Rajasekhar (actor)

Rajasekhar Varadharajan (born 4 February 1962) is an Indian actor known for his works primarily in Telugu cinema. In a career spanning more than thirty-eight 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.

Rajasekhar
Rajashekhar in 2015
Born
Rajashekhar Varadharajan

(1962-02-04) 4 February 1962
OccupationActor
Years active1985-present
Spouse
(m. 1991)
Children2
RelativesSelva (brother)

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.[7] 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.[4]

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 elder daughter Shivani debuted with Adbhutham, in 2021, their younger daughter Shivathmika debuted with Dorasaani, in 2019. 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

  • All films are in Telugu, unless otherwise noted.
Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Notes
1984 Pudhumai PennRajasekharTamil film
1985 Puthiya TheerpuBhaskarTamil film
PratighatanaPrakash
Vande MataramSatyam
1986 Ee Prashnaku Baduledi
Dora Bidda
Challani Ramaiah Chakkani Sitamma
Talambralu
Repati Pourulu
Aruna Kiranam
KashmoraDarkha
Mister Bharat
1987 America Abbayi
Prajaswamyam [14]Ashok
Aahuti
Yuga Kartalu
Idaa Prapancham
ShrutilayaluNarayana Murthy
AradhanaLawrence
1988 Nyayam Kosam
Nava Bharatam
Annapurnamma Gaari Alludu
Neeku Naaku Pellanta
Mr. Hero
Indra Dhanassu
Station MasterRama Rao
Bava Marudula SavalInspector Jai Kumar
1989 Aarta Nadam
Mamatala Kovela
Ankusham
Prajaa Teerpu
Chennapatnam Chinnollu
Yamapasham
Dharma Yuddham
Manchivaaru Maavaaru
Vinta Dongalu
1990 Rowdyism Nashinchali
Shilashasanam
Papa Kosam
Magaadu
1992 Moratodu Naa Mogudu
Akka Mogudu
Ahankari[15]
Balarama KrishnuluKrishna Murthy
1993 Aagraham
Amma Koduku
Allari PriyuduRaja
1994 GangmasterRaja
Anga Rakshakudu
Aavesham
AnnaKomaranna
1995 Raja SimhamMajor Raj Kumar / Chinna Raja and Shrimannarayana
GhatotkachuduKarnaCameo appearance
1996 Vetagadu
1997 Ratha Yatra
OmkaramSatya
Maa Aayana Bangaram
1998 SuryuduSuryam
Deergha Sumangali BhavaRama Rao
SivayyaSivayya
1999 Neti Gandhi
Bobbili VamshamRaghava Rayudu
Mechanic MavayyaRaju/Siva
2000RavannaRavanna
Okkadu ChaaluSurya
Manasunna Maaraju
Maa AnnayyaMadhu and Gopalam
2001 SimharasiNarasimharaju
Subhakaryam
2002 SeshuSeshu
Bharatasimha ReddyRaja / Devudayya
2003 AayudhamSiddartha
VillainSiva and Vishnu
2004 AaptuduBose
2005 NayakuduRaju
2006 RajababuRajababu
2007 Evadaithe NakentiMajor Surya
2008 GorintakuAshok and Sarvarayudu
2009 Satyameva JayateDCP SathyaAlso writer
Naa Style VeruSivaram
2010 Maa Annayya BangaramSivaji
2013 MahankaliACP Mahankali
2015 Gaddam GangDaasu
2017 PSV Garuda VegaPullela Chandrashekhar
2019 KalkiKalki IPS
2020 Arjuna
2021 DeyyamShankar
2022 ShekharSekhar[16]

Awards

References

  1. Bhat, Prashanth. "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. "Happy Birthday Rajasekhar: Some Lesser-Known Facts About Angry Young Man". News18. 4 February 2022.
  5. "'Chennai 28' director Venkat Prabhu to helm project starring Dr Rajasekhar next". The News Minute. 24 May 2017.
  6. "80s hero and heroine's daughter debuts in Tamil movie based on Bigg Boss". Indiaglitz. 11 February 2021.
  7. "Actor Rajasekhar to join politics". The Hindu. 5 February 2008 via www.thehindu.com.
  8. "Rajasekhar's father Varadarajan Gopal passes away! - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  9. Account of Personal Life - Religious Views Source
  10. "Bholakpur: cholera claims 1 more". The Hindu. 13 May 2009 via www.thehindu.com.
  11. "Actor-director Jeevitha inducted into Censor Board". The Hindu. 20 January 2015 via www.thehindu.com.
  12. "StarzSecrets: Star Portrait-Dr.Rajasekhar". 15 August 2013.
  13. Raghavan, Nikhil (11 June 2011). "Repeat success?". The Hindu.
  14. "Prajaswamyam on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  15. http://www.zaminryot.com/pdf/1992/Jun/12-jun-1992.pdf
  16. "Dr Rajasekhar And Daughter Shivani To Act Together in Upcoming Telugu Film Sekhar". News18. 13 January 2022.
  17. "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)
  18. http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south Madras Awards:Winners
  19. https://archive.org/download/42ndAnnualFilmfaresouthawardsTeluguMalayalamwinners/IMG_20161006_074048%5B1%5D.jpg
  20. https://archive.org/download/42ndannualFilmfareTeluguWinnersbestactorbestactress/42nd_filmfare_telugu_winners%5B1%5D.jpg
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