Chiranjeevi (born Konidala Siva Sankara Vara Prasad on 22 August 1955) is an Indian film actor, singer, producer and Indian National Congress Politician. He is the Minister of State with independent charge for Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Prior to Politics, Chiranjeevi has worked primarily in Telugu Cinema including Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in 1978 through the film Punadhirallu. However, Pranam Khareedu released earlier at the box office. He is popularly known as "Megastar" in the Indian media.
re films. In 1988, he co-produced Rudraveena, along with his brother Nagendra Babu which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. He has won four state Nandi Awards and ten Filmfare Awards South. Chiranjeevi was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, for his contributions towards Indian cinema. In 2006, he was presented an honorary doctorate from Andhra University.
Chiranjeevi founded the Chiranjeevi Charitable Foundation, established in 1998, which is involved in humanitarian activities. In 2008, he entered politics by forming the Praja Rajyam Party. In the 2009
Andhra Pradesh elections, Chiranjeevi contested from his native place Palakollu and Tirupati. He was defeated by the Congress party candidate in Palakollu and was elected as a member of the State Assembly from Tirupati constituency. He led the Praja Rajyam Party to emerge as the third largest party during the same election.
Contents
1 Early life and family
2 Acting career
2.1 Early career: 1978–1981
2.2 Breakthrough as hero: 1982–87
2.3 Commercial stardom: 1988–1999
2.4 2000–present
3 Political career: 2008–present
4 Humanitarian work
5 Awards, honours and recognitions
5.1 Awards for acting
6 Notable filmography
Early life and family
Chiranjeevi was born on 22 August in Mogalthur, a small village near Narsapur. He was quite interested in acting at a very young age. After completion of his school, He did his Intermediate in C. S. R. Sharma College at Ongole. After graduating with a degree in commerce from Y. N. College at Narsapur, Chiranjeevi moved to Chennai and joined the Madras Film Institute in 1976 to seek a career in acting. Since his family worshipped Anjaneya, a Hindu God, his mother advised him to take the screen name of "Chiranjeevi".
Chiranjeevi married Surekha, daughter of veteran Telugu actor Allu Rama Lingaiah, on 20 February 1980. They have two daughters, Sushmita and Sreeja, and a son, Ram Charan Teja. Ram is also an actor in Tollywood. One of Chiranjeevi's brothers, Nagendra Babu, is a film producer and also has acted in several films, and his youngest brother, Pawan Kalyan, is an actor in Tollywood. Allu Aravind, his brother-in-law, is a film producer. Allu Arjun, son of Allu Aravind, is also an actor in Telugu cinema.
Acting career
Early career: 1978–1981
Upon completion of his training, Chiranjeevi started filming for Punadhirallu. However, his first released film was Pranam Khareedu. Mana Voori Pandavulu, directed by Bapu gave Chiranjeevi recognition in the Indian audience. He played a small role in Tayaramma Bangarayya. He also played the anti-hero in films like I Love You and K. Balachander's Idi Katha Kaadu, starring Kamal Haasan. In a remake of the Tamil film Avargal, dhanpalreddy portrayed the character played by Rajinikanth in the original. In 1979, Chiranjeevi had eight major film releases and had it went up to 14 films in the following year. He played characters with negative shades in films like Mosagadu, Rani Kasula Rangamma and the Tamil-Telugu bilingual 47 Natkal /47 Rojulu directed by K. Balachander. A. Kodandarami Reddy's Nyayam Kavali (1981) saw him playing an anti-hero once again and his performance was noticed by the critics.[citation needed] Also in 1981, he appeared as a villain in Ranuva Veeran opposite Rajinikanth, which further elevated his status as an anti-hero.[citation needed] Audience developed a liking for his "ease in dance movements and swashbuckling fights." He was mostly cast in supporting roles and as antagonistic characters during this period.
Breakthrough as hero: 1982–87
Chiranjeevi began to appear in lead roles with films like Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya and Abhilasha. For his role in Mondi Ghatam (1982), his unique style of acting was much appreciated by the critics. Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya (1982), directed by Kodi Ramakrishna, not only strengthened his position as a big star but also brought him lot of laurels. In 1982, he acted in Subhalekha under the direction of K. Viswanath, for which he received a 1st Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu). Khaidi (1983), directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy, was based on the Sylvester Stallone-starrer First Blood (1982). Khaidi was a box-office success and gave Chiranjeevi an action hero's image. Over the next three years, Chiranjeevi gradually occupied the top slot. Remembering the days of 1985 Nagarjuna, another big star of Telugu film industry says "by the time i entered films, he was already a very big star - a man who had mass appeal and a huge fan following..without absolutely anybody's backing, he made it to the top in the telugu film industry becoming the most popular hero - admired by both the masses and the class audience. no artiste today can even dare to dream of reaching the heights chiranjeevi has scaled". By the end of 1983, he had acted in about 60 movies, mostly in supporting roles, some as villain and some as character roles.
