs. And the heirs are doing their very best to step into their fathers’ shoes. The stakes are huge, so they cannot be found wanting on any count. Which is why they are being trained, groomed and guided for tomorrow.
In politics, CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s industrialist son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is already considered a force to reckon with. Recently, even an audio-casette with songs in praise of Jagan was released by his supporters. “Jagan matters, even if he has not got into electoral politics as yet,” a Congressman said. It will be sometime before YSR’s bete noire former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s son Lokesh can think of following in his father’s footsteps as he is still studying abroad.
However, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader K Chandrasekhara Rao’s son K Rama Rao is making his presence felt in politics. He made an appearance at a Holi festival organised by the party in March this year at the Arts College on the Osmania University campus.
TRS sources said even though KCR faces the criticism that he runs the party like his own fiefdom, Rama Rao does get a lot of attention from other party leaders. With strong backing from their fathers, sons of even other politicians are flickering on the political firmanent. Khairatabad MLA P Janardhan Reddy’s son P Vishnuvardhan Reddy has bagged the post of treasurer of the National Students Union of India (NSUI). Secunderabad MP Anjan Kumar Yadav’s son Anil Kumar Yadav caught attention with his conspicuous presence when a reception was organised for Miss India-World Sindhura Gadde, a Telugu girl, in the city in 2005. He also hogged the limelight at a felicitation for tennis star Sania Mirza. And now apart from playing a role in politics as state general secretary of NSUI, Anil Kumar Yadav is also acting in a movie titled ‘Andhra Student’ as hero.
In Tollywood, megastar Chiranjeevi has got his son Ram Charan Tej thoroughly trained in acting, dancing and martial arts to take over the mantle from him. Charan will soon make his debut in a film titled ‘Chiruta’ being directed by Puri Jagannath. Veteran actor Mohan Babu has already introduced his two sons Vishnu and Manoj. Yesteryear’s susperstar Krishna, however, should be a relaxed man as his son Mahesh Babu is making waves in Tellywood. Film producer D Suresh’s son Rana is getting involved in films like his father and grandfather D Rama Naidu. In the long shot, one can also see Naga Chaitanya, son of actor Nagarjuna who made his appearance at a film function recently.
In sports, former India cricket captain Mohd Azharuddin’s two sons Asaduddin and Aiazuddin have taken to cricket like fish takes to water.
In the business world, Teja Raju, son of Satyam Computers chairman B Ramalinga Raju is the managing director of Mytas group. In Dr Reddy’s group of which K Anji Reddy is chairman, his son Satish Reddy holds an important position as COO of the Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Limited.
Similarly, GVK group chairman G V Krishna Reddy’s son G V Sanjay Reddy is a director in the group playing an important role. With the heirs rising on the horizon, slowly and surely, will they outshine their illustrious fathers is the big question.
