Chiranjeevi

Chiranjeevi (born Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad on August 22, 1955) is an Indian actor and politician best known for his work in Telugu cinema. Chiranjeevi has appeared in more than 150 Telugu feature films as well as in Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada films. He got three Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards, a Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and nine Filmfare Awards South over his four-decade cinema career. In 2006, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, and an honorary doctorate from Andhra University for his contributions to Indian cinema.

From 2012 to 2014, he was the Minister of Tourism in the Government of India. Chiranjeevi's film career began in 1978 with Punadhirallu. Pranam Khareedu, his second movie, on the other hand, was released earlier in theatres. He is the first Indian actor to have his own personal website on the internet. Swayamkrushi was his first feature film, dubbed into Russian, and premiered at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1987. Chiranjeevi earned the 1988 Indian Express Best Actor Award and the state Nandi Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film. He co-produced Rudraveena, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration in 1988.

K. Raghavendra Rao's 1992 film Gharana Mogudu was the first south Indian film to make more than ten crores (equal to 65 crores or $8.6 million in 2020). The film was presented in the mainstream section of India's International Film Festival in 1993.

Chiranjeevi was featured on the cover page of national weekly publications in India, making him the highest-paid actor in India at the moment. India Today and Filmfare were nicknamed "Bigger than Bachchan," a reference to Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan. He was termed "the new money machine" by The Week magazine. He was paid 1.25 crore (equivalent to 8.2 crores or US$1.1 million in 2020) for the 1992 film Aapadbandhavudu, the highest fee ever given to an Indian actor.

Chiranjeevi was awarded the Samman Award by the Minister of State for Finance in 2002 for being the top income taxpayer during the fiscal year 1999-2000. Chiranjeevi was declared the most popular Telugu cinema star in a survey held by CNN-IBN in 2006. Chiranjeevi created the Praja Rajyam Party in 2008 and stood for election in Andhra Pradesh in 2009. The party gained 18 of the 294 seats in the election and was eventually absorbed by the Indian National Congress in 2011.

Chiranjeevi was appointed Minister of State for Tourism with an independent charge on October 27, 2012, and served till May 15, 2014. In 2013, he launched the Incredible India Exhibition at the 66th Cannes Film Festival, a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Chiranjeevi represented incredible India at the 14th International Indian Film Academy Awards presentation in Macau. IBN LIVE named him one of "The Men Who Changed the Face of Indian Cinema" in 2013.

Chiranjeevi was declared the most popular Telugu film star in a survey held by CNN-IBN in 2006. Chiranjeevi's next action-drama Acharya, starring Ram Charan, Kajal Aggarwal, and Pooja Hegde, is directed by Koratala Siva. He is also working on Godfather, in which Salman Khan will appear in a supporting role.

Early Life

Vara Prasad is the son of Srimathi Anjana Devi and Late Sri Venkat Rao. He was born on August 22, 1955, in Mogallturu, a town in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari District on the banks of the Godavari River. His father was a cop who was regularly relocated. He grew raised with his grandparents in his hometown.

He has four siblings two sisters and two younger brothers. Nagendra Babu is his younger brother and also an actor and film producer. Pawan Kalyan, his younger brother, is also an actor. Chiranjeevi had his schooling in locations such as Nidadavolu, Gurajala, Bapatla, Ponnuru, Mangalagiri, and Mogalturu, among others. He attended C.S.R.Sharma Junior College in Ongole after graduating from high school.

He earned a B. Com degree from Y.N. College in Narasapur. He was a member of the NCC. As an NCC cadet in the early 1970s, Chiranjeevi marched in the New Delhi Republic Day Parade. Chiranjeevi moved to Chennai to pursue a career in acting after graduating from Y.N. College in Narsapuram. In 1976 he took admission in the Madras Film Institute to pursue acting career.

