Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad, known by the stage name Chiranjeevi, has been a leading Telugu-language film actor for over three decades. Since October 28, 2012, he has also been India’s Minister of Tourism.  

 

 

 

Chiranjeevi was born on August 22, 1955 in Mogaltur, Andhra Pradesh. He completed his undergraduate education in Commerce at Sri Yerramilli Narayanamurthy College in Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh in 1976.  He then graduated from the Madras Film Institute in 1978. He debuted in Punadhirallu, which won 1979's Nandi Award, the Telugu film industry's equivalent of the Oscar. 

 

 

 

Chiranjeevi reached the height of his popularity in the 1980s, when starring with such films as “Khaidi” (Prisoner). He was so in demand that even starred in several Hindi, Tamil and Kannada films. In 2006, Andhra University awarded him an honorary doctorate.

 

 

 

Following popular South Indian actors before him - most notably Marudhur Gopalan Ramachandran (popularly known as MGR) and Nandamuri Tarakal Rama Rao (popularly known as NTR) who became Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh respectively -- Chiranjeevi entered politics. In 2008, he created the Praja Rajyam Party, a regional political party.  In the 2009 elections for the Andhra Pradesh assembly, the party came in third, garnering 16% of the vote, winning 18 of 294 assembly seats.  Chiranjeevi himself won a seat from Tirupati, one of two that he contested.

 

 

 

In 2011, the Congress Party absorbed Chiranjeevi's PRP. In March 2012, the ruling Congress party-led UPA government nominated Chiranjeevi to represent Andhra Pradesh in India’s upper house, the Rajya Sabha.  On October 28, 2012, he became Minister of State for Tourism with Independent Charge.  Speculation abounds that Chiranjeevi’s Rajya Sabha seat and elevation to the cabinet were part of a political deal with the Congress Party.

 

 

 

In May 2013 two software professionals accused Chiranjeevi of abusing his power. Security from Andhra's Intelligence Security Wing, meant only to combat Maoists, were allegedly guarding Chiranjeevi and his son, the actor Ram Charan Teju.  After Teju quarreled with the software professionals, the security men reportedly beat the men badly. Several unsubstantiated reports surfaced that Chiranjeevi applied pressure to local police so charges wouldn't be filed against Teju and the guards. 

 

 

 

Chiranjeevi is married. Ram Charan Teju is one of three children. He is reportedly considering a bid in 2014 to become the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. 

 

 

 

Official Biography