Chiranjeevi continued to enjoy commercial success with Manthri Gari Viyyankudu, Sangharshana, Goonda, Challenge, Hero, Donga, Jwala, Adavi Donga, Kondaveeti Raja, Rakshasudu and Donga Mogudu. In 1985 he received his 2nd Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) for his performance in Vijetha. The 1987 film Pasivadi Pranam lead Chiranjeevi to super stardom. Chiranjeevi was sensational in a new dance called “Break Dance”.[citation needed] Chiranjeevi received his first Nandi Award for Best Actor for Swayam Krushi (1987) directed by K. Viswanath. An unusual film for an actor in the early days of his stardom and with the image of an action hero, this film’s box office success proved Chiranjeevi's ability to act in different genres.
Commercial stardom: 1988–1999
Chiranjeevi worked in 23 films, most of which were box office hits. He also attempted a variety of roles which showed his acting skills. After Khaidi, he had hits like Pasivadi Pranam (1987), Yamudiki Mogudu (1988) where he appeared in a dual role, and Manchi Donga (1988). he ruled tollywood for more than 3 decades...basically known as GOD of tollywood cinema.He is well known for his dances.His role in a song in his movie DONGA resembles MICHAEL JACKSON'S album THRILLER and this made him popular in Latin America and in other European countries. His film, Rudraveena (1988), not only won the National Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration but also made him win his second Nandi Award. Its composer Illayaraja and singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam won National Film Awards for the same film.
Chiranjeevi paired with Sridevi in Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari which revolutionized[citation needed] socio-fantasy movies in Tollywood. Directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and produced by Ashwini Dutt, the movie was a big hit and is considered to be one of the best movies of Chiranjeevi. Other films like Kondaveeti Donga and Raja Vikramarka were also box-office successes. Gang Leader (1991) was a massive hit and critics even called him as the "boss of Telugu cinema". Gharana Mogudu became the first ever Telugu movie to gross more than INR 10 crore.
He acted in Hindi films too. His performances were appreciated in Prathibandh (1990), which gained him a Filmfare nomination.[citation needed] Aaj Ka Goonda Raj, a remake of his Telugu film and The Gentleman, a Tamil remake also proved to be successful.[citation needed] In year 1996 he appreared in guest role in Kannada Film Sipaayi.[citation needed]
Aapathbandhavudu released in 1992, won critical acclaim and Chiranjeevi received his second Nandi Award for Best Actor and third Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu).
The mid 1990s saw a career dip for Chiranjeevi with box-office failures like Mechanic Alludu, S.P.Parshuram, Big Boss and Rikshavodu. There were exceptions such as Muta Mesthri which fetched him fourth Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu). Mugguru Monagallu and Alluda Majaka which were moderately successful.
After a brief lull, he came back strongly with a smashing hit Hitler in 1997, which received both critical and commercial acclaim.[citation needed] From then on, Chiranjeevi confined himself to acting in only a few selected films. The following years he appeared in commercially successful movies like Master, Bavagaru Bagunnara, Choodalani Vundi, and Sneham Kosam film he received his fifth Filmfare Award Trophy.[citation needed]
In 1999, Chiranjeevi was to appear in a Hollywood production directed by Dushan Garsi, and produced by Rameshkrishna Murthi. The Telugu version was directed by Suresh Krishna. The movie, which was titled Return of the Thief of Baghdad, had its filming suspended for unknown reasons.
2000–present
Chiranjeevi's new decade started with a super hit Annayya, After a brief gap, Chiranjeevi starred in Indra released in 2002 which broke all his previous box office records of Tollywood and won him his third Nandi Award for Best Actor and sixth Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu).After that, he appeared in films which had an underlying message and a social cause like Tagore, Shankar Dada MBBS for which he won his seventh and latest Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) and Stalin.He was awarded for the Legendary Honorary Filmfare Award for his contributions to the film industry for eighth time receiving his trophy.
Political career: 2008–present
In 2008, Chiranjeevi started Praja Rajyam, a political party in the state of Andhra Pradesh. At the launch, he stated that social justice was the main agenda of his party. In the 2009 general elections the party won 18 seats in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly. He was elected a Member of the State Assembly from Tirupati. His party recently stood for a united Andhra Pradesh and opposed separate statehood for Telangana. Meanwhile.
At Praja Rajyam's launch, party assembly seat nominations were distributed to 104 back ward caste candidates and 10 seats to SC and ST candidates out of a total 294 available for the legislative assembly seats (lower house) .[clarification needed]. Praja Rajyam's won 18 seats with a cumulative 18% vote share.[citation needed]
He stood both in Tirupati and in Palakollu Constituency as MLA in the 2009 general elections, winning in Tirupati but losing in Palakollu.
