Acting

Chiranjeevi

Konidela Chiranjeevi, widely revered as Megastar, is an Indian actor, film producer, and former politician who predominantly works in Telugu cinema, alongside Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada films. Born Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad on August 22, 1955, in Mogalthur, Andhra Pradesh, he graduated with a degree in commerce from Sri Y N College, Narsapuram, before training in acting at the Madras Film Institute. He made his acting debut in 1978 with *Pranam Khareedu* and rose to superstardom with the pathbreaking action drama *Khaidi* (1983). Celebrated for his dynamic screen presence, intense action sequences, and groundbreaking dance style, he dominated Indian box office records for decades. His illustrious filmography spans over 150 feature films, featuring commercial and critically acclaimed milestones such as *Subhalekha* (1982), *Vijetha* (1985), *Swayamkrushi* (1987), *Rudraveena* (1988), *Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari* (1990), *Gang Leader* (1991), *Gharana Mogudu* (1992), *Aapadbandhavudu* (1992), *Mutha Mestri* (1993), *Hitler* (1997), *Choodalani Vundi* (1998), *Sneham Kosam* (1999), *Indra* (2002), *Tagore* (2003), *Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.* (2004), *Khaidi No. 150* (2017), *Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy* (2019), and *Waltair Veerayya* (2023). Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Indian cinema history, he has received the Padma Vibhushan (2024), the Padma Bhushan (2006), the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, the IFFI Indian Film Personality of the Year Award (2022), four Nandi Awards, and nine Filmfare Awards South (including the Lifetime Achievement Award). Beyond entertainment, he founded the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust in 1998 to operate major blood and eye banks and served as the Union Minister of State for Tourism from 2012 to 2014.