Megastar Chiranjeevi’s career-defining film Khaidi has completed 42 glorious years since its release on October 28, 1983. To mark this milestone, Chiranjeevi’s team released a special tribute video that has gone viral on social media. The video begins with the line “The name that changed Telugu cinema forever – Khaidi”, instantly taking fans back to the golden era of Telugu cinema.

Khaidi is remembered as a cult classic and a turning point in Chiranjeevi’s illustrious career. The film, inspired by Hollywood’s First Blood (Rambo), redefined action cinema in Tollywood and transformed Chiranjeevi into a mass superstar. It was directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy, with story and dialogues penned by the Paruchuri Brothers.

Interestingly, the story was initially written for Superstar Krishna, but due to unforeseen reasons, the project eventually went to Chiranjeevi — a decision that changed Telugu cinema forever. Made on a budget of ₹25 lakhs, Khaidi went on to gross nearly ₹4 crores, setting an all-time industry record in the early 1980s.

At the time, Chiranjeevi was paid ₹1.75 lakhs, while the director received ₹40,000. The film ran for 100 days in 20 centers, 200 days in 5 centers, and an extraordinary 365 days in 2 theaters — a feat that remains legendary.

More than just a box-office hit, Khaidi was a game-changer that revolutionized Telugu commercial cinema. It marked the beginning of Chiranjeevi’s superstardom and became a trendsetter for future action films in Tollywood. The film’s success story was later replicated in Hindi, starring Jitendra, which also achieved considerable success.

Celebrating 42 years of this timeless classic, fans across the globe are revisiting Khaidi — a film that not only redefined stardom but also became a symbol of Telugu cinema’s golden era.