Rajasekhar (actor)

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Rajasekhar
Rajashekhar on October 26, 2015 (cropped).jpg
Rajashekhar in 2015
Born (1962-02-04) 4 February 1962 (age 63)
OccupationActor
Years active1985-present
Spouse(s)
(
m. 1991)
Children2
RelativesSelva (brother)

Rajasekhar (born Rajasekhar Varadharajan) is an Indian actor known for his works primarily in Telugu cinema, and a few Tamil films. In a career spanning more than thirty years, he has acted in over eighty films in a variety of roles.[1][2] He starred in several notable films, including Talambralu, Sruthilayalu, Aahuti, Ankusam, Magaadu, Allari Priyudu, Anna, Omkaram, Suryudu, Sivayya, Manasunna Maaraju, Maa Annayya, Simharasi, Evadaithe Nakenti, Gorintaku, and PSV Garuda Vega. Rajasekhar won two Filmfare Best Actor Awards - Telugu for the Magaadu and Anna.

The Nature Waldorf School is owned by Rajasekhar and Jeevitha, to whom he is married. The school is affiliated to Dr. Rajasekhar Charitable Trust and started its operations in July 2010. The mission of the school is to impart non-commercialised education to students.[3]

Early life[edit]

Rajasekhar was born on 4 February 1962, in Lakshmipuram, Theni district of Tamil Nadu.[4] Despite being born in Tamil Nadu, Rajasekher identifies himself as Telugu.[5] His father, Varadarajan Gopal, who hailed from Chittoor district, worked as Sub Inspector of Police in Guntur district where his mother Andalu is from. They migrated to Tamil Nadu and later returned to Andhra.[5][6] His brother Selva has also appeared in Tamil films as a lead actor. Before joining films, he studied M.B.B.S. and practiced in Aminjikarai, Chennai.[4]

Rajasekhar is a practicing Saiva Hindu, after undergoing a transformative personal experience during his formative years.[7]

Personal life[edit]

He married erstwhile actress Jeevitha and has two daughters.[8] Their elder daughter Shivani debuted with movie Adbhutham while their younger daughter Shivatmika debuted with Dorasaani. Recently, Jeevitha was named as one of the nine members of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with Pahlaj Nihalani as chairman.[9]

Career[edit]

Rajashekhar made his acting debut in Tamil with Pudhumai Penn and also had a character role in Puthiya Theerpu with Vijaykanth. His Telugu film debut was in 1985 with Vande Mataram. Since then, he has acted in variety of films such as Pratighatana, Repati Pourulu, Station Master, Sruthilayalu, Kashmora, Aradhana, Talambralu, Aruna Kiranam, Mamatala Kovela and Akka Mogudu.

Movies from which he rose to fame and created an image of an Angry Young Man of Tollywood are Ahuti, Aartanaadam Nyayam Kosam, Ankusam, Magadu, Rowdyism Nasinchali, Morotodu Na Mogudu, Anna, Papa Kosam, Balarama Krishnulu, Agraham, Sivayya, and Evadaithe Nakenti.

He has acted in more than 75 movies though he is mocked for his diction. His voice for most of his Telugu movies was dubbed by Telugu actor Saikumar till 1996 and then was taken over by Srinivasa Moorthy who started dubbing for him in 1997, when he won his first Nandi award for the movie Sivayya. Except for the 2003 film Villain, where Sai's younger brother P. Ravi Shankar dubbed for both Rajasekhar and Vijayan, respectively.

Later, he also gained fame for his family drama films such as Maa Aayana Bangaram, Suryudu, Simharasi, Maa Annayya, Deergha Sumangali Bhava, Manasunna Maaraju and Gorintaku. He was also applauded for his performance in the romance film Allari Priyudu.

He is considered a versatile actor.[10] His performance in Omkaram is a classic example of that, which was directed by Kannada director Upendra. His electrifying performance in the movie Sheshu was applauded critically. His biggest hit of the career came in the year 2007 with Avadaithe Nakenti and his last genuine hit was Gorintaku in the year 2008. Since then, he has had no hits. His last film was a hit; PSV Garuda Vega in 2017.

Ithu Thaanda Police, the Tamil dub of Ankusam was a huge hit.[11] He has since been offered more movies in Tamil, and his Telugu films were dubbed in Tamil such as Magaadu as Meesaikaran.

