| Anuj Sharma | |
| Birth Date: | 15 May 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Bhatapara, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India |
| Occupation: | Indian film and television actor and director |
| Party: | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse: | Dr. Smita Sharma |
| Children: | 2 |
| Parents: | Late Teken Lal Sharma Dehuti Sharma |
| Website: | http://www.anujsharma.in |
| Awards: | Padma Shri |
| Office: | Member of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly |
| Predecessor: | Anita Yogendra Sharma |
| Constituency: | Dharsiwa |
| Term Start: | 3 December 2023 |
Ramanuj Sharma (born 15 May 1976), popularly known as Anuj Sharma, is an Indian politician and film, stage and television personality in Chhattisgarhi cinema He was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, by the Government of India in 2014, for his services in the field of arts.[1] He is the first film personality from Chhattisgarh to receive the Padma Shri award.[2]
He is also an MLA from Dharsiwa Assembly constituency representing Bharatiya Janata Party.
Sharma was born to Teken Lal Sharma and Dehuti Sharma at Bhatapara in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.[3] [4] He did his schooling at Bhatapara and later, secured a master's degree in history from the Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur. He married Smita Sharma and they have two children. They reside at Labhandi, Raipur. Earlier he was a resident of Sant Kabir Nagar, Raipur.[5]
In June 2023, Sharma joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and won the 2023 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election from Dharsiwa Assembly constituency defeating Chhaya Verma of the Indian National Congress by a margin of 44,343 votes.[6]
Sharma started acting and singing at the age of ten. After a brief stint as the marketing executive,[7] he made his debut in the 2000 film, Mor Chhaihan Bhuiyan, considered to be the first of the modern era in Chhattisgarhi film history, which was till then at a nascent stage. The first Chhattisgarhi film was made in 1965 and the second one in 1971. The film became a commercial success.[8]
The success of the debut film made him a star and he had eight releases a year and 4 silver jubilee hits, the only lead actor to do so in Chhattisgarhi films. Some of his movies like Maya, Mister Tetkuram and Mahu Diwana Tahu Diwani, were a big success and got him best actor award four times. The prolificacy of his acting career also returned two of his films being released on the same day. Sharma's films have been dubbed into many other languages such as Sambalpuri, Jharkhandi, Bundelkhandi, Gujarati, and Bhojpuri. He has also acted in a number of Bhojpuri films.
He has active presence on stage and television in various parts of central India. He is also associated with UNICEF for the campaigns in Chhattisgarh. He has also performed as radio jockey in the National FM channel and was the first Chhattisgarhi compere.[9] He has compered around 125 television shows so far. He has also made advertisement and promotion films for the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and for other commercial institutions as well.
A Chhattisgarhi folk singer by practice, Sharma is reported to be at ease singing all styles of Chhattisgarhi folk songs. He has over 100 video albums, has sung over 200 film and folk songs, and has composed music for 10 audio albums.[4] He also owns a music label called "Aaarug Music".[10]
