Born on August 22, 1955, Chiranjeevi Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad or popularly known as Chiranjeevi is an Indian actor and former politician known famously for working in Telugu films. He was born in a village in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. While his father was a police constable, not much is known about his mother. He spent his childhood in his native village with his grandparents.
He did his schooling from Nidadavolu, Gurazala, Bapatla, Ponnur, Mangalagiri, and Mogalthur. He was also an NCC cadet and used to participate in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi during the early 70s. Though he was interested in acting from a very young age and also did his intermediate at the C.S.R Sarma College in Ongole. Later, he graduated from Sri YN College with a degree in commerce. Following this, he moved to Chennai and joined the Madras Film Institute in 1976 for following his passion for acting.
Following this, he started his film career with the film, Punadhirallu. However, his first debut film was Pranam Khareedu. Following this, he got recognition with the film, Mana Voori Pandavulu. After working in many minor films, he was seen in the remake of the Tamil film, Avargal which was actually portrayed by Rajnikanth in the original film.
However, he started receiving lead roles in the 1982 film, Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya. It was also a hit at the box office which earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu. Next, he was seen in many other big films like Idi Pellantara, Sitadevi, Tingu Rangadu, Bandhalu Anubandhalu, and Mondi Ghatam.
Chiranjeevi has also worked in a few multi-star movies such as Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu and Billa Ranga, and later in Manchu Pallaki.
After working on a series of hits at the box office, Chiranjeevi got his first Nandi Award for Best Actor for the 1987 film, Swayamkrushi. Next, in 1988, he donned the hat of a producer after he co-produced the film, Rudraveena. It also won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. He then started experimenting with his roles and worked in films like Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Kondaveeti Donga, and Gang Leader, among others which were also hit at the box office.
After the South Indian film industry, he also worked in many Bollywood films and received appreciation for films like Pratibandh and Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj. After working in many films, the mid-1990s saw a career dip as some of his films didn’t work well at the box office. Following this, he took a short break and made his comeback with the 2002 film, Indra. The film was a major hit and broke all of his records earning him his third Nandi Award for Best Actor and sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu. However, after featuring in the 2007 film Shankar Dada Zindabad, he was not seen in any films for almost a decade during which he embarked on this political career. Simultaneously, he was also seen playing minor roles in many films.
Later in 2013, he decided to make a comeback and finally came with the film, Khaidi No. 150 which was released in 2017.
Apart from films, he also made his TV debut as a host on the show, Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu.
Talking about his political career, he started his own political party, Praja Rajyam Party which he later merged with the Indian National Congress in 2011.
| Name | Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad |
| Nick Name | Chiranjeevi |
| Profession | Actor, Politician |
| Date of Birth | 22 August 1955 |
| Age | 67 Years (2022) |
| Birth Place | Mogalthur, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| School | CSR Sharma College, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh (Intermediate) |
| Collage | Sri Y N College, Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh |
| Debut | Film: Pranam Khareedu (Telugu, 1978), 47 Natkal (Tamil, 1981), Pratibandh (Bollywood, 1990), Sipayi (Kannada, 1996) TV: Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu Season 4 (2017) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
Chiranjeevi Career
Acting Career
- He made his acting debut with the 1978 film, Punadhirallu, however, the film Pranam Khareedu was released earlier at the box office.
- He got recognition with the film, Mana Voori Pandavulu.
- Next, he started working in a number of minor films.
- Then, he has seen the remake of the Tamil film, Avargal which was actually portrayed by Rajnikanth in the original film.
- In 1982, he was seen playing a lead role in the film Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya. It was also a hit at the box office which earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu.
- Next, he was seen in many other big films like Idi Pellantara, Sitadevi, Tingu Rangadu, Bandhalu Anubandhalu, and Mondi Ghatam.
- Chiranjeevi has also worked in a few multi-star movies such as Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu and Billa Ranga, and later in Manchu Pallaki.
- After working on a series of hits at the box office, Chiranjeevi got his first Nandi Award for Best Actor for the 1987 film, Swayamkrushi.
- Next, in 1988, he donned the hat of a producer after he co-produced the film, Rudraveena. It also won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.
- He then started experimenting with his roles and worked in films like Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Kondaveeti Donga, and Gang Leader, among others which were also hit at the box office.
- After working in the South Indian film industry, he also worked in many Bollywood films and received appreciation for films like Pratibandh and Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj.
- After working in many films, the mid-1990s saw a career dip as some of his films didn’t work well at the box office.
- Then, he took a short break and made his comeback with the 2002 film, Indra. The film was a major hit and broke all of his records earning him his third Nandi Award for Best Actor and sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu.
