1. Konidela Chiranjeevi was born on Konidela Sivasankara Varaprasad; 22 August 1955 and is an Indian actor, philanthropist and former politician known for his work in Telugu cinema.
37 Facts About Chiranjeevi
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Chiranjeevi is celebrated as one of the finest dancers in Indian cinema.
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Chiranjeevi has received numerous honours, including the Padma Bhushan in 2006 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2024 from the Government of India, as well as the IFFI Indian Film Personality of the Year Award in 2022.
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Chiranjeevi made his acting debut in 1978, initially gaining recognition for his supporting, anti-hero, and antagonist roles.
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Chiranjeevi's breakthrough came with the 1983 film Khaidi, which became the highest-grossing Telugu film at the time and established him as a leading actor in the industry.
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On 2 October 1998, Chiranjeevi established the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust, which operates the largest blood and eye banks in the Telugu states.
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Chiranjeevi served as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2012 to 2018 and was appointed Minister of Tourism in the central cabinet of India in October 2012, holding the position until May 2014.
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Chiranjeevi spent his childhood in his native village with his grandparents.
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Chiranjeevi did his schooling in Nidadavolu, Gurazala, Bapatla, Ponnur, Mangalagiri and Mogalthur.
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Chiranjeevi was an NCC cadet and had participated in the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi in the early 1970s.
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On 20 February 1980, Chiranjeevi married Surekha, the daughter of Telugu comic actor Allu Ramalingaiah.
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Chiranjeevi has two brothers, Nagendra Babu, a film producer and actor, and Pawan Kalyan, an actor-politician who is Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and founder of Jana Sena, a regional political party.
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Chiranjeevi is the uncle to actors Allu Arjun, Varun Tej, Niharika, Sai Dharam Tej, and Panja Vaisshnav Tej.
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Chiranjeevi played the anti-hero in films I Love You and K Balachander's Idi Katha Kaadu, starring Kamal Haasan.
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In 1979, Chiranjeevi had eight major film releases and then 14 films in the following year.
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Chiranjeevi began to appear in leading roles with films such as, directed by Kodi Ramakrishna, which was a hit at the box office.
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Chiranjeevi acted in multi-star movies such as Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu and Billa Ranga, and later appeared in Manchu Pallaki.
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Khaidi was a box office success and Chiranjeevi attained stardom with this movie.
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Chiranjeevi received his first Nandi Award for Best Actor for Swayamkrushi, directed by K Viswanath.
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Chiranjeevi co-produced and acted in Rudraveena, which won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, and the Nandi Special Jury Award.
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Chiranjeevi then experimented with Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, a fantasy film directed by K Raghavendra Rao and produced by Aswini Dutt.
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In 1999, Chiranjeevi was to appear in a Hollywood production directed by Dushan Garsi, and produced by Rameshkrishna Murthi.
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Chiranjeevi appeared as himself in two films, starring his son Ram Charan, namely Magadheera and Bruce Lee: The Fighter.
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Chiranjeevi then starred in the 2023 film Waltair Veerayya directed by Bobby Kolli which released during the Sankranti festival.
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Chiranjeevi announced his next film, Vishwambhara, with Mallidi Vassishta of Bimbisara fame.
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Chiranjeevi is one of the co-owners of the Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters FC.
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Chiranjeevi made his debut as a Television host with the fourth season of Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu.
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Chiranjeevi contested from Tirupati and Palakollu constituencies winning in Tirupati but losing out in Palakollu, in West Godavari district.
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On 29 March 2012, Chiranjeevi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, where he was elected and took his oath as a member on 3 April.
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In 2013, Chiranjeevi inaugurated the Incredible India Exhibition, a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, at the 66th Cannes Film Festival.
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Chiranjeevi represented Incredible India at the 14th IIFA Awards ceremony held in Macau that same year.
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Chiranjeevi remained with Congress and campaigned for it as chairman of Election Campaign Committee for 2014 parliamentary and assembly elections in the residual state of Andhra Pradesh.
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Chiranjeevi established the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust on 2 October 1998, with the motto that no one should lose their life due to a lack of blood.
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Chiranjeevi has supported the trust's activities through his earnings, including those from television commercials and promotions.
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In May 2021, Chiranjeevi set up oxygen banks and ambulances across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to meet the needs of patients affected by COVID-19.
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Chiranjeevi is a nine-time winner of Filmfare Awards South and a three-time winner of Nandi Awards.
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Chiranjeevi was the first actor from South India to be invited to the Oscars ceremony in 1987.