| Vallabhaneni Janardhan | |
| Birth Date: | 25 September 1959 |
| Birth Place: | Pothunuru, Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Death Place: | Hyderabad, India |
| Occupation: | Actor, producer, director |
| Spouse: | V. Lalini Chowdary |
| Children: | Abhinaya, Avinash |
| Relatives: | Vijaya Bapineedu (father-in-law) |
Vallabhaneni Janardhan (25 September 1959 – 29 December 2022) was an Indian actor, director, and producer known for his work in Telugu cinema.[1] Over his career, he acted in more than 120 films and directed several projects.[2]
Janardhan's most notable role is in the 1991 film Gang Leader. He also appeared in significant roles in films like Surya IPS (1991), Stuartpuram Dongalu (1991), and Lakshmi Narasimha (2004).[3] In addition to his film career, Janardhan ventured into television with the show Anveshita (1998).[4] He was the son-in-law of filmmaker Vijaya Bapineedu.
Janardhan was born on 25 September 1959 in Pothunuru[5] near Eluru, Andhra Pradesh into an affluent family. He completed his graduation from Loyola College in Vijayawada.[6] During his college days, he actively participated in theatre, which ignited his passion for acting. He went on to establish a drama troupe called Kala Madhuri, earning recognition as both an actor and director in theatrical performances before transitioning to the film industry.[7]
Janardhan began his career in the film industry as an assistant director under K. Raghavendra Rao with the film Gajadonga (1980). He continued to work in the same capacity for notable films such as Tiruguleni Manishi (1981), Ragile Jwala (1981), and Kondaveeti Simham (1981).
Janardhan began his film career in production by founding Arjun Arts. He initially produced Mammagari Manavalu, but the film was ultimately canceled. He then turned to direction, remaking the Kannada film Manasa Sarovara (1982) as Amayaka Chakravarthi (1983) in Telugu, which became a major success. He also directed Thodu Needa (1983), a Telugu remake of the Hindi film Baseraa (1981).[8] Later, Janardhan established another production company, Swetha International, under which he produced and directed films like Srimathi Kavali (1984) and Paripoyina Khaidilu (1985).[9] Then, he directed the film Mahajananiki Maradalu Pilla (1990) under the supervision of his father-in-law, Vijaya Bapineedu. He was also involved in the production of Nee Kosam (1999), the debut film of director Srinu Vaitla, which starred Ravi Teja in the lead role.
Janardhan made his acting debut in his own directorial venture, Srimathi Kavali, stepping into a role when another actor was unavailable. He went on to appear in supporting roles in several acclaimed films, including Gang Leader (1991), Stuartpuram Dongalu (1991), and Surya IPS (1991). He acted in several films directed by his father-in-law, Vijaya Bapineedu. His portrayal of a police officer in Gang Leader garnered significant recognition and is considered one of the most notable performances of his career.
Janardhan married V. Lalini Chowdary, the third daughter of producer-director Vijaya Bapineedu. The couple had three children: Swetha (who died at a young age), Abhinaya, and Avinash. Janardhan died on 29 December 2022 in Hyderabad after a prolonged illness at the age of 63.[10] [11]