Editing Chiranjeevi (section)

<!-- Should be 40 characters (including spaces) or fewer see [[WP:SD40]] -->{{Short description|Indian actor and philanthropist (born 1955)}}
{{for-text|the immortals of Hindu mythology|[[Chiranjivi]]|other uses|[[Chiranjeevi (disambiguation)]]}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
<!--NOTE: please do not add the title "Dr" to his name: see [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style (biographies)#Academic titles]]-->| name                = Chiranjeevi
| image               = Chiranjeevi at ANR Awards 2024.jpg
| caption             = Chiranjeevi in 2024
| birth_name          = Konidela Sivasankara Varaprasad
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1955|08|22}}<ref name="states">{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/celebs/chiranjeevi/biography.html |title=Chiranjeevi Biography|website=Oneindia|access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222071538/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/celebs/chiranjeevi/biography.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| birth_place         = [[Mogalthur]], [[Andhra State]], India<br>(present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]], India)
| alma_mater          = {{unbulleted list |[[Sri Y N College]]| [[Madras Film Institute]]}}
| occupation          = {{hlist| Actor|politician|television host}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|Surekha|1980}}
| children            = 3, including [[Ram Charan]]
| relatives           = See [[Konidela–Allu family]]
| awards              = {{ubl|[[Padma Vibhushan]] (2024)|[[Padma Bhushan]] (2006)|[[#Civilian honours|Full list]]}}
| office2             = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| constituency2       = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start2         = 3 April 2012
| term_end2           = 2 April 2018
| predecessor2        = [[Raashid Alvi]]
| successor2          = [[Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy]]
| party               = 
| otherparty          = [[Indian National Congress]]<br />[[Praja Rajyam Party]]
| office1             = [[Ministry of Tourism (India)|Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism]]
| term_start1         = 27 October 2012
| term_end1           = 26 May 2014
| primeminister1      = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| predecessor1        = [[Subodh Kant Sahay]]
| successor1          = [[Shripad Yasso Naik]]
| office3             = [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]], [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start3         = 2009
| term_end3           = 2012
| predecessor3        = M. Venkataramana
| successor3          = [[Bhumana Karunakar Reddy]]
| constituency3       = [[Tirupati Assembly constituency|Tirupati]]
| website             = 
| nickname            = Mega Star<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/etimes/bollywood/megastar-chiranjeevi-reacts-to-prestigious-padma-vibhushan-honor-truly-humbled/videoshow/107160081.cms|title=Megastar Chiranjeevi reacts to prestigious Padma Vibhushan honor: Truly Humbled &#124; Etimes - Times of India Videos|website=The Times of India}}</ref> <br> Supreme Hero<ref name="Times of India Nickname">{{cite news|title=Megastar puts on an accent|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/photo-features/chiranjeevi-birthday-special-amazing-unknown-facts/supreme-hero-to-megastar/photostory/53807538.cms|access-date=9 June 2021|archive-date=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109192606/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/photo-features/chiranjeevi-birthday-special-amazing-unknown-facts/supreme-hero-to-megastar/photostory/53807538.cms?from=mdr|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

'''Konidela Chiranjeevi''' (born '''Konidela Sivasankara Varaprasad'''; 22 August 1955) is an Indian actor, philanthropist and former politician known for his work in [[Telugu cinema]]. Known as the "'''Mega Star'''", he is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential actors in the history of [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-20 |title=Chiranjeevi honoured with Indian Film Personality of the Year Award for 2022 at the 53rd IFFI |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/chiranjeevi-honoured-with-the-indian-film-personality-of-the-year-at-the-53rd-iffi/articleshow/95643674.cms |access-date=2024-08-15 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |quote=He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential actors of Indian cinema.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-26 |title=Chiranjeevi awarded Padma Vibushan |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/chiranjeevi-awarded-with-padma-vibushan-khushbu-sundar-mammootty-nani-celebs-congratulate-2493792-2024-01-26 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=India Today |language=en |quote=In a career spanning over four decades, Chiranjeevi is regarded as one of the most successful actors in Indian cinema.}}</ref> Chiranjeevi holds the record for the most "Industry Hits" in Telugu cinema, with eight films emerging as the top-grossers of their time—a feat unmatched by any actor in the industry's 100-year history.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=S. Hari Prasad |date=18 April 2024 |title=Most Industry hits telugu hero: కెరీర్లో ఎక్కువ ఇండస్ట్రీ హిట్స్ అందుకున్న తెలుగు హీరోలు వీళ్లే.. టాప్‌లో మెగాస్టార్ |url=https://telugu.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-hero-with-most-industry-hits-chiranjeevi-on-top-anr-ntr-prabhas-allu-arjun-balakrishna-in-the-list-121713439405225.html |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=te}}</ref> He is also celebrated as one of the finest dancers in Indian cinema.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-01-10 |title=Chiranjeevi and Shahid are best dancers: Prabhu Dheva |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/shahid-kapoor-is-the-best-dancerprabhu-dheva/articleshow/28635308.cms |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> He has received numerous honours, including the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 2006 and the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 2024 from the [[Government of India]], as well as the [[IFFI Indian Film Personality of the Year Award]] in 2022. His other accolades include the [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Award]], three [[Nandi Awards]], and nine [[Filmfare Awards South]], including the [[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South|Lifetime Achievement Award]] and the [[Filmfare Special Award – South|Honorary Award]]. In 2013, [[CNN-News18|CNN-IBN]] recognized him as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema". In 2024, he was honoured with a [[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Record]] as the most prolific actor-dancer in the Indian film industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhan |first=Echo |date=18 October 2024 |title=Chiranjeevi: Prolific megastar who shaped Indian cinema officially a record breaker |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/commercial/2024/10/chiranjeevi-prolific-megastar-who-shaped-indian-cinema-officially-a-record-breaker |access-date=19 October 2024 |website=[[Guinness World Records]]}}</ref> 

