Nagarjuna (Telugu: నాగార్జున; born Akkineni Nagarjuna Rao) is an Indian film actor and producer who works primarily in the Telugu film industry (Tollywood). He has also worked in a few Bollywood and Kollywood films. He has won two National Film Awards, six Nandi Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.
He owns the Production company, Annapurna Studios and Annapurna International School of Film and Media based in Hyderabad. He is the brand ambassador for Kalyan Jewellers group in India.
He completed M.S. in Automobile Engineering from Eastern Michigan University. He is the spouse of actress Amala Akkineni, the father of actors Naga Chaitanya Akkineni and Akhil Akkineni.
In 1989, he was starred in the Maniratnam directed Romantic-drama, Geethanjali which became a major box-office success and was critically acclaimed. The film went on to win the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment in 1990.
In the same year, Nagarjuna acted in Siva, an action blockbuster directed by Ram Gopal Varma. The film earned him his first Filmfare Best Actor Award. In 1990, he subsequently made his Bollywood debut with the Hindi remake of the same film titled Shiva.
He followed it up with action films like Killer, Chaithanya and Nirnayam working with directors such as Fazil and Priyadarshan. Other films which were released in the subsequent years include President Gari Pellam, Varasudu, Gharana Bullodu and Allari Alludu. In 1994 he starred in a Hindi-Telugu bilingual Criminal directed by Mahesh Bhatt. The same year he ventured into comedy for the first time with Hello Brother. It was later remade into Hindi as Judwaa and dubbed into Tamil.
In 1996, Nagarjuna starred and produced Ninne Pelladatha, which was directed by Krishna Vamsi. The movie fetched a National Award for him by winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. The next year, Nagarjuna acted in Annamayya where he portrayed the role of Annamacharya, a 15th-century Telugu singer and poet, won him his third Filmfare Best Actor Award and his first Nandi Award for Best Actor. His subsequent releases were Nuvvu Vastavani, Ninne Premistha and Azad. He starred in the romantic comedies such as Santhosham, Manmadhudu, and Shivamani as well. He produced Satyam in 2003, that starred his nephew Sumanth.
In 2004, Nagarjuna had two releases—Nenunnanu and Mass. The latter was produced by Nagarjuna and directed by choreographer Lawrence Raghavendra. In 2005, Nagarjuna acted in and produced Super. In 2006, he starred in Sri Ramadasu, his second period film based on the 18th-century Telugu composer of the same name. Nagarjuna received the Nandi Award for Best actor for the film. In December 2007, he appeared in Don and a year later, he appeared in King alongside Trisha Krishnan and Srihari.
In the year 2010, he had releases such as Kedi and Ragada. His latest film Gaganam was released on 11 February 2011. Its Tamil version was titled Payanam. In 2011 Nagarjuna signed three movies in a row. They are Rajanna, Damarukam and Shirdi Sai
In 2010, he starred in an HIV/AIDS animated software tutorial created by TeachAIDS, a nonprofit founded at Stanford University.
He owns the Production company, Annapurna Studios and Annapurna International School of Film and Media based in Hyderabad. He is the brand ambassador for Kalyan Jewellers group in India.
Early life and Family
Nagarjuna was born on 29 August 1959 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India to actor Nageswara Rao Akkineni and Annapurna Akkineni. The family later moved to Hyderabad where he attended the Hyderabad Public School and studied his "Intermediate" from Little Flower Junior College and B.E. (Mechanical) from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai.He completed M.S. in Automobile Engineering from Eastern Michigan University. He is the spouse of actress Amala Akkineni, the father of actors Naga Chaitanya Akkineni and Akhil Akkineni.
Acting career
Nagarjuna acted as a child artist in the 1967 Telugu film Sudigundalu directed by veteran Adurthi Subbarao. Years later he made his debut as a lead actor through the 1986 Telugu film Vikram directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao. In 1988, he was starred in Aakhari Poratam directed by K. Raghavendra Rao where he was paired opposite Sridevi and Suhasini.In 1989, he was starred in the Maniratnam directed Romantic-drama, Geethanjali which became a major box-office success and was critically acclaimed. The film went on to win the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment in 1990.
In the same year, Nagarjuna acted in Siva, an action blockbuster directed by Ram Gopal Varma. The film earned him his first Filmfare Best Actor Award. In 1990, he subsequently made his Bollywood debut with the Hindi remake of the same film titled Shiva.
