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Chiranjeevi

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Chiranjeevi (చి్రంజీవి) (born August 22, 1955) is one of the most popular actors in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Though his major interest remains Telugu cinema (also called Tollywood), he has grown in popularity and is well-known throughout India.

Early years

Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad popularly known as Chiranjeevi (his screen name), was born in Mogaltur, in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. After graduating with a B.Com degree, he joined an acting school in Madras. He then started off by acting in small roles in movies.

Career

Though his first movie role was in Punaadi Raallu, his first movie to be released was Pranam Khareedu (1978). After doing some cameos and villain roles he started doing hero (main) roles, he gained fame with the film Khaidi. His career spans 25 years and to date he has acted in over 146 films. He took a hiatus from acting due to a string of failures between 1993 and 1995. He returned to the screen with Hitler, a re-make of a Malayalam movie. At the peak of his career, he was rumoured to be the highest paid actor in India. He also acted in three Hindi movies (popularly called Bollywood) and 2 Kannada movies. Allu Aravind, his brother-in-law, produced many successful films with him.

Though some critics say Chiranjeevi makes mostly mass-oriented films (movies with songs, dance sequences, double entendres and fights), he has appeared in some less mainstream films, such as Swayam Krushi (Self Perseverence) and Rudra Veena, although with less commercial success. Chiranjeevi produced the movie Rudra Veena under his banner Anjana Productions with K. Balachandar, a Tamil director. The film received national acclaim (notably the National Integration Award).

He has a wide fan base in Andhra Pradesh. Chiranjeevi is currently settled in Hyderabad.

In September 1991 Gang Leader also starring Vijayashanti & in April 1992 Gharana Mogudu became the biggest block busters in the Telugu movie industry and also his career peak. India Today and Week had put his photo on the cover page with the titles "Bigger than Bachchan" and "The new money machine" respectively.

Two other films - Indra (2002), Tagore(2003) and Shankardada MBBS (2004) - created history with the highest number of 100 day centers (192) in south India.

Charity

Family

Chiranjeevi has two brothers and two sisters, Nagendra Babu (film producer), Pawan Kalyan (actor), Vijaya Durga and Madhavi.His father Mr. Konidela Venkat Rao was an former excise superintendent who worked at nellore and a loving mother Anjana Devi. He is married to Surekha daughter of veteran Tollywood actor Allu Ramalingaiah on February 20, 1980 and is blessed with two daughters Susmita and Sirija, and one son Ramcharan Teja. He is commonly referred to as "Annaya" (brother), or Megastar Chiru. His elder daughter was married to a london based businessmen on March 2nd 2006 in Hyderabad at Madhapur.

Awards and recognitions

He has won several awards including four Nandi Awards (awards given by the Government of Andhra Pradesh annually). He has won seven Filmfare Awards (popular awards given by the Magazine Filmfare). +

  • Padmabhushan
  • Nandi Award for Best Actor - Swayam Krishi
  • Nandi Award for Best Actor - Apadbhandavudu
  • Nandi Award - Rudraveena
  • Nandi Award - Indra
  • Seven times winner of FilmFare awards (Best Actor).

In January 2006, Chiranjeevi was conferred with Padma Bhushan ( The Third highest civilian award in India) by the Government of India.


External links

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