Jr NTR: The Rightful Heir?

Andhra Jyothi carried a full-page advertisement today by Junior NTR expressing his love for his grandfather NTR on the latter’s 97th birth anniversary.

In the film industry dominated by the Kamma community, Balakrishna is revered as the successor to NTR. But equations changed drastically after Chandrababu Naidu came to power.

In order to stem any opposition to the growth of his son Lokesh’s political career, he successfully got Balakrishna on board by making Brahmani, his daughter-in-law.

This alliance was seen by political pundits as a huge setback to the prospective political interests of Jr NTR.

Because of his facial features resembling senior NTR and his success in films apart from his vocal skills, many fans of NTR started to look upon Jr NTR as a successor to the senior. But following Lokesh’s entry, Junior was comprehensively sidelined.

Although, many in the TDP today are extremely disappointed with Lokesh and his ability to take the TDP forward, to the hard- core Kamma brigade in the TDP, Junior NTR is not a palatable option for the simple reason that his mother does not belong to the same community.

Junior also has been keeping away from political activity of any kind and wisely consolidating his career in filmdom. But today’s full-page advertisement has come as a bit of surprise.

Many feel that through this advert, Junior NTR while expressing his love for his grandfather is actually staking a claim to his legacy as well.

How this will be received by Lokesh and Co remains to be seen.

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