He followed it up with action films like Killer, Chaithanya and Nirnayam working with directors such as Fazil and Priyadarshan. Other films which were released in the subsequent years include President Gari Pellam, Varasudu, Gharana Bullodu and Allari Alludu. In 1994 he starred in a Hindi-Telugu bilingual Criminal directed by Mahesh Bhatt. The same year he ventured into comedy for the first time with Hello Brother. It was later remade into Hindi as Judwaa and dubbed into Tamil.
In 1996, Nagarjuna starred and produced Ninne Pelladatha, which was directed by Krishna Vamsi. The movie fetched a National Award for him by winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. The next year, Nagarjuna acted in Annamayya where he portrayed the role of Annamacharya, a 15th-century Telugu singer and poet, won him his third Filmfare Best Actor Award and his first Nandi Award for Best Actor. His subsequent releases were Nuvvu Vastavani, Ninne Premistha and Azad. He starred in the romantic comedies such as Santhosham, Manmadhudu, and Shivamani as well. He produced Satyam in 2003, that starred his nephew Sumanth.
In 2004, Nagarjuna had two releases—Nenunnanu and Mass. The latter was produced by Nagarjuna and directed by choreographer Lawrence Raghavendra. In 2005, Nagarjuna acted in and produced Super. In 2006, he starred in Sri Ramadasu, his second period film based on the 18th-century Telugu composer of the same name. Nagarjuna received the Nandi Award for Best actor for the film. In December 2007, he appeared in Don and a year later, he appeared in King alongside Trisha Krishnan and Srihari.
In the year 2010, he had releases such as Kedi and Ragada. His latest film Gaganam was released on 11 February 2011. Its Tamil version was titled Payanam. In 2011 Nagarjuna signed three movies in a row. They are Rajanna, Damarukam and Shirdi Sai
Television production
Nagarjuna made his début as a television producer in 2009 with the serial Yuva. He is one of the shareholders of the television channel Maa TV.Charity
Nagarjuna, with his wife Amala, is the co-founder of Blue Cross of Hyderabad, a non-government organization (NGO) in Hyderabad, India, which works towards the welfare of animals and preservation of animal rights. He is also involved in some of the welfare programs undertaken by the MAA TV association.In 2010, he starred in an HIV/AIDS animated software tutorial created by TeachAIDS, a nonprofit founded at Stanford University.
Businesses
Nagarjuna is also a well known business man in the state of Andhra Pradesh. His businesses include real estate, Film Studio Annapurna Studios, Annapurna International School of Film and Media and wide variety of restaurants which generally start with "N" (Ex: N-Grill, N-Asian etc).Awards
- National Film Awards
- 1997 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for producing Ninne Pelladatha
- 1998 - National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film) for acting Annamayya
- Nandi Awards
- 1997 - Nandi Award for Best Actor for Annamayya
- 1999 - Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - Kansya (Bronze) for producing Prema Kadha
- 2000 - Nandi Special Jury Award for producing Yuvakudu
- 2002 - Nandi Award for Best Actor for Santhosham
- 2002 - Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - Swarna (Gold) for producing Manmadhudu
- 2006 - Nandi Award for Best Actor for Sri Ramadasu
- Filmfare Awards South
