Chiranjeevi Konidela’s fans were in for a surprise when instead of getting an update about Acharya like they were expecting, they got the news of the Megastar testing positive for coronavirus.
The actor was supposed to join shooting for Koratala Siva’s film for the first time after lockdown on November 9. With Kajal Aggarwal away for her honeymoon in the Maldives with Gautam Kitchlu, fans were expecting to get an update about Chiranjeevi canning for some solo shots as shoot resumes. The team was shooting for Acharya before lockdown but the schedule was interrupted due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, Chiranjeevi took to social media on Monday morning to deliver some shocking news to fans.

Sharing a press note, he even translated the same in Telugu and put it up as the caption. The press-note reads, “Took a test for COVID before resuming ‘Acharya’ shoot as a protocol and unfortunately tested positive. I am currently asymptomatic & quarantining myself at home. Request all those who met me in the last 5 few days to also undergo covid tests. Will update you on my recovery soon.” (sic)

A source close to the Mega family says, “Chiru sir was supposed to join the shoot for Acharya from Monday and was even looking forward to it. But when the cast and crew got a mandatory test done for coronavirus, to their surprise, he was tested positive. Shooting has now of course been put on hold and rest of the family members, including his mother and wife, will soon be tested for the virus. He recently ventured out of home to meet CM KCR personally with Nagarjuna, so it’s possible he must have picked up the virus then. Luckily, he is asymptomatic so he might recover soon.”

Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna met Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at Pragathi Bhavan in Hyderabad a few days ago to personally hand over the cheques of donation that they had announced to the CM relief fund during the Telangana floods. Several Tollywood celebs had done the same and Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna, who recently wrapped up shoot for Wild Dog and is hosting Bigg Boss Telugu season 4, were the latest to donate money. Reports state that the CM welcomed them, had a brief chat and talked to them about reopening cinema halls in the state. Ram Charan is also shooting for SS Rajamouli’s RRR with Jr NTR and it remains to be seen if he will be tested for the virus too.

Fans and Tollywood celebs alike took to social media to wish the Megastar a speedy recovery from the virus. Chiranjeevi was the first actor from Tollywood to appeal to the government to allow shooting to resume in both Telugu states as daily-wage workers were struggling to make ends meet. Through the lockdown, the star even formed CCC to collect funds to help such out-of-work technicians and actors with basic essentials.

Chiranjeevi has other exciting projects too lined up after Acharya - the Telugu remake of Lucifer with VV Vinayak, films with Bobby and Meher Ramesh, apart from the Telugu remake of Vedalam and more. Further details are awaited.

ఆచార్య షూటింగ్ ప్రారంభించాలని,కోవిడ్ టెస్ట్ చేయించుకున్నాను. రిజల్ట్ పాజిటివ్. నాకు ఎలాంటి కోవిడ్ లక్షణాలు లేవు.వెంటనే  హోమ్ క్వారంటైన్ అయ్యాను.గత 4-5 రోజులుగా నన్ను కలిసినవారందరిని టెస్ట్ చేయించుకోవాలిసిందిగా కోరుతున్నాను.ఎప్పటికప్పుడు నా ఆరోగ్య పరిస్థితిని మీకు తెలియచేస్తాను. pic.twitter.com/qtU9eCIEwp

— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) November 9, 2020