Mahesh Babu, Balayya Babu, Charan Babu etc etc, all these stars are addressed as ‘Babu’ by producers, directors and fans. When asked if Sunil will also be addressed as ‘Sunil Babu’ hereafter, Sunil brushed the concept aside and gave an explanation on the origin of ‘Babu’ culture in Tollywood.
When ANR, NTR, Krishna and other star heroes were ruling Telugu Film Industtry, their sons Nagarjuna, Balakrishna and Mahesh Babu naturally used to go to watch shootings of their respective fathers. Then the producers and others used to refer the sons as ‘Babu’ with due respect to the their star fathers.
Hence came the culture of addressing present day reigning stars as ‘Babu’ and he is in no competition to be addressed as ‘Babu’ as his father isn’t a star hero.