On 6 Feb 2011, Chiranjeevi merged the 30-month-old Praja Rajyam party with Indian National Congress. But he merged his party PRAJA RAJYAM in congress on 6 February 2011 after two weeks of back talks with Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Indian National Congress, which feared the no confidence motion in the state assembly in the wake of the emergence of Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress and the stronghold of Telangana agitation. After the merge of his party into Congress, he was given the Rajya Sabha seat on March 29, 2012. He took oath as Rajya Sabha member on April 3, 2012. On Oct 28,2012 at 11:46 AM he was sworn in as the Union Minister of State (Independent charge), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Humanitarian work
On October 2, 1998, he founded the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust (CCT), which includes Chiranjeevi Blood and Eye Banks. It is the state's largest recipient of blood and eye donations. The trust has made over 68,000 blood donations through and 1,414 eye donations. The Blood Bank of the CCT helped over 80,000 people and the Eye Bank has helped about 1000 people in the state of Andhra Pradesh since its opening. Around 3.5 lakh people have pledged their eyes to CCT so far, giving 1600 people eyesight through CCT. CCT has also won the "Best Voluntary Blood Bank Award" by the AP State Government for the past 4 years. On June 10, 2006, the then President of India, Abdul Kalam, inaugurated the Chiranjeevi Charitable Foundation (CCF) at the Jubilee Hills Check post in Hyderabad.[citation needed]
Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust has crossed the one lakh mark in collecting blood and more than 96,000 people have been helped with blood by this blood bank.
After allegations made against the Blood Bank and Eye Bank, the state government of AP constituted a high-level committee to look into the allegations. The committee worked under the guidance of the project director of AP State AIDA Control Society, comprising experts from finance and technical fields, verified records pertaining to the collection and disposal of blood samples, blood grouping, screening, sterilisation, medical waste disposal, camps conducted, blood expiry, quality control, store room, record room and purchase of equipment.[citation needed]
Awards, honours and recognitions
Veteran director K. Balachander once commented "Chiranjeevi has both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in him. Not only can he do action, he can also act." Owing to his ability to his box-office appeal, popular entertainment magazine, Filmfare, quoted him "Bigger than Bachchan", a reference to Bollywood’s Amitabh Bachchan. News magazine The Week hailed him as "The new money machine". Gharana Mogudu, the blockbuster movie was the first Telugu film to gross over 100 million rupees at the box office. The film made Chiranjeevi the highest paid actor in India, catapulting him to hit the cover pages of all national weekly magazines and India Today had a caption, "Bigger Than Bachchan".
Chiranjeevi received the Padmabhushan, the third highest civilian honour in India in the year 2006. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Andhra University in the same year. He is an eight-time winner of Filmfare Award for Best Actor and a four time winner of Nandi Awards.
Awards for acting
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Special Award - South - Punnami Naagu (1980)
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu - Subhalekha (1982)
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu - Vijetha (1985)
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu - Aapathbandavudu (1992)[citation needed]
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu - Muta Mesthri (1993)
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu - Sneham Kosam (1999)
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu - Indra (2002)
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu - Shankardada MBBS (2004)
Filmfare Special Award - South for Honarary Legendary acting carrier (2006)
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award - South (2010)
Nandi Awards
Nandi Award for Best Actor - Swayam Krushi (1987)
Nandi Special Jury Award - Rudraveena (1988)
Nandi Award for Best Actor - Aapathbandavudu (1992)
Nandi Award for Best Actor - Indra (2002)
Notable filmography
Main article: Chiranjeevi filmography
Year Film Role Notes
1978 Punadhirallu Vijay Debut film
1979 Idi Katha Kaadu Subanakar
1980 Punnami Naagu Naagulu Filmfare Special Award - South
1980 Nakili Manishi Prasad,
Shyam First dual role
1981 47 Natkal Kumar Tamil film
1982 Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya Rajasekharam
1982 Subhalekha Narasimha Murthi Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actor
1983 Khaidi Sooryam
1985 Vijetha Chinnababu Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actor
1987 Swayam Krushi Sambaiah Nandi Award for Best Actor
1987 Aradhana Puli Raja
1988 Rudraveena Suryanarayana Sastry Nandi Special Jury Award
1990 Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari Raju
1990 Prathibandh Siddhanth Hindi film
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor
1991 Gang Leader Raja
1992 Gharana Mogudu Raju
1992 Aapathbandavudu Madhava Nandi Award for Best Actor
Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actor
1993 Muta Mesthri Subhash Chandra Bose Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actor
1996 Sipayi Unknown Kannada
1999 Sneham Kosam Simhadri,
Chinnayya Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actor
2002 Indra Indrasena Reddy,
Shankar Narayana Nandi Award for Best Actor
Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actor
2003 Tagore Tagore
2004 Shankar Dada MBBS Shankar Prasad Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actor
2006 Stalin Stalin
2008 shankar dada zindabad shankar prasad
2009 Magadheera As himself guest appearence
