The clip features a young child seated in a District Collector’s chair, participating in an official meeting and interacting with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu via video conference. Out of nowhere, the child spots his father outside the office window, promptly terminates the meeting, and exclaims, “Dad is here!” This entertaining AI video underscores the reverence children have for their parents and has received widespread acclaim on social media, with thousands reacting and sharing it shortly after the Chief Minister’s post.
The video draws inspiration from a well-known dialogue from the 2001 Telugu blockbuster *Nuvvu Naaku Nachav*. Directed by K. Vijaya Bhaskar and penned by Trivikram Srinivas, the film featured Venkatesh as a carefree young man lacking direction in life. The dialogue is presented in a scene where the heroine, Aarthi Agarwal, sneakily reads and ridicules a letter penned by the hero’s father. The film was a huge commercial success and is celebrated as one of the most beloved comedy classics in Telugu cinema.
A noticeable change in Chandrababu’s style
Beyond the viral video, many observers have noted a significant shift in Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s public demeanor in recent years. Previously recognized for his serious demeanor, discipline, and administrative focus, he now appears more relaxed, approachable, and amiable. He seems to be spending more time with family, sharing light-hearted jokes during public meetings, and posting personal moments on social media, signaling this transformation.
Several recent occurrences illustrate this change. During a pension distribution event at Malakapalli in East Godavari district last year, Chandrababu joined local folk artist Poshibabu in playing a traditional drum.
This May, he sat down for a meal with a fishermen’s family at Thummalapenta village in Nellore district as part of the “Service to Fishermen” initiative. After visiting the local fish market and purchasing fish himself, he went to fisherman Tanangari Babu’s home, prepared fish curry, and enjoyed dinner with them.
In August 2025, while inaugurating the “Service to Auto Drivers” initiative, Chandrababu traveled from his residence to the public meeting venue via auto-rickshaw.
In June, during an event at Chamavaram village in Kakinada district, he visited the home of toddy tapper Simhachalam, presented a pension of ₹4,000, interacted with the family, warmly embraced their young grandson, and inquired about their wellbeing. He also discussed the challenges faced by toddy tappers before sampling freshly collected toddy brought down from a palm tree by Simhachalam’s nephew, Musalayya.
On multiple occasions, Chandrababu has also openly discussed his wife Bhuvaneswari, daughter-in-law Brahmani, and their business endeavors—something that was seldom discussed in the past.
“This is completely different from his natural style”
In an interview with News18, veteran journalist and author Inaganti Venkata Rao remarked on the noticeable transformation in Chandrababu Naidu.
“This is entirely unlike his natural style. While age might be a factor, political stability plays a role as well. Previously, he had to juggle governance and party affairs personally. Now, with his son Nara Lokesh stepping into those responsibilities, being the Working President of the party and a Cabinet Minister managing various administrative and organizational matters, Chandrababu’s role is now more supervisory, which likely explains his more relaxed and cheerful demeanor.”
With over fifty years in journalism, Inaganti Venkata Rao has been the Editor-in-Chief of several newspapers and television channels and has penned books about Chandrababu Naidu, including *Okkadu* and ones focused on the rise and evolution of the Telugu Desam Party, *Prajala Madhya Pathikellu*.
He recalled that during Chandrababu’s previous terms as Chief Minister in 1995 and 1999, his primary focus was on attracting investments, establishing Hyderabad as an IT hub, and developing Cyberabad. His administrative vision earned him the moniker “CEO of Andhra Pradesh” from both national and international media.
“Back then, he was exceedingly serious, concentrating completely on administration. Personal matters were rarely, if ever, discussed. It was all about development projects and their follow-up. Even after returning as Chief Minister in 2014, his priorities remained centered on Amaravati, Polavaram, and rebuilding the newly bifurcated state. While this approach reinforced his image as a dedicated administrator, it also fostered a certain distance between him and the public.”
A deliberate attempt to build a mass image?
Political analysts suggest that Chandrababu Naidu might be intentionally trying to shed his long-standing image as a serious administrator to forge a deeper emotional connection with the electorate.
His political opponent, YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, is often seen engaging warmly with supporters, often placing a hand on their shoulders or heads while greeting them. Some analysts argue that Chandrababu’s recent outreach efforts reflect evolving political expectations.
TDP National Spokesperson Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar also highlighted a noteworthy personal transformation.
“Previously, meetings with Chandrababu would last only three or four minutes. A month ago, I visited him at his residence around 8:30 AM, and he first offered me coffee, inquired about my family and well-being, and only afterward discussed official matters. This marks a definite qualitative change in Chandrababu Naidu.”
He noted that Chandrababu, who once preferred to keep his family away from public scrutiny, now takes pride in discussing his wife Bhuvaneswari and daughter-in-law Brahmani, frequently sharing family moments.
“This is the era of Gen Z and Generation Alpha. Seriousness alone won’t appeal to people anymore. Leaders need to engage emotionally with the public. That’s how a mass image is cultivated. Citizens should feel that ‘he is one of us.’ This change in Chandrababu embodies that evolving reality.”
Psychologist’s perspective
Senior psychologist Vangipuram Srinivasa Chary, with over thirty years of professional experience, shared with News18 that Chandrababu Naidu is adapting to modern times.
According to Srinivasa Chary, assigning substantial governance responsibilities to Nara Lokesh has afforded Chandrababu more personal time. He noted the increasing appearance of Chandrababu’s wife, Bhuvaneswari, in social media videos as a sign of this evolving public persona.
“Politics revolves around continuously reinventing strategies. Chandrababu seems to be enhancing his contemporary political approach by carefully assessing changing public expectations. Reinvention is a part of every political leader’s journey,” he added.
Natural evolution or political strategy?
Whether this transformation in Chandrababu Naidu is a natural evolution or a meticulously crafted political strategy remains up for discussion. Nevertheless, many believe this shift has rendered him more approachable and relatable.
The pressing question now is whether this softer public persona will bolster Chandrababu Naidu’s political future and, consequently, influence the political path of his heir, Nara Lokesh, in the coming years.
