Rajasekhar (actor) explained

Rajasekhar
Birth Name:Rajashekhar Varadharajan
Birth Date:1962 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Lakshmipuram, Madras State, India
Occupation:Actor
Yearsactive:1985-present
Children:2
Relations:Selva (brother)

Rajasekhar Varadharajan (born 4 February 1962) is an Indian actor known for his works primarily in Telugu cinema. In a career spanning more than 38 years, he has acted in over 80 Telugu 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 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

Rajasekhar was born on 4 February 1962, in Lakshmipuram, Theni district of Tamil Nadu.[4] While some sources reported that his mother tongue is Tamil,[5] [6] Rajasekher identifies himself as Telugu. His father, Varadharajan 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.[7] [8] 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.

Rajasekhar is a practicing Saiva Hindu, after undergoing a transformative personal experience during his formative years.[9]

Personal life

He married erstwhile actress Jeevitha and has two daughters.[10] Their younger daughter Shivathmika debuted with Dorasaani, in 2019 while their elder daughter Shivani debuted with Adbhutham, in 2021.

Recently, Jeevitha was named as one of the nine members of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with Pahlaj Nihalani as chairman.[11]

Career

Rajashekhar made his acting debut in Tamil with Pudhumai Penn (1984) and also had a character role in Puthiya Theerpu (1985) 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.[12] 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 Evadaithe Nakenti and his last genuine hit as a lead actor was Gorintaku in the year 2008 until he again tasted success with PSV Garuda Vega in 2017.

Ithu Thaanda Police, the Tamil dub of Ankusam was a huge hit.[13] His Telugu films were dubbed in Tamil such as Magaadu as Meesaikaran.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
1984Pudhumai Penn Rajasekhar Tamil film
1985Puthiya Theerpu Bhaskar Tamil film
Pratighatana Prakash
Vande Mataram Satyam
1986Ee Prashnaku Baduledi
Dora Bidda
Challani Ramaiah Chakkani Sitamma
Talambralu
Repati Pourulu
Aruna Kiranam
Kashmora Darkha
Mister Bharat -1987America Abbayi
Prajaswamyam [14] Ashok
Aahuti
Yuga Kartalu
Idaa Prapancham
Shrutilayalu Narayana Murthy
Aradhana Lawrence
1988Nyayam Kosam
Nava Bharatam
Annapurnamma Gaari Alludu
Neeku Naaku Pellanta
Mr. Hero
Indra Dhanassu
Station Master Rama Rao
Bava Marudula Saval Inspector Jai Kumar
1989Aarta Nadam
Mamatala Kovela
Ankusham
Prajaa Teerpu
Chennapatnam Chinnollu
Yamapasham
Dharma Yuddham
Manchivaaru Maavaaru
Vinta Dongalu
1990Rowdyism Nashinchali
Shilashasanam
Papa Kosam
Magaadu
1992Moratodu Naa Mogudu
Akka Mogudu
Ahankari [15]
Balarama Krishnulu Krishna Murthy
1993Aagraham
Amma Koduku
Allari Priyudu Raja
1994Gangmaster Raja
Anga Rakshakudu
Aavesham
Anna Komaranna
1995Raja Simham Major Raj Kumar / Chinna Raja and Shrimannarayana
Ghatotkachudu Cameo appearance
1996Vetagadu
1997Ratha Yatra
Omkaram Satya
Maa Aayana Bangaram
1998Suryudu Suryam
Deergha Sumangali Bhava Rama Rao
Sivayya Sivayya
1999Neti Gandhi
Bobbili Vamsham Raghava Rayudu
Mechanic Mavayya Raju/Siva
2000 Ravanna Ravanna
Okkadu Chaalu Surya
Manasunna Maaraju
Maa Annayya Madhu and Gopalam
2001Simharasi Narasimharaju
Subhakaryam
2002Seshu Seshu
Bharatasimha Reddy Raja / Devudayya
2003Aayudham Siddartha
Villain Siva and Vishnu
2004Aaptudu Bose
2005Nayakudu Raju
2006Rajababu Rajababu
2007Evadaithe Nakenti Major Surya
2008Gorintaku Ashok and Sarvarayudu
2009Satyameva Jayate DCP Sathya Also writer
Naa Style Veru Sivaram
2010Maa Annayya Bangaram Sivaji
2013Mahankali ACP Mahankali
2015Gaddam Gang Daasu
2017PSV Garuda Vega Pullela Chandrashekhar
2019Kalki Kalki IPS
2020Arjuna
2021Deyyam Shankar
2022Shekhar Sekhar [16]
2023Extra Ordinary ManIG Vijay Chakravarthy

Awards

Notes and References

  1. News: Turmoil in T-town. The Times of India. Bhat . Prashanth .
  2. Web site: Rajasekhar finds policeman's role irresistible. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030852/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/121120/entertainment-tollywood/article/rajasekhar-finds-policemans-role-irresistible. dead. 3 December 2013.
  3. Web site: Nature Waldorf School Hyderabad Admissions 2011-12.
  4. Web site: 2022-02-04. Happy Birthday Rajasekhar: Some Lesser-Known Facts About Angry Young Man. News18.
  5. Web site: 'Chennai 28' director Venkat Prabhu to helm project starring Dr Rajasekhar next. The News Minute. 24 May 2017.
  6. Web site: 80s hero and heroine's daughter debuts in Tamil movie based on Bigg Boss. 11 February 2021. Indiaglitz.
  7. News: 5 February 2008. Actor Rajasekhar to join politics. The Hindu. www.thehindu.com.
  8. News: Rajasekhar's father Varadarajan Gopal passes away!. 2022-02-04. The Times of India. en.
  9. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/fervour-gaiety-mark-sivaratri-celebrations/article17365619.ece/amp/ Account of Personal Life
  10. News: Bholakpur: cholera claims 1 more. 13 May 2009. www.thehindu.com. The Hindu.
  11. News: Actor-director Jeevitha inducted into Censor Board. 20 January 2015. www.thehindu.com. The Hindu.
  12. Web site: StarzSecrets: Star Portrait-Dr.Rajasekhar. 15 August 2013.
  13. Web site: Repeat success?. The Hindu. 11 June 2011. Raghavan. Nikhil.
  14. Web site: Prajaswamyam on Moviebuff.com . 2023-04-19 . Moviebuff.com.
  15. http://www.zaminryot.com/pdf/1992/Jun/12-jun-1992.pdf
  16. Web site: Dr Rajasekhar And Daughter Shivani To Act Together in Upcoming Telugu Film Sekhar . News18 . 13 January 2022.
  17. Web site: నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008). A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. 21 August 2020. (in Telugu)
  18. http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south Madras Awards:Winners
  19. https://archive.org/details/42nd-annual-filmfare-awards-south-telugu-malayalam-winners
  20. https://archive.org/download/42ndannualFilmfareTeluguWinnersbestactorbestactress/42nd_filmfare_telugu_winners%5B1%5D.jpg