When Chiranjeevi felt Lucifer needed a stronger narrative and transformed it into a gripping Telugu thriller

Megastar Chiranjeevi, a name synonymous with blockbuster entertainers, has always been selective about the scripts he chooses. While Lucifer, the Malayalam political thriller starring Mohanlal, was a massive success, the Telugu superstar felt it needed a stronger narrative structure to connect better with his audience. This thought process led to the making of GodFather, a film that enhanced the original while adding more depth and mass appeal.

Reflecting on how GodFather came to life, Chiranjeevi had revealed in an earlier interview that he was on the lookout for a refreshing challenge. “I was feeling stuck doing similar commercial films and wanted to try something different. That’s when Charan (Ram Charan) approached me with the idea of remaking Lucifer in Telugu. I was instantly intrigued. Once Mohan Raja came on board as the director, we never looked back,” the actor had shared. While Lucifer was widely appreciated for its political narrative and gripping screenplay, Chiranjeevi felt that certain elements needed refinement to make it more engaging for the Telugu audience.

Despite Lucifer’s phenomenal success, Chiranjeevi had admitted that the film did not fully satisfy him. “When I watched Lucifer, I felt it lacked something. The ending, in particular, seemed abrupt, and I wasn’t completely satisfied with the way the story unfolded. But when writer Laxmi Bhupal and Mohan Raja reworked the script, they shaped it into a much more well-rounded entertainer,” he had explained. Rather than making a frame-to-frame remake, the team focused on tightening the screenplay, refining character arcs, and adding more emotional depth to the story.
Director Mohan Raja, known for his expertise in remakes, had also spoken about the changes he made to Lucifer’s script to suit the Telugu audience. “We made several significant modifications. The original had a unique storytelling style, but we altered certain elements to enhance the emotional depth, the political backdrop, and the action sequences,” he had shared.
One of the key aspects they worked on was the pacing. While Lucifer followed a slow-burning narrative, GodFather ensured that the screenplay remained gripping with additional action sequences and dramatic high points. The film’s release eventually proved that Chiranjeevi’s instincts were right, as GodFather received praise for its gripping execution, solid performances, and its unique take on the original story. It wasn’t just another remake but a film that stood strong on its own, reinforcing Chiranjeevi’s status as a powerhouse performer in Telugu cinema.