Chiranjeevi made his acting debut in 1978, initially gaining recognition for his supporting, [[Antihero|anti-hero]], and antagonist roles. He later transitioned to lead roles with notable success. His breakthrough came with the 1983 film [[Khaidi (1983 film)|''Khaidi'']], which became the highest-grossing Telugu film at the time and established him as a leading actor in the industry. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Chiranjeevi starred in various "Industry Hits"{{Em dash}}highest-grossers of all time{{Em dash}}like ''[[Pasivadi Pranam]]'' (1987), [[Yamudiki Mogudu (1988 film)|''Yamudiki Mogudu'']] (1988), ''[[Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu]]'' (1989), ''[[Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari]]'' (1990), ''[[Gang Leader]]'' (1991), and ''[[Gharana Mogudu]]'' (1992).<ref name=":5" /> Notably, ''Gharana Mogudu'' was the first [[Cinema of South India|South Indian]] film to earn over {{Indian Rupee}}10 [[crore]] in [[Box office#Distributor rentals|distributor share]],<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=10 April 2020 |title=28 Years for Gharana Mogudu: 4 fascinating things about the Chiranjeevi starrer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/28-years-for-gharana-mogudu-4-fascinating-things-about-the-chiranjeevi-starrer/photostory/75079293.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028104425/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/28-years-for-gharana-mogudu-4-fascinating-things-about-the-chiranjeevi-starrer/photostory/75079293.cms |archive-date=28 October 2020 |website=The Times of India |language=en |quote=Gharana Mogudu was a commercial success, and it went on to become the first South Indian film to collect over Rs 10 crore share at the box office. Chiranjeevi is probably the first hero in the history of Indian cinema to take Rs 1 crore remuneration for a film.}}</ref> prompting [[The Week (Indian magazine)|''The Week'']] magazine to label him "Bigger than [[Amitabh Bachchan|Bachchan]]" and "the new money machine."<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 September 1992 |title=A crore and more: Chiranjeevi, the new money machine of the movie world |url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/0gllr |website=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |pages=28, 29 |quote=If his popularity is astounding, the price he commands would make heads spin: the megastar has crashed through the one-crore barrier. While Amitabh Bachchan, who had Hindi filmdom at his feet for a decade, is paid Rs. 75 lakh for doing a film, Chiranjeevi gets almost double: a mind-boggling Rs. 1.25 crore. The only one who comes anywhere near the magic mark is Rajnikant, the Tamil superstar, who makes Rs. 1 crore.}}</ref>

