Nandamuri Balakrishna, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan earlier this year, has now been recognised by the World Book of Records, London, for completing 50 years in cinema. The honour was noted in their Gold Edition, celebrating his career as a leading actor and his contributions to public life. Among those to extend wishes was actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who shares a close relationship with Balakrishna. 

In a message posted on social media, he wrote, “Congratulations to Padma Bhushan Nandamuri Balakrishna, Hindupur MLA, on completing 50 glorious years in cinema and earning a place in the World Book of Records (London). From child artist to superstar, he has carried forward NTR’s legacy with unforgettable roles across genres. Wishing him many more years of entertaining audiences and serving the people.”

Balakrishna, the son of legendary actor and former Chief Minister Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), made his debut as a child artist in the early 1970s. Over the decades, he has acted in a wide range of roles, from mythological characters to commercial entertainers, and remains active in politics as the MLA from Hindupur.

On the film front, Balakrishna is currently working on Akhanda 2, the sequel to his 2021 hit directed by Boyapati Sreenu. He also has a collaboration lined up with filmmaker Gopichand Malineni.

Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan is preparing for the release of OG, directed by Sujeeth. The film casts him as Ojas Gambheera, a gangster returning from exile, with Priyanka Arul Mohan and Emraan Hashmi in key roles.

Both OG and Akhanda 2 are, as of now, slated to release on September 25, setting up a high-profile clash at the box office. However, industry reports suggest that Akhanda 2 may now shift its release to December 5, potentially easing the head-to-head competition between the two senior stars.