Megastar Chiranjeevi was the original choice for what eventually became The Family Man, the popular Amazon Prime Video web series. The project was initially conceived as a high-budget Telugu film rather than a web series. Creators Raj Nidimoru & DK specifically wrote the script with the Megastar in mind shortly after his comeback success with Khaidi No. 150 (2017). The character was played eventually by the versatile Manoj Bajpayee.
Chiranjeevi was hesitant about playing a father to two teenage children. He worried that his massive fan base might not accept him as a middle-aged father figure. But that was eight years ago.
In a way, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu is a dumbed-down, entertaining version of The Family Man series. Both stories revolve around a highly skilled national security/intelligence officer who leads a double life. There is a central theme of reuniting/reconciling with an estranged or strained family in both.
Anil Ravipudi's treatment is totally commercial in nature. The Family Man, on the other hand, was cerebral and serious-minded.