For his role in ''[[Aapadbandhavudu]]'' (1992), Chiranjeevi was paid {{Indian Rupee}}1.25 crore, making him the highest-paid actor in India at the time and the first Indian actor to command a {{Indian Rupee}}1 crore remuneration for a film.<ref>
*{{Cite web |date=13 September 1992 |title=A crore and more: Chiranjeevi, the new money machine of the movie world |url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/0gllr |website=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |pages=28, 29 |quote=If his popularity is astounding, the price he commands would make heads spin: the megastar has crashed through the one-crore barrier. While Amitabh Bachchan, who had Hindi filmdom at his feet for a decade, is paid Rs. 75 lakh for doing a film, Chiranjeevi gets almost double: a mind-boggling Rs. 1.25 crore. The only one who comes anywhere near the magic mark is Rajnikant, the Tamil superstar, who makes Rs. 1 crore.}}
*{{Cite web |last=Nikam |first=Girish |date=31 August 1992 |title=Southern superstars Chiranjeevi, Rajnikant and Vijayashanti are paid more than Amitabh Bachchan or Sridevi |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/story/19920831-bachchans-and-sridevis-outstripped-by-chiranjeevi-and-rajnikanth-in-terms-of-earning-power-766809-2013-01-02 |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=[[India Today]] |language=en |quote=Tamil actor Rajnikanth commands a staggering Rs 1 crore a film. If that's stupefying, then check out the Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi. His price? Rs 1.25 crore a film. Even Bachchan with his reported price of Rs 75 lakh can't give them a run for their money.}}
*{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Abhimanyu |date=26 January 2024 |title=This south star was first Indian actor to earn Rs 1 crore per film, years before Shah Rukh, Salman, Amitabh, Rajinikanth |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-first-indian-actor-to-earn-rs-1-crore-megastar-chiranjeevi-not-shah-rukh-khan-salman-amitabh-rajinikanth-3075789 |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=[[DNA India]] |language=en |quote=Chiranjeevi had just become the highest-paid actor in India, charging a whopping Rs 1.25 crore for the Telugu film Aapadbandhavudu. This made him the first Indian actor to earn Rs 1 crore or more for a single film. Even Bachchan, the reigning king of box office, was charging under Rs 90 lakh per film at the time.}}
*{{Cite web |date=10 April 2020 |title=28 Years for Gharana Mogudu: 4 fascinating things about the Chiranjeevi starrer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/28-years-for-gharana-mogudu-4-fascinating-things-about-the-chiranjeevi-starrer/photostory/75079293.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028104425/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/28-years-for-gharana-mogudu-4-fascinating-things-about-the-chiranjeevi-starrer/photostory/75079293.cms |archive-date=28 October 2020 |website=The Times of India |language=en |quote=Gharana Mogudu was a commercial success, and it went on to become the first South Indian film to collect over Rs 10 crore share at the box office. Chiranjeevi is probably the first hero in the history of Indian cinema to take Rs 1crore remuneration for a film.}}
*{{cite web |date=29 April 2016 |title=Chiranjeevi, the megastar who beat Big B as India's highest paid actor |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/chiranjeevi-the-megastar-who-beat-big-b-as-the-highest-paid-actor/story-rIDYGZUtUgkNHYfnH2VDcM.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203161513/https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/chiranjeevi-the-megastar-who-beat-big-b-as-the-highest-paid-actor/story-rIDYGZUtUgkNHYfnH2VDcM.html |archive-date=3 February 2021 |access-date=28 March 2021 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> During this period, he received widespread critical acclaim for his performances in ''[[Swayamkrushi]]'' (1987), [[Rudraveena (film)|''Rudraveena'']] (1988), and ''Aapadbandhavudu'' (1992), showcasing his versatility as an actor who excelled in both commercial blockbusters and critically acclaimed films. Notably, ''Swayamkrushi'' was screened at the [[Moscow International Film Festival]], while ''Rudraveena'', which he co-produced, won the [[Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration|National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration]]. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Chiranjeevi continued to dominate the box office with films like [[Master (1997 film)|''Master'']] (1997), and ''[[Choodalani Vundi]]'' (1998). His 2002 film ''[[Indra (2002 film)|Indra]]'' was the highest-grossing Telugu film for many years, and socially impactful films like [[Tagore (film)|''Tagore'']] (2003) and ''[[Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.]]'' (2004) became major blockbusters, further cementing his legacy.

On 2 October 1998, Chiranjeevi established the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust, which operates the largest [[Blood bank|blood]] and [[Eye bank|eye banks]] in the [[Telugu states]]. The trust has restored eyesight to over 9,000 individuals through [[Corneal transplantation|cornea transplants]] and provides 70% of collected blood free to the poor.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Sekhar |first=Vineela |date=2024-01-26 |title=Megastar Chiranjeevi honoured with Padma Vibhushan |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/biography/megastar-chiranjeevi-honoured-with-padma-vibhushan-854112 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=[[The Hans India]] |language=en |quote=Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust (CCT) was founded on 2nd October 1998, the two major wings being the blood and eye banks. The Chiranjeevi Blood Bank Trust has collected over 9,30,000 units of blood over the years, and 79% of these blood units were given to the poor and oppressed free of cost. The remaining units were given to corporate hospitals at a nominal fee. The trust also collected 4,580 pairs of eyes, and 9,060 blind people benefited through a cornea transplant.}}</ref> It has received several accolades, including the "Best Voluntary Blood Bank Award" from the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]] for five consecutive years from 2002 to 2006.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2006-12-02 |title=Chiranjeevi Blood Bank bags award |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/chiranjeevi-blood-bank-bags-award-tamil-news-27427 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> In 2002, he was honoured with the Samman Award by the [[Income Tax Department]], for being the highest income tax payer in the profession category for the assessment year 1999–2000.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=2024-08-22 |title=Chiranjeevi at 69: Megastar's turning point, a Rajinikanth connection and other interesting facts |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/chiranjeevi-at-69-megastars-turning-point-a-rajinikanth-connection-and-other-interesting-facts-on-his-birthday/articleshow/112698648.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-08-22 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

In 2008, Chiranjeevi founded the [[Praja Rajyam Party]] and led it in the [[2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2009 Andhra Pradesh elections]], where it won 18 seats and secured over 16% of the vote, making it the third-largest party in the state. The party merged with the [[Indian National Congress]] in 2011. Chiranjeevi served as a [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Rajya Sabha MP]] from 2012 to 2018 and was appointed [[Ministry of Tourism (India)|Minister of Tourism]] in the [[Union Council of Ministers|central cabinet of India]] in October 2012, holding the position until May 2014. After a hiatus from cinema, he returned with the blockbuster hit ''[[Khaidi No. 150]]'' (2017), followed by successful films such as ''[[Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy]]'' (2019) and ''[[Waltair Veerayya]]'' (2023).