Quick Information

Real Name - Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad

Nickname - Chiru

Profession - Actor, Politician

Date of Birth - August 22, 1955

Age - 62

Place Of Birth - Mogalthur, Andhra Pradesh, India

Nationality - Indian

School - CSR Sharma College, Andhra Pradesh

College - Sri Y N College, Andhra Pradesh

Marriage Status - Married

Wife - Surekha Konidela

Daughter - Srija & Susmitha

Son - Ram Charan Teja

Personal Life

Chiranjeevi married Surekha, the late comedian Allu Rama Lingaiah's daughter, on February 20, 1980. He has three children: Sushmita (elder daughter), Ram Charan Teja (renowned Telugu actor) and Sreeja (younger daughter). Chiranjeevi is uncle of famous actor Allu Arjun. Chiranjeevi's younger brother Nagendra Babu is a famous actor and film producer, and his younger brother Pawan Kalyan is an actor and politician who formed Jana Sena Party.

Acting Career

1978 - 1981

His family worshipped Anjaneya, a Hindu god; his mother recommended him to use the screen name "Chiranjeevi," which means "Immortal," a reference to the Hindu belief that Hanuman lives eternally.

Chiranjeevi began his cinematic career with Punadhirallu. However, Pranam Khareedu was his first film to be released. The Telugu public recognized Chiranjeevi after seeing Mana Voori Pandavulu, directed by Bapu. He has a minor role in Tayaramma Bangarayya. He portrayed the anti-hero in the films I Love You and K. Balachander's Idi Katha Kaadu both are starring Kamal Haasan. Chiranjeevi plays the character played by Rajinikanth in the original Tamil film Avargal in a remake. Chiranjeevi had eight significant film releases in 1979, followed by 14 the following year. In films like Mosagadu, Rani Kasula Rangamma, 47 Natkal / 47 Rojulu, Nyayam Kavali, and Ranuva Veeran, he portrayed the adversary.

1982 - 1986

Chiranjeevi appeared in leading roles in movies such as Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya (1982), directed by Kodi Ramakrishna, and a box office success. Later, he featured in K. Viswanath's Subhalekha, a film on the societal ills of the dowry system. It earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actor and Viswanath his third Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Director. Idi Pellantara, Sitadevi, Tingu Rangadu, Bandhalu Anubandhalu, and Mondi Ghatam were among his other films. He participated in multi-star films like as Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu and Billa Ranga before moving on to Manchu Pallaki.

Khaidi was a box office hit, propelling Chiranjeevi to prominence. He continued to make action films in 1984. Mantri Gari Viyyankudu, Sangharshana, Goonda, Challenge, Hero, Donga, Jwala, Adavi Donga, Kondaveeti Raja, and Rakshasudu are among the recent movie office successes. For his performance in Vijetha, he earned his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Telugu in 1985.

1987 - 2007

Swayamkrushi (1987), directed by K. Viswanath, earned Chiranjeevi his first Nandi Award for Best Actor. Pasivadi Pranam (1987), Yamudiki Mogudu (1988), and Manchi Donga (1988) were also box office successes. Rudraveena (1988) received the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration and the Nandi Special Jury Award, which was co-produced and performed in by Chiranjeevi. Chiranjeevi then tried his hand at a socio-fantasy, Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and produced by Ashwini Dutt.

Chiranjeevi's Bollywood performances in Pratibandh (1990) and Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj were praised. He won his second Nandi Award for Best Actor and his third Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Telugu for his performance in Aapadbandhavudu (1992). Chiranjeevi's career was hit in the mid-1990s with box office flops like Mechanic Alludu, S. P. Parasuram, Big Boss, and Rikshavodu. Mutha Mestri, made him won a fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Telugu, and Mugguru Monagallu and Alluda Majaka, who were fairly successful.

He had a cameo appearance in the Kannada movie Sipayi in 1996. Chiranjeevi returned to the screen after a brief hiatus with Hitler, Master, Bavagaru Bagunnara Choodalani Vundi, and Sneham Kosam, for which he got his fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Telugu. Chiranjeevi was scheduled to star in a Hollywood film directed by Dushan Garsi and produced by Rameshkrishna Murthi in 1999. Suresh Krissna directed the Telugu adaptation. Filming on the film, titled The Return of the Thief of Baghdad, was halted for unknown reasons.

