Chiranjeevi
Born	Konidala Siva Sankara Vara Prasad (1955-08-22) August 22, 1955 (age 56) Mogalthur, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India
Residence	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Other names	Megastar, Chiru
Occupation	Film actor, politician
Years active	1977–present
Political party	Praja Rajyam Party Indian National Congress
Spouse	Surekha
Children	Sushmitha Ram Charan Teja Sreeja
Parents	Venkata Rao Konidala Anjana Devi Konidala
Relatives	Pawan Kalyan (brother) Nagendra Babu (brother) Allu Arjun (nephew) Allu Aravind (brother-in-law) Allu Rama Lingaiah (father–in–law) Renu Desai (sister–in–law) Prathap C. Reddy Preetha Reddy

Chiranjeevi (born Konidala Siva Sankara Vara Prasad on 22 August 1955)^[1] is a Indian film actor and a politician. He has worked primarily with Telugu Cinema, but has appeared in several Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in 1978 through the film Punadhirallu.^[2] However, Pranam Khareedu released earlier at the box office.^[3] Subsequently, he played a variety of characters, and his film roles along with his screen persona contributed to a change in the concept of a Telugu film lead actor.^{[citation needed]} He is popularly known as "Megastar" in the Indian media.^[4]

Chiranjeevi also co-produced Rudraveena (1988), which won the National Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.^[5] He has won nine Filmfare Awards South, the most by any Telugu actor. Chiranjeevi was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award. In 2006, he was presented an honourary doctorate from Andhra University.^[6] Apart from his film career, he is also a philanthropist and the founder of Chiranjeevi Charitable Foundation, established in 1998.

In 2008, he entered politics by forming the Praja Rajyam Party. In the 2009 Andhra Pradesh elections, Chiranjeevi 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 in the same election.

  Early life and family

Chiranjeevi was born on 22 August 1955^[1][7] as Siva Sankara Varaprasad to Konidela Anjana Devi^[8] and Konidela Venkata Rao^[9] in Mogalthur, a small village near Narsapur.^[8] He was quite interested in acting at a very young age. After completion of his high school, he did his Intermediate in C. S. R. Sharma College at Ongole.^[10] After graduating with a degree in commerce, Chiranjeevi moved to Chennai and joined the Madras Film Institute in 1976 to seek a career in acting.^[11] Since his family worshipped Anjaneya, a Hindu God, his mother advised him to take the screen name of "Chiranjeevi".^[12]

Chiranjeevi married Surekha, daughter of veteran Telugu actor Allu Rama Lingaiah, on 20 February 1980.^[13] They have two daughters, Sushmita and Sreeja, and a son, Ram Charan Teja. Ram is also an actor in Tollywood.^[13] 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.^[13] Allu Aravind, his brother-in-law, is a film producer.^[14] 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.^[2] However, his first released film was Pranam Khareedu.^[15] Mana Voori Pandavulu, directed by Bapu gave Chiranjeevi recognition in the Indian audience.^[11] 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,^[11] starring Kamal Haasan. In a remake of the Tamil film Avargal, Chiranjeevi 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.^[16][17] 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.^[18] 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."^[15] 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^[13] and Abhilasha.^[19] 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.^[12] In 1982, he acted in Subhalekha under the direction of K. Viswanath, for which he received a Filmfare Award.^[13] Khaidi (1983), directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy, was based on the Sylvester Stallone-starrer First Blood (1982).^[13] Khaidi was a box-office success and gave Chiranjeevi an action hero's image.^[12][13] Over the next three years, Chiranjeevi gradually occupied the top slot.^{[clarification needed]} By the end of 1983, he had acted in about 60 movies, mostly in supporting roles, some as villain and some as character roles.^[13]

Chiranjeevi continued to enjoy commercial success with Manthri Gari Viyyankudu, Sangharshana, Goonda, Challenge, Hero, Donga, Jwala, Adavi Donga, Kondaveeti Raja, Rakshasudu and Donga Mogudu.^[1] In 1985 he received his third Filmfare Award for his performance in Vijetha.^[20] The 1987 film Pasivadi Pranam lead Chiranjeevi to super stardom.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[21]

  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).

His film, Rudraveena (1988), not only won the National Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration^[5] but also made him win his second Nandi Award. It's 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".^[22] Gharana Mogudu became the first ever Telugu movie to gross more than 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).^[23]

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.^[20]

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.^[24]

  2000–present

Chiranjeevi's new decade started with a super hit Annayya, but his next releases Daddy and Mrigaraju performed poorly at box office.^{[citation needed]} After a brief gap, Chiranjeevi starred in Indra released in 2002 which broke all his previous box office records of Tollywood, and also won him his third Nandi Award for Best Actor and sixth Filmfare Award.^{[citation needed]} 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 Award and Stalin.^{[citation needed]} In 2007, he was awarded with a Legendary Honorary Award by Filmfare for his contributions to the film industry.^{[citation needed]}

His last film as a lead actor was Shankar Dada Zindabad before making his political entry.^[25] He made a guest appearance in his son's blockbuster movie Magadheera (2009). In 2011, he was honoured with Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifetime contributions to Indian film industry.^[26][27]

  Political career: 2008–present

In 2008, Chiranjeevi started Praja Rajyam, a political party in the state of Andhra Pradesh.^[28] At the launch, he stated that social justice was the main agenda of his party.^[29] In the 2009 general elections the party won 18 seats in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly.^[30] He was elected a Member of the State Assembly from Tirupati.^[31] His party recently stood for a united Andhra Pradesh and opposed separate statehood for Telangana.^[32] Meanwhile, two members of Telangana Advocates JAC filed criminal case against Chiranjeevi and 12 other leaders of his party for opposing separation of Telengana.

The advocates—A. Srinivas and B. Narasimha Reddy—filed their petition before 17th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court. They said the PR leaders, in their manifesto during 2009 State Assembly elections, extended support to Telangana.^[33]

Praja Rajyam's launch in Tirupathi He gave 104 assembly seats to Back ward caste candidates and 10 seats to SC and ST candidates in General seats out of 294 assembly seats.^{[clarification needed]} His party won 18 MLA seats with 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.^[34][35]

On 6 Feb 2011, Chiranjeevi merged the 30-month-old Praja Rajyam party with Indian National Congress.^[30][36] But he merged his party PRAJA RAJYAM in congress on 6th Febravary, 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 by and large neglected for a long time and ultimately given the Rajya Sabha seat on march 29th 2012. He took oath as Rajya Sabha member on April 3, 2012.

  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.^[2][37][38] 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.^[39][40] 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.^[41]

After allegations made against the Blood Bank and Eye Bank,^[42][43] 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."^[44] 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.^[45] News magazine The Week hailed him as "The new money machine".^[46]

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.^[5] He is a seven-time winner of Filmfare Award for Best Actor^[2][5] and a four time winner of Nandi Awards.

  Awards for acting

  Notable filmography

  References

  External links

Media related to Chiranjeevi at Wikimedia Commons

• Chiranjeevi at the Internet Movie Database
• "Chiranjeevi Blood Bank receives State award – Telugu Cinema News