- 1989 - Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) for Shiva
- 1996 - Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) for Ninne Pelladatha
- 1997 - Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) for Annamayya
- Other Awards
- 1989 - Cinema Express Award for Shiva
- 1996 - Akruthi Film Award for Ninne Pelladatha
- 1997 - Screen Videocon Award for Annamayya
- 2000 - Andhra Pradesh Film Journalists Association Award for Azad
- 2011- TSR Kala Ratna Award
- Bharathamuni Awards
- 1989 - Best Actor for Geethanjali
- 1997 - Best Actor for Annamayya
- Vamsee Berkeley Awards
- 1986 - Best Actor for Vikram
- 1989 - Best Actor for Shiva
- AP Cinegoers Awards
- 1989 - Best Actor for Geethanjali
Filmography
As actor
| Year | Title | Role | Co-stars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Vikram | Vikram | Shobhana | |
| 1986 | Captain Nagarjuna | Nagarjuna | Khusboo, Rajendra Prasad | |
| 1987 | Aranyakanda | Radhika | ||
| 1987 | Majnu | Rajesh | Rajani | |
| 1987 | sankeerthana | Kali | Ramya Krishna | |
| 1987 | Collector Gari Abbai | Rajesh | Rajani | |
| 1987 | Agni Putrudu | Kalidaasu | Rajani | |
| 1987 | Kirayi Dada | Vijay | Khusboo, Amala | |
| 1988 | Aakhari Poratam | Vihari | Sridevi, Suhasini | |
| 1988 | Chinna Babu | Chinnababu | Amala Akkineni | |
| 1988 | Murali Krishnudu | Murali Krishna | Rajani | |
| 1988 | Janaki Ramudu | Ramu | Vijayashanti | |
| 1989 | Vijay | Vijay | Vijayashanti | |
| 1989 | Vicky Dada | Vikram | Juhi Chawla, Radha | |
| 1989 | Geethanjali | Prakash | Girija, Silk Smitha | |
| 1989 | Agni | Pawan | Shantipriya | |
| 1989 | Siva | Siva | Amala Akkineni | Winner: Filmfare Best Actor |
| 1990 | Shiva | Shiva | Amala Akkineni | Hindi Film |
| 1990 | Prema Yuddham | Kalyan | Amala Akkineni | |
| 1990 | Neti Siddhartha | Siddhaartha | Shobhana, Ayesha Jhulka | |
| 1990 | Iddaru Iddare | Ramya Krishna, ANR | ||
| 1991 | Nirnayam | Vamsi Krishna | Amala Akkineni | |
| 1991 | Chaithanya | Chaitanya | Gouthami, Silk Smitha | |
| 1991 | Santhi Kranthi | Kranti | Juhi Chawla | |
| 1991 | Jaitrayatra | Vijay | Vijayashanti | |
| 1992 | Killer | Eeshwar / Prem | Nagma, Sharada | |
| 1992 | Khuda Gawah | Raja Mirza | Sridevi, Shilpa Shirodkar, Amitabh Bachchan | Hindi film |
| 1992 | Antham | Raghav | Urmila Matondkar | |
| 1992 | Drohi | Raghav / Shekhar | Urmila Matondkar | Hindi film |
| 1992 | President Gari Pellam | Raja | Meena | |
| 1993 | Rakshana | Bose | Shobhana, Roja(Guest Role), Silk Smitha | |
| 1993 | Varasudu | Vinay | Nagma, Krishna | |
| 1993 | Allari Alludu | Kalyan | Nagma, Meena, Vanisri | |
| 1993 | Govinda Govinda | Seenu | Sridevi | |
| 1994 | Hello Brother | Deva / Ravi Varma | Ramya Krishna, Soundarya | |
| 1995 | Criminal | Dr. Ajay Kumar | Manisha Koirala, Ramya Krishna | Hindi film |
| 1995 | Sisindri | Raja | Aamani, Tabu, Pooja Batra | |
| 1995 | Gharana Bullodu | Raju | Ramya Krishna, Aamani | |
| 1996 | Ninne Pelladatha | Seenu | Tabu | Also producer, Winner: Filmfare Best Film |
| 1996 | Mr. Bechara | Ajay | Sridevi, Anil kapoor | Hindi film |
| 1996 | Vajram | Chakri | Roja, Indraja (Guest Role) | |
| 1996 | Ramudochhadu | Ram | Soundarya, Ravali | |
| 1997 | Ratchagan | Ajay | Sushmita Sen | Tamil film |
| 1997 | Annamayya | Annamayya | Ramya Krishna, Kasthuri, Suman, Mohan Babu | Winner: Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Actor) Winner, Nandi Award for Best Actor Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) |