Annayya marked the beginning of Chiranjeevi's new decade. After a brief hiatus, Chiranjeevi featured in Indra, which surpassed all of his previous Tollywood box office records and earned him his third Nandi Award for Best Actor and sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Telugu. Following that, he featured in films with a social message, such as Tagore, and Shankar Dada M.B.B.S., for which he got his eighth Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Telugu. For his services to the film industry, he received the Filmfare Special Award - South in 2006 and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award - South at the 58th Filmfare Awards South in 2011.

2008 - 2016: Break from Acting Career

Chiranjeevi did not appear in a film for around eight years after his last role in 2007's Shankar Dada Zindabad; during this break, he focused on his political career. During these years, his cinematic performances were confined to cameos. He played role in two films, Magadheera (2009) and Bruce Lee: The Fighter (2010), both starring his son Ram Charan (2015). He also narrated the stories Varudu (2010) and Rudhramadevi (2015). He also had a cameo appearance in Jagadguru Adi Shankara (2013), reprising his role as Lord Manjunatha from Sri Manjunatha (2001).

His Comeback 2017

From 2013 to 2015, he was looking for the ideal script for his return to the big screen that would be his 150th picture as an actor. Chiranjeevi opted to adapt the immensely popular 2014 Tamil film Kaththi in Telugu as his comeback film a year after the release of original movie. The remake, dubbed Khaidi No. 150, directed by V. V. Vinayak was released to great reviews during the Sankranti holiday in 2017, around six months after Shankar Dada Zindabad. Critics have singled out Chiranjeevi in particular, complimenting him for both his performance and his looks, especially after a decade away from the big screen.

The film earned 41.75 crore on its first day and 164 crores throughout its whole run. Surender Reddy directed his debut period film, Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy, which was based on the life of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy. The film, which cost more than 270 crores to produce, generated more than 240 crores (equivalent to 286 crores or US$36 million in 2020) throughout its theatrical run. Koratala Siva will direct Chiranjeevi's forthcoming flick Acharya.

Political Career

Chiranjeevi's move into politics has been extensively anticipated in the media and political circles since 2007. While it was indicated that he will poll the people in the second half of 2007, the media anticipated that he would make his decision in January 2008. Even before the party was officially created, notable Andhra Pradesh politicians such as Congress Party's Harirama Jogaiah and Telugu Desam Party's K. Vidyadhar Rao, B. Nagi Reddy, Tammineni Seetharam, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, and others openly announced their intention to join it.

Chiranjeevi opened his party's office at Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, on August 10, 2008. On August 17, 2008, Chiranjeevi held a press conference at his party's headquarters to make his political debut. On August 26, 2008, at a public assembly in Avilala, near Tirupati, he proclaimed the party's name to be Praja Rajyam, claiming that the Rajyam (Rule) belongs to Praja (People). During this occasion, he unveiled the party flag. On October 10, he would go on his first political journey from the north coastal district of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.

Some Known Facts About Chiranjeevi

1. In the early 1970s, he was an NCC cadet and marched in the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi, India. In 1976, he entered M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute, CIT Campus, Tharamani, Chennai, India, after graduating with an interest in acting.
2. He rose to prominence in 1978 with the film "Mana Voori Pandavulu," directed by Bapu.
3. In 1979, he had eight significant movies releases, and the next year (1980), he had fourteen.
4. During this time, he portrayed an anti-hero in a few films, including I Love You and Idi Katha Kaadu.
5. After that, he played antagonists in films like as Rani Kasula Rangamma, Nyayam kavali, Mosagadu, and Ranuva Veeran.
6. Chiranjeevi rose to popularity in the Telugu film industry in 1983, thanks to the box office success of "Khaidi."
7. In 1987, he was the first South Indian actor to be invited to the Oscars ceremony.