- However, after featuring in the 2007 film Shankar Dada Zindabad, he was not seen in any films for almost a decade during which he embarked on this political career. Simultaneously, he was also seen playing minor roles in many films.
- Later in 2013, he decided to make a comeback and finally came with the film, Khaidi No. 150 which was released in 2017.
- Apart from films, he also made his TV debut as a host on the show, Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu.
- Talking about his political career, he started his own political party, Praja Rajyam Party which he later merged with the Indian National Congress in 2011.
Chiranjeevi Politics Career
On August 10, 2008, Chiranjeevi opened his party office in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. Chiranjeevi held a news conference in his party’s office on August 17, 2008, to announce his debut into politics.
On August 26, 2008, he declared the name of the party as Praja Rajyam during a public assembly in Avilala, near Tirupati, claiming that the Rajyam (Rule) belongs to Praja (People). On this occasion, he introduced the party flag.
On April 3 2012, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha and took the oath of office. He was sworn in as the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, on October 28, 2012. After the 2014 elections, he decided to stay away from politics.
Chiranjeevi Family
| Father Name | Venkat Rao Konidela (Police constable) |
| Mother Name |  Anjana Devi Konidela |
| Brother | Nagendra Babu (Film producer), Pawan Kalyan (Actor) |
| Sister | Vijaya Durga, Madhavi |
| Wife | Surekha Konidela |
Chiranjeevi Relationship / Marital Status & Many More
On February 20, 1980, Chiranjeevi married Surekha, the daughter of legendary comedian Allu Rama Lingaiah. Susmitha, his eldest daughter, Ram Charan Teja, and another daughter, Sreeja, are his three children.
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affairs / Girlfriend | Not Known |
| Wife/ Spouse | Surekha Konidela |
| Marriage date | 20 February 1980 |
| Marriage Place | Not Known |
| Children |  Daughter- Sreeja Kalyan,  Sushmita Konidela  Son- Ram Charan Teja (Actor) |
Chiranjeevi Physical Stats
| Height | In Centimeter – 165 cm In Meter – 1.65 m In feet & inches – 5’5 |
| Weight | In Kilogram- 54 Kg In Pounds – 119lbs |
| Body Measurements (approx.) | Chest: 42 Inches Waist: 34 Inches Biceps: 13 Inches |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Brown |
Chiranjeevi Favorite
| Favorite Actor | Sean Connery |
| Favorite Actress | Mahanati Savitri |
| Favorite Singer | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Favorite Producer | D. Ramanaidu |
| Favorite Cuisine | Biryani |
| Favorite Color | White, Blue, Black |
| Favorite Sport | N/A |
| Favorite Destination | N/A |
| Favorite Comedian | Charlie Chaplin |
| Hobbies | Singing |
Chiranjeevi Education
Chiranjeevi received his education in several locations. In the early 1970s, he was an NCC cadet who had marched in the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. [ He’d always wanted to be an actor since he was a kid. He completed his intermediate studies at Ongole’s C. S. R. Sarma College.
Chiranjeevi went to Chennai in 1976 to pursue a profession in acting after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Sri Y N College in Narsapuram.
| School | CSR Sharma College, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh (Intermediate) |
| Collage | Sri Y N College, Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) |
Chiranjeevi Net Worth
| Net Worth | $16 million |
| Salary | 20-25 crore/film (INR) |
| Income Source | Acting |
| Car Collection | N/A |
Some Unknown facts about Chiranjeevi
- Does Chiranjeevi smoke?: Not Known
- Does Chiranjeevi drink alcohol?: Yes
- His stage name, Chiranjeevi meaning “immortal” was actually suggested by his mother on the basis of their religious belief in the Hindu deity Anjaneya or Lord Hanuman.
- In the year 1999, he was cast in a Hollywood film, “The Return of the Thief of Baghdad”, however, he was halted for some unknown reasons.
- The megastar has won three Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards and nine Filmfare Awards South.
- He was honored with a Padma Bhushan and was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from Andhra University.
- In the early 90s, Chiranjeevi was one of the highest-paid actors in India.
- In 2002, the Ministery of State Finance, Government of India awarded him with the Samman Award for paying the higher Income Tax during the assessment year 1999-2000.
- Chiranjeevi is the first South Indian actor to be invited to attend Oscar Awards.
- He is also the first Indian actor to start a personal website on the Internet.
- In 2014, he was awarded the International Face of Indian Cinema at the 3rd South Indian International Movie Awards.
- He also worked in the Hollywood film ”The Return of the Thief of Baghdad”, but the film was shelved for unknown reasons.
- In 2006, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema.