Tollywood megastar and former Union minister Chiranjeevi today said that he had completely abandoned politics.
Speaking as the chief guest at a blood donation drive, he said that despite that, even though he was no longer active in politics and rarely responded to political criticism, some leaders still continued to criticise and mock him on social media for political reasons.
Recalling a recent incident, he said that a leader had made an inappropriate remark about him. "The best answer I can give to those who speak or write ill about me is to keep doing good," he said.
He added that he had always believed in supporting his "brothers" who did good work. The idea to set up a blood bank, he revealed, came after reading a journalist's article, to which he would forever remain indebted.
Chiranjeevi's statement about staying away from politics has become a hot topic in Telangana political circles. His recent meeting with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had sparked speculation that it was part of a plan to field him in the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-elections.
Chiranjeevi had earlier merged his Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress and served as a Union minister in the UPA government.