31 Facts About Krishnam Raju

Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju was an Indian actor and politician.

Krishnam Raju was known for his works in Telugu cinema and was widely known as "Rebel Star" for his rebellious acting style.

Krishnam Raju was the winner of the inaugural Nandi Award for Best Actor.

Krishnam Raju starred in more than 183 feature films in his career.

Krishnam Raju made his film debut with the 1966 film Chilaka Gorinka produced and directed by K Pratyagatma.

Krishnam Raju had won five Filmfare Awards South and three state Nandi Awards.

Krishnam Raju joined Bharatiya Janata Party and was elected to the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha from Kakinada and Narasapuram constituencies.

Krishnam Raju served as a Minister of State for the Ministry of External Affairs in the third Vajpayee Ministry from 1999 to 2004.

Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju was born in Mogalthur, West Godavari district, on 20 January 1940, to Uppalapati Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Raju.

Krishnam Raju completed his early education at Government Boys School in Mogalthur and later at Taylor's High School, in Narasapuram, Andhra Pradesh.

Krishnam Raju married Syamaladevi, in 1996, with whom he had three daughters.

Krishnam Raju worked as a journalist for the Andhra Ratna.

Krishnam Raju was awarded the second best photographer at the state level.

Krishnam Raju was fond of cameras and had a collection of cameras.

Krishnam Raju entered Tollywood in 1966 with the film Chilaka Gorinka directed by Kotayya Pratyagatma alongside Krishna Kumari.

Krishnam Raju was at first reluctant to act in the film given the role is of an antagonist and that he debuted in films in a protagonist role.

Krishnam Raju subsequently received several offers for antagonist roles following the critical praise he garnered in the role.

Krishnam Raju took upon a few films and later returned to protagonist roles.

Krishnam Raju acted in many films with the established actresses Krishna Kumari, Rajasulochana, Jamuna, and Kanchana.

Krishnam Raju acted alongside Kanchana in Nenante Nene and set the trend of handsome villains.

Krishnam Raju acted opposite Bollywood actress Rekha in Amma Kosam which was her first film as an actress.

Krishnam Raju acted in Bantrothu Bharya which marks the first collaboration of Krishnam Raju with Dasari Narayana Rao.

The film garnered Filmfare Best Film Award for the year 1978 and Krishnam Raju shared the award with Jaya Krishna.

In 1984, Krishnam Raju acted in Yuddham, Sardar, Babulugaadi Debba, Kondaveeti Nagulu and S P Bhayankar.

Krishnam Raju remade the film in Hindi as Dharm Adhikari with Dilip Kumar and Jeetendra in 1986.

In 1991, Krishnam Raju acted in Vidhata, Bava Bavamaridi, Jailor Gaari Abbayi, Andaroo Andare, and Gangmaster.

Krishnam Raju said in an interview that he would produce films continuously under the banner.

Krishnam Raju contested an unsuccessful election in 1992 from Narasapuram on a Congress ticket.

Krishnam Raju won the 1998 Lok Sabha elections from Kakinada.

Krishnam Raju set a record with a thumping majority of over 165,000 votes, the maximum majority compared to any of the other constituencies in Andhra Pradesh which ensured him a berth at the centre.

Krishnam Raju died on 11 September 2022, at the age of 82, from bacterial and fungal pneumonia followed by cardiac arrest, at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology Hospitals in Hyderabad, India, which he entered for post-COVID-19 issues on 5 August 2022.