MB#91: 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝘿𝙧. 𝘼𝙠𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙞 𝙉𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙍𝙖𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝘾𝙎𝙄 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩.

[MemoirBlogthon #91] In 1996, as I took charge as Chairman of the Hyderabad Chapter of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), the challenge was set: secure a prominent Chief Guest for the Annual Fellowship Meet. While the committee debated celebrity access, my heart was set on the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao. This blog recounts the nerve-wracking process of calling the film legend directly, the surprising personal phone call I received in return, and the profound compliment he paid to our profession and organization skills. It highlights the power of humble and clear communication, a trait my father later praised, urging me to leverage this opportunity to serve the ICSI community to the fullest.

MB#91: My Most Memorable Moments with Actor Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao.

The Shift in Professional Identity and Ambition 💼

My journey as a Company Secretary began in 1985, leading me through employment in diverse sectors—from Ashok Leyland and Hindustan Newsprint to Andhra Pradesh Tannaries and finally, a five-star hotel company, GVK Hotels, where I served until 1995. In 1991, I became a Fellow Member (FCS) of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), and by 1995, I had secured the Certificate of Practice to establish my private consulting firm.

Relocating to Hyderabad in 1991, my focus became multifaceted: practicing, teaching, training, and crucially, serving on the managing committee of the Hyderabad Chapter of ICSI.

The Audacious Invitation 🎬

From 1992 to 1997, I served the Chapter in various capacities, leading up to my election as Chairman for 1996. As we planned the Annual Fellowship Meet—the formal handover event on January 1, 1996—a discussion arose about the Chief Guest.

The majority favored inviting the legendary actor Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), the doyen of the Telugu film industry. I loved this proposal; ANR had been my favorite actor since I saw his films in the 1970s. While some worried about his accessibility, we explored two routes: approaching his tax consultant or his daughter-in-law, actor Amala (who ran the Blue Cross animal welfare organization).

However, as the incoming Chairman, I took a more direct, yet measured approach. I gathered ANR's number and called him personally in December. I told his personal assistant my name and designation, clearly stating our objective: inviting him to our New Year’s Day event as chief guest. I was humble and respectful, saying we would formally visit him at his convenience, even on a working day. The PA said he would revert within a week.

The Surprising Phone Call and the Elation 📞

A few days later, I received a call—directly from Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao, not his PA. He asked two simple, penetrating questions: "What is CS?" and "How does a person from the film industry fit in as Chief Guest?" He admitted he was familiar with the CA profession, but not ours. He then invited me and my team to his residence for a discussion.

We, a five-member managing committee team, promptly arrived at his house in the posh locality. The first question he put to the group was, "Who is Suryanarayana among you?" My heart raced, fearing I had caused offense.

But to my surprise, he invited me to sit by his side and complimented me publicly: "Mr. Suryanarayana's communication was humble, clear, and respectful."

For the next hour, over tea served by him, we explained the Company Secretary profession, the mandatory compliance roles under Company Law, and the options for self-employment. I shared a personal anecdote—being his fan and seeing him physically attend the 200th-day celebration of his film, "Dasara Bullodu," in Machilipatnam. He was visibly happy. He noted the date, time, and venue, confirming his attendance for two hours, though he politely declined dinner due to health restrictions.

A Mark of Distinction and Paternal Pride 🌟

The event was a grand success. Welcoming such a personality at the five-star hotel and sitting beside him on the dais in front of over 300 guests was an immense source of pride. He presented his autobiography, 'Akkineni Aa Aaa lu', and just before leaving, he cut the New Year cake and offered the first piece to my daughter, Sandhya, who was with me throughout the function.

His parting words to me were the greatest reward: "You are a good administrator, professional, time-conscious, and well-organized, much in contrast to the film functions. Keep it up."

When I narrated this entire story to my father, he was delighted, appreciating my tact in reaching out to such a celebrity. He motivated me, saying that I must use this lifetime opportunity as chapter head to "give the best to the fellow members, students, and the ICSI," reminding me that leadership required sacrifice and responsibility. It was a perfect beginning to my term, setting a high standard for all the milestones that followed.

The success of securing a personality like Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao validated my approach to leadership and set an incredibly high standard for my term, motivating me to achieve more for the ICSI community.

MB#91: Quiz

MB91: Question: What major Indian cinema award had Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao received in 1990, making him a highly respected figure?

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• A. National Film Award.
• B. Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
• C. Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.
• D. Padma Bhushan.

MB#91: Quote

"Courtesy costs nothing but buys everything."