In the movie-mad land of the Telugus, where stars are demigods and fandom a religion, Mahesh Babu is undoubtedly the chosen one from his generation. His fame is already the stuff of legend, and his success and failure at the box office makes and breaks the Telugu industry as a whole. It’s surprising then to see the superstar stroll in sans entourage at the Vogue shoot. A noiseless professional, he comes armed with his boy-next-door charm and works with the crew, posing with ease and being a team player from start to end.
Stardom aside, at home he is simply Mahesh—the son of Krishna, husband to Namrata and father of Gautham and Sitara. “I haven’t seen a more disciplined and dedicated person. He doesn’t settle for less. And he can balance work-life very well,” says his actor-wife, who also doubles up as his manager. But unlike the cocksure, infallible characters he plays, the Mahesh at work swings between glorious success and bitter failure. As he talks about his journey so far, the 44-year-old (who doesn’t look a day over 25) confesses, “Failure is a hidden treasure. I learn from them. I analyse it. But the initial pain is hard. Namrata helps me through that.”
A STAR IS BORN
Ask Mahesh about his illustrious trajectory, and he’d have to turn back the clock to how it all began—at the age of four, almost by default, thanks to his father Krishna, a star from an earlier era in the Telugu film industry.
Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av VOGUE India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av VOGUE India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Current affairs
Elif Shafak’s work abounds with references, memories and a deep love of Istanbul. She talks to AANCHAL MALHOTRA about the significance of home and those who shape our recollections of the past
A drop of nostalgia
A whiff of Chanel N°5 L'Eau acts as a memory portal for TARINI SOOD, reminding her of the constant tussle between who we are and who we hope to become
Wild thing's
Zebras hold emerald-cut diamonds, panthers morph into ring-bracelets that move and a turtle escapes to become a brooch -Cartier's high jewellery collection Nature Sauvage is a playground of the animal kingdom.
Preity please
Two surprise red-carpet appearances and a movie announcement have everyone obsessing over Preity Zinta. The star behind the aughties’ biggest hits talks film wardrobe favourites, social media and keeping it real.
Honeymoon travels
Destination locked, visas acquired, bookings madewhat could stand between a newly-wed couple and pure, unadulterated conjugal bliss in some distant, romantic land? A lot, finds JYOTI KUMARI. Styled by LONGHCHENTI HANSO LONGCHAR
La La Land
They complete each other’s sentences, make music together and get lost on the streets of Paris—this is the love story of Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth.
A SHORE THING
Annalea Barreto and Mavrick Cardoz eschewed the big fat Goan wedding for a DIY, intimate, seaside affair that was true to their individual selves.
7 pheras around the buffet
Celebrating the only real love affair each wedding season: me and a feast.
Saving AI do
From getting ChatGPT to plan your wedding itinerary to designing your moodboard on Midjourneytech is officially third-wheeling the big fat Indian wedding
Love bomb me, please
Between breadcrumbing, cushioning and situationships, the language of romance seems to be lost in translation. SAACHI GUPTA asks, where has the passion gone?