Star Portrait-Nagarjuna

Akkineni Nagarjuna, who is often known as King Nagarjuna or Yuva Smarat Nagajuna or Nag, is one of the popular actor and a successful producer. He is the son of veteran actor, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who is a very much respected actor having successfully done multiple films through the last two and half decades. 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 at Little Flower Junior College and B.E. from the College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai. He completed M.S. in Automobile Engineering from Eastern Michigan University. Initially he married Lakshmi Ramanaidu Daggubati in 1984 and the couple were blessed with a son Naga Chaitanya who is also an upcoming hero in Tollywood. Later due some difference between couple they were divorced in the year 1990. After that he married to his co-star Amala. With Amala  Akkineni he has a son Akhil Akkineni who featured in Sisindri. Nag is close friend of the most popular heroine of bollywood and tollywood, Tabu.

Film Journey

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”. 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 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”. 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”. Later he appeared in “Gaganam” was released in 2011. Next his film released in row “Rajanna”, “Damarukam” and “Shirdi Sai”. He recently release “Greeku Veerudu” also proved his romantic hero images once again.

Business and Production House Journey

Nagarjuna revived his father's production Annapurna Studios which has become one of the most successful production companies of recent times in Tollywood. He never hesitates to do experiment when he produces films. He gave a chance to a newcomer who had no prior experience in movies to direct him. The newcomer didn't disappoint him and went on to become one of the finest directors of Indian film industry. The director is none other than RamGopal Verma. Nagarjuna is also known for his swiftness in decision making. He agreed to work with Krishna Vamsi(director) after seeing 10-minute-rushes of the director's film “Gulabi”. His decision proved to be bang on target as they made the blockbuster movie “Ninne Pelladutha”. Nagarjuna owns several restaurants in India and abroad and often visits them on a regular basis. Nagarjuna is investing close to 87 crores in real estate projects in Dubai. He is planning to team up with SRK to build a national level power project in Hyderabad. Nagarjuna is a close friend to the business tycoon Anil Ambani. While working on Khuda Gawah in Afganisthan, Nagarjuna fell in love with the region so much that he bought a huge property there and wanted to build a film studio, but later sold the property after the 9/11 attacks. Nagarjuna made his début as a television producer in 2009 with the serial “Yuva”. He is one of the major shareholders of the television channel Maa TV.

Social Service

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 nonprofits founded at Stanford University.

Awards and Honours

Here is the list of Awards he won,

 Vamsi Berkley Award-Vikram-1986

Bharathamuni-Geetanjali-1989

Andhrapradesh Cinegoers Award-Geetanjali-1989

 Vamsi Berkley Award-Shiva-1989

Cinema Express Award-Shiva-1989

 Film Fare Award-Shiva-1989

Akruthi Film Award-Ninne Pelladutha-1996

 Bangaru Nandi- Andhra Pradesh State Government

Award-Annamayya-1997

Bharathamuni Award-Annamayya-1997

Screen Videocon Award-Annamayya-1997

National Award- Central Government Special Jury Award-Annamayya-1997

Andhra Pradesh Film Journalists Association Award-Azad-2000

Bangaru Nandi- Andhra Pradesh State Government Award (Sharing with Sri.Chiranjeevi)-Santosham & Manmadhudu-2002