Filmography[edit]

Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Notes
1984 Pudhumai Penn Tamil film
1985 Puthiya Theerpu Bhaskar Tamil film
1985 Pratighatana Prakash
1985 Vande Mataram Satyam
1986 Ee Prashnaku Baduledi
1986 Dora Bidda
1986 Challani Ramaiah Chakkani Sitamma
1986 Talambralu
1986 Repati Pourulu
1986 Aruna Kiranam
1986 Kashmora Darkha
1986 Mister Bharat
1987 America Abbayi
1987 Prajaswamyam
1987 Aahuti
1987 Yuga Kartalu
1987 Idaa Prapancham
1987 Shrutilayalu Narayana Murthy
1987 Aradhana Lawrence
1988 Nyayam Kosam
1988 Nava Bharatam
1988 Annapurnamma Gaari Alludu
1988 Neeku Naaku Pellanta
1988 Mr. Hero
1988 Indra Dhanassu
1988 Station Master Rama Rao
1988 Bava Marudula Saval Inspector Jai Kumar
1989 Aarta Nadam
1989 Mamatala Kovela
1989 Ankusham
1989 Prajaa Teerpu
1989 Chennapatnam Chinnollu
1989 Yamapasham
1989 Dharma Yuddham
1989 Manchivaaru Maavaaru
1989 Vinta Dongalu
1990 Rowdyism Nashinchali
1990 Shilashasanam
1990 Papa Kosam
1990 Magaadu
1992 Moratodu Naa Mogudu
1992 Akka Mogudu
1992 Ahankari
1992 Balarama Krishnulu Krishna Murthy
1993 Aagraham
1993 Amma Koduku
1993 Allari Priyudu Raja
1994 Gangmaster Raja
1994 Anga Rakshakudu
1994 Aavesham
1994 Anna Komaranna
1995 Raja Simham Major Raj Kumar / Chinna Raja and Shrimannarayana
1995 Ghatotkachudu Karna
1996 Vetagadu
1997 RathaYatra
1997 Omkaram Satya
1997 Maa Aayana Bangaram
1998 Suryudu Suryam
1998 Deergha Sumangali Bhava Rama Rao
1998 Sivayya Sivayya
1999 Neti Gandhi
1999 Bobbili Vamsham Raghava Rayudu
2000 Mechanic Mavayya Raju
2000 Maa Annayya Madhu and Gopalam
2000 Okkadu Chaalu Surya
2000 Manasunna Maaraju
2000 Ravanna Ravanna
2001 Simharasi Narasimharaju
2002 Seshu Seshu
2002 Bharatasimha Reddy Raja / Devudayya
2003 Aayudham Siddartha
2003 Villain Guru and Vishnu
2004 Aaptudu Bose
2005 Nayakudu Raju
2006 Rajababu Rajababu
2007 Evadaithe Nakenti Major Surya
2008 Gorintaku Ashok and Sarvarayudu
2009 Satyameva Jayate DCP Sathya Also writer
2009 Naa Style Veru Sivaram
2010 Maa Annayya Bangaram Sivaji
2013 Mahankali ACP Mahankali
2015 Gaddam Gang Daasu
2017 PSV Garuda Vega Pullela Chandrashekhar
2019 Kalki Kalki IPS
2021 Deyyam Shankar
2022 Shekhar: Man with a Scar Not yet released Sekhar Completed; Remake of 2018 Malayalam film Joseph[12]

Awards[edit]

References[edit]

  1. "Turmoil in T-town - Times of India". The Times of India.
  2. "Rajasekhar finds policeman's role irresistible | Deccan Chronicle".
  3. "Nature Waldorf School Hyderabad Admissions 2011-12".
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Happy Birthday Rajasekhar: Some Lesser-Known Facts About Angry Young Man". News18. 4 February 2022.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Actor Rajasekhar to join politics". The Hindu. 5 February 2008 – via www.thehindu.com.
  6. "Rajasekhar's father Varadarajan Gopal passes away! - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  7. Account of Personal Life - Religious Views Source
  8. "Bholakpur: cholera claims 1 more". The Hindu. 13 May 2009 – via www.thehindu.com.
  9. "Actor-director Jeevitha inducted into Censor Board". The Hindu. 20 January 2015 – via www.thehindu.com.
  10. "StarzSecrets: Star Portrait-Dr.Rajasekhar". 15 August 2013.
  11. Raghavan, Nikhil (11 June 2011). "Repeat success?". The Hindu.
  12. "Dr Rajasekhar And Daughter Shivani To Act Together in Upcoming Telugu Film Sekhar". News18. 13 January 2022.
  13. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
  14. http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south Madras Awards:Winners
  15. https://archive.org/download/42ndAnnualFilmfaresouthawardsTeluguMalayalamwinners/IMG_20161006_074048%5B1%5D.jpg Template:Bare URL image
  16. https://archive.org/download/42ndannualFilmfareTeluguWinnersbestactorbestactress/42nd_filmfare_telugu_winners%5B1%5D.jpg Template:Bare URL image

External links[edit]