Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu turned a year older over the weekend and has a birthday wish!
He shares it with Subhash K Jha, "My birthday wish is to see us emerge from the clutches of this vicious virus. I want my fans to know that I will miss their celebrations for my birthday, but this year, we have to be aware and careful."
How did you bring in your birthday?
The entire nation and the world is in quarantine. This time, my birthday was at home with my wife and kids. And I can't think of a better way to celebrate.
There was a good family lunch and some movie-watching with the kids.
I've been watching a lot of films with Namrata, son Gautam and daughter Sitara.
Most of the time I end up watching what they want.
What is your message for your fans for your birthday?
My message to my fans is that I am forever humbled with their love and blessings. I'm indebted to them for making me who I am.
I believe where I am is due, in a large part, to their love and I'm extremely blessed and grateful for that.
I want my fans and fan clubs to know they cannot celebrate my birthday the way they do every year.
This year has been truly unique and challenging and I want them to safe stay home and look after themselves and their loved ones.
Is there anything in particular you want them to do for you?
I want them to say a prayer for me, my family and for the entire world.
We need to come out of this crisis together.
My birthday wish is to see us emerge from the clutches of this vicious virus.
I want my fans to know that I will miss their celebrations for my birthday, but this year, we have to be aware and careful.
How have you been spending these four months at home?
I have been doing many things.
What makes me especially happy is that I've done the one thing that I wanted to do for the longest time -- I have learnt swimming with my children.
Have you been eating and sleeping more than usual?
Not really. I am a very self-disciplined kind of guy.
No vices, no excesses.
I've been exercising, eating well and catching up on my sleep.
I feel the lockdown has made me more disciplined.
Do you make a birthday wish each year before blowing the candles?
No! I just make sure I'm with my family on this day.
Cake, candles and birthday wishes used to happen years ago before my children were born. Now, they do all the usual birthday stuff on their birthdays.
How do you manage to look 22 at 45?
(Laughs) Ask my wife. She feeds me well and looks after me.
A disciplined life, free of self indulgence and vices, I guess that's the formula.
That doesn't mean I don't have fun in life. I do. But I am not telling you how and when.
