Despite High Fever, Chiranjeevi Danced for Sridevi: Ashwini Dutt Remembers

The film Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, which stands as a milestone in the history of Telugu cinema, celebrates its 35th anniversary. This cinematic spectacle, starring megastar Chiranjeevi and the late beauty icon Sridevi, was originally released on May 9, 1990. To commemorate this historic occasion, Vyjayanthi Movies head C. Ashwini Dutt is re-releasing the classic on May 9 with remastered visuals and enhanced technical features. On this occasion, members of the film unit reminisced about the memorable moments and the challenges faced behind the scenes. Notably, producer C. Ashwini Dutt became emotional while recalling the effort Chiranjeevi put in during the filming of the song "Dinakku Tha... Dinakku Tha."

Ashwini Dutt highlighted that Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari created a massive impact upon release, with its timeless songs, remarkable visuals, and the captivating on-screen chemistry between Chiranjeevi and Sridevi mesmerizing audiences. However, he stressed that behind the cinematic brilliance lay immense hardship, especially during the filming of the "Dinakku Tha" song.

"In those days of shooting the song, Chiranjeevi was suffering from a severe fever—around 106 degrees Fahrenheit," said Ashwini Dutt. "At the same time, Sridevi had only two days left on her schedule. After that, she was to leave for a month-and-a-half-long shoot abroad. We were under pressure to complete the song within those two days and had to shoot the entire sequence in a single set."

He continued, "Looking at Chiranjeevi’s condition, we considered halting the shoot. But his dedication was such that he continued. Before each shot and during gaps, he would cool his body with ice packs, and once his fever subsided a bit, he would return to the camera. Even in that extreme fever, his dance energy never waned. The effort he put in over those two days is indescribable. As soon as the shoot was over, we admitted him to Vijaya Hospital. He recovered after nearly 15 days of treatment. The brilliance of that song was made possible only due to his dedication and commitment to his craft,” Ashwini Dutt explained.