| 2000 | Mor Chhainha Bhuinya | Kartik | debut film | [11] [12] | |
| 2001 | Maya Dede Maya Lele | Rakesh | [13] | ||
| Mor Sang Chalav | Suraj | [14] | |||
| Angna | |||||
| 2002 | Mai Ke Maryada | Bhojpuri debut film | |||
| 2003 | Tor Sang Jeena Sangi Tor Sang Marna | ||||
| Jhan Bhulav Ma Bap La | |||||
| 2006 | Hamar Dulahaniya Bade Paise Wali | Bhojpuri film | |||
| 2007 | Raghubeer | ||||
| 2008 | Kisan Arjun | Bhojpuri film | |||
| 2009 | Mayaa | [15] | |||
| 2010 | Bidhi Ke Bidhan | ||||
| 2010 | Bhanwar | ||||
| 2010 | Samiyaar Khel | Sambalpuri film | |||
| 2010 | Mor Karam Mor Dharam | ||||
| 2010 | Maya De De Mayaru | ||||
| 2010 | Turi No.1 | ||||
| 2010 | Mahu Deewana Tahu Deewani | ||||
| Hero No.1 | |||||
| 2011 | Sajana Mor | ||||
| Mister Tekuram | also writer and producer | [16] | |||
| Ajab Jingi Gajab Jingi | |||||
| 2013 | Mor Man Ke Meet | ||||
| Phulwari | [17] | ||||
| 2014 | Jai Maa Shakambari | Hindi debut film | |||
| 2015 | Raja Chhattisgarhiya | ||||
| 2016 | Raja Chhattisgarhiya 2 | [18] | |||
| 2017 | Rang Rasiya | Bhola Rasiya | [19] | ||
| 2018 | Prem Ke Bandhna | [20] | |||
| 2018 | Dabang Droga | [21] | |||
| 2019 | Ticket To Chhollywood | himself | [22] | ||
| 2019 | Rangobati | [23] | |||
| 2019 | Raja Bhaiya Ek Awara | [24] | |||
| 2022 | Mar Dare Maya Ma | Sattu | [25] | ||
| 2023 | Mor Yaar Superstar |
| 2018 | Maya Hoge Re | Sorry Love You Jaan | Ghanshyam Mahanand and Pramod Manikpur | Duet with Champa Nishad | |
| 2019 | Mann Ke Kora Kagaj | Single | Himself | ||
| 2021 | Raja Rani | Nagesh | Duet with Gyanita Dwivedi | ||
| Maya Lage Rahithe | Duet with Alka Chandrakar | ||||
| Aarug Kalsa | Somdatt Panda | ||||
| 2022 | Mate Rahibe | Saurabh Mahto | |||
| Ful Hasan Lage | Mar Daare Maya Ma | Sunil Soni, Navaldas Manikpuri | Duet with Alka Chandrakar Parganiha | ||
| Gheri Beri (Duet Version) | Single | Duet with Monika Verma | |||
| Ka Janav Kaise | Naveen Sahu | Duet with Gyanita Dwivedi | |||
| Nav Din Navrat | Saurabh Mahto | ||||
| Tor Bina Suna | Mar Daare Maya Ma | Prabodh Ranjan Sahu | Duet with Alka Chandrakar | ||
| Man Ke Kora Kagaj | Single | Prafulla Behra | |||
| Tahin Batana | Prafulla Behra | ||||
| 2023 | A Bairi | Duet with Kanchan Joshi | |||
| Sawan Sawan Aage |
Anuj (Ramanuj) Sharma was honoured by the Government of India by awarding him the Padma Shri, in 2014, in recognition of his efforts to the cause of art. Anuj Sharma has also received many other awards such as:
Film awards
| Category | Film | Awarded by | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Actor | Mor Chhainha Bhuinya[26] | Chhattisgarh Film Awards | 2002 | |
| Best Playback Singer | Angana | Chhattisgarh Film Awards | 2002 | |
| Best Actor | Mor Chhainha Bhuinya | 2003 | ||
| Best Actor | Jhan Bhulav Maa Baap La | Chhattisgarh Film Awards | 2005 | |
| Best Actor | Mahun Diwana Tahun Diwani | Chhattisgarh Film Awards | 2010 | |
| Best Film | Mister Tetkuram[27] | Grandyara Ranjhanjhar Chhattisgarhi Cine Award | 2012 | |
| Best Popular Actor | Mahun Diwana Tahun Diwani[28] | Chhattisgarh Film Awards | 2013Good Actors. |
Other awards
Anuj Sharma was listed by the Times of India among the Kings of the Provinces when they published a special report in connection with the 100 years of Indian Cinema celebrations, placing him among the stalwarts of Indian cinema such as M. G. Ramachandran, N. T. Rama Rao and Mohanlal.