| 1998 | Zakhm | Raman Desai | Sonali Bendre, Ajay Devgan, Pooja Bhatt | Hindi film |
| 1998 | Chandralekha | Seeta Rama Rao | Ramya Krishna, Isha Koppikar | |
| 1998 | Angaarey | Raja Lokhande | Sonali Bendre, Akshay Kumar | Hindi film |
| 1998 | Auto Driver | Jagan | Simran, Deepti Bhatnagar | |
| 1998 | Aavida Maa Aavide | Vikranth | Tabu, Heera Rajagopal | |
| 1999 | Ravoyi Chandamama | Sashi | Anjala Zhaveri, Keerthi Reddy, Aishwarya Rai | |
| 1999 | Seetaramaraju | Ramaraju | Sanghavi, Sakshi Shivanand | |
| 2000 | Azad | Chandra Sekhar Azad | Soundarya, Shilpa Shetty | Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - Silver AP Film Journalists Association Award |
| 2000 | Ninne Premistha | Srinivas | Soundarya, Srikanth | |
| 2000 | Nuvvu Vastavani | Chinni Krishna | Simran, Raksha (in a guest role) | |
| 2001 | Eduruleni Manishi | Surya Murthy, Satya Murthy |
Soundarya, Shahanaz | |
| 2001 | Akasa Veedhilo | Chandu | Raveena Tandon, Kasthuri, Rajendra Prasad | |
| 2001 | Bava Nachadu | Ajay | Simran, Reema Sen, Suman Ranganathan | |
| 2001 | Adhipathi | Jagan | Soundarya, Mohan Babu, Preeti Jhangiani | Guest appearance |
| 2001 | Snehamante Idera | Aravind | Bhumika Chawla, Sumanth | |
| 2002 | Agni Varsha | Yavakri | Raveena Tandon | Hindi film |
| 2002 | Santosham | Karthikeya | Gracy Singh, Shriya Saran | Winner: Nandi Award for Best Actor |
| 2003 | Manmadhudu | Abhiram | Sonali Bendre, Anshu | |
| 2003 | LOC Kargil | Maj. Padmaphani Acharya | Hindi film | |
| 2003 | Shivamani 9848022338 | Shivamani | Rakshita, Asin Thottumkal | |
| 2004 | Mass | Mass (Ganesh) | Jyothika, Charmy Kaur | |
| 2004 | Nenunnanu | Venu | Shriya Saran, Aarthi Agarwal, Anitha | |
| 2005 | Super | Akhil | Anushka Shetty, Ayesha Takia, Sonu Sood | |
| 2005 | Amudhey | Ravindra Varadharajan | Jagapathi Babu, Shalini | |
| 2006 | Style | Mass | Cameo appearance | |
| 2006 | Sri Ramadasu | Gopanna, Sri Ramadasu |
Sneha, Suman, Veda(Archana) | Winner: Nandi Award for Best Actor |
| 2006 | Boss - I Love You | Gopal Krishna | Saloni Aswani, Nayantara, Poonam Bajwa, Shriya Saran | |
| 2007 | Don | Suri | Anushka Shetty, Nikitha | |
| 2008 | Krishnarjuna | Krishna | Vishnu Manchu, Mamta Mohandas | |
| 2008 | King | Bottu Seenu/King/Sarath | Trisha Krishnan, Mamta Mohandas | |
| 2010 | Kedi | Ramesh (Rummy) | Mamta Mohandas | |
| 2010 | Thakita Thakita | As himself | Bhumika Chawla, Anushka Shetty | Special appearance |
| 2010 | Ragada | Satya Reddy | Anushka Shetty, Priyamani, Charmy Kaur | |
| 2011 | Payanam | Major Raveendran | Poonam Kaur | Tamil Movie |
| 2011 | Gaganam | Major Raveendra | ||
| 2011 | Rajanna | Rajanna | Sneha | |
| 2012 | Dhamarukam | Anushka Shetty | Filming | |
| 2012 | Shirdi Sai | Shirdi Sai Baba | Filming | |
| 2012 | Sri Jagadguru Adi Shankara | Srihari, Prakash Raj, Kamna Jethmalani | Filming |
As producer
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Kalyani | |
| 1980 | Pilla Zameendaaru | |
| Buchhibabu | ||
| 1981 | Money Hai To Honey Hai | |
| Premaabhishekam | ||
| 1983 | Shri Ranganeethulu | |
| Rakshana | ||
| 1995 | Sisindri | |
| 1996 | Ninne Pelladatha | |
| 1998 | Aaha | |
| Sri Seetarama Kalyanam Chutamurarandi | ||
| Chandralekha | ||
| 1999 | Prema Kadha | |
| Sitaramaraju | ||
| 2000 | Yuvakudu | |
| 2002 | Manmadhudu | |
| 2003 | Satyam | |
| 2004 | Mass | |
| 2005 | Super | |
| Amudhey | ||
| 2011 | Rajanna |
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