One of the most popular actors in the south, Chiranjeevi enjoys a massive fan following. He has received the Padma Bhushan award, the second highest Padma award bestowed by the Government of India. He is the only Tollywood actor to receive seven Filmfare Best actor awards. Legendary Telugu actor Chiranjeevi rang in his 67th birthday on August 22. In addition to starring in over 150 Tollywood films, the veteran actor has carved a niche for himself in the Hindi, Tamil and Kannada film industries in his illustrious career of more than four decades. Family Background Chiranjeevi is the son of Late Sri Venkat Rao and Srimathi Anjana Devi. He was born on 22 August 1955 in Mogallturu, in Andhra Pradesh in India. His father worked as a constable and got transferred on a regular basis. He spent his childhood in his native village with his grandparents. Chiranjeevi did his schooling in Nidadavolu, Gurajala, Bapatla, Ponnuru, Mangalagiri and Mogalturu. He then graduated from Y.N. College in Narasapur with a B.Com degree. He is an NCC cadet. In 1977, after his graduation at Y.N. College in Narsapuram, Chiranjeevi moved to Chennai to seek a career in acting.
Film Career
Pranam Khareedu was Chiranjeevi's first film which was released in the year 1978. But not many know that the actor was to initially make his acting debut in the film Punadhirallu (1978), which got delayed due to some reasons and was released a year later in 1979. Thus, Pranam Khareedu became his first to be released. Chiranjeevi's 1990 starrer Kodama Simham directed by K. Murali Mohan Rao, was the first South Indian movie that was dubbed in the English language. The English version was named as Hunters of the Indian Treasure. According to idlebrain.com, his 1987 starrer films, Pasivadi Pranam and Swayamkrushi were also dubbed in Russian language. Swayamkrushi was also screened at the Moscow International Film Festival.
Awards and recognization Chiranjeevi has won over 3 Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards and Nine Filmfare Awards South. In 2006, The Megastar was honored with a Padma Bhushan and was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from Andhra University for his contributions to Indian Cinema. In 1987, Chiranjeevi was invited to attend the Oscar Awards Presentation and hence became the first-ever South Indian actor to be invited to the Oscars. Political Career Tanguturi Anjaiah, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh gave Chiranjeevi the nickname, T Nata Kishore. Chiranjeevi is also a politician. He started his own political party Praja Rajyam in Andhra Pradesh and in the 2009 general elections he was elected Member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Tirupati. He merged his party with the Indian National Congress in 2011. He served as the Minister of State with independent charge for the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India from October 27, 2012 to May 15, 2014. He was also a Rajya Sabha MP for Andhra Pradesh from April 3, 2012 to April 2, 2018. Personal Life Chiranjeevi married Surekha, daughter of eminent yesteryear comedian Allu Rama Lingaiah, on February 20, 1980. He has 3 children, eldest daughter Susmitha, son Ram Charan Teja, and another daughter Sreeja Upcoming film Chiranjeevi will next be seen in the Tollywood political action film GodFather. Bankrolled under the banners of Konidela Production Company and Super Good Films, this Mohan Raja directorial is the official Telugu remake of the blockbuster 2019 Malayalam film Lucifer. Starring Chiranjeevi, Nayanthara and Satya Dev in the lead roles, Godfather also boasts of a cameo by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, in his debut Telugu film.
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