UV Krishnam Raju

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Born as Raja Uppalapati Chinna Venkata Krishnam Raju (born 20 January 1940), is an Indian film actor, known for his works in Telugu cinema. He is widely known as Rebel Star for his rebellious acting style. He is also the winner of the inaugural Nandi Award for Best Actor. Krishnam Raju has starred in more than 183 feature films in his career.[1] He made his film debut with the 1966 Chilaka Gorinka produced and directed by Kotayya Pratyagatma. Uppalapati has garnered five Filmfare Awards South and three state Nandi Awards. Uppalapati is also an active politician.

Krishnam Raju acted in several blockbuster hit films such as Jeevana Tarangalu (1973), Krishnaveni (1974), Bhakta Kannappa (1976), Amaradeepam (1977), Sati Savitri (1978), Katakataala Rudraiah (1978), Mana Voori Pandavulu (1978), Rangoon Rowdy (1979), Shri Vinayaka Vijayamu (1979), Sita Ramulu (1980), Taxi Driver (1981), Trishulam (1982), Dharmaatmudu (1983), Bobbili Brahmanna (1984), Tandra Paprayudu (1986), Marana Sasanam (1987), Vishwanatha Nayakudu (1987), Antima Theerpu (1988), Bava Bavamaridi (1993), Palnati Pourusham (1994).

After the late 1990s, he became active in politics. He joined Bharatiya Janata Party and was elected to the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha from Kakinada and Narasapur constituencies. He served as a Minister of State for Ministry of External Affairs in the Third Vajpayee Ministry from 1999 to 2004. On 24 March 2009 he has joined Praja Rajyam Party founded by Chiranjeevi. In 2009 State Assembly elections he contested for M.P. seat from Rajahmundry and lost as he was associated with PRP.

Krishnam Raju was born in Mogalthur, West Godavari District on 20 January 1940 to Uppalapati Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Raju. He had a wife before he married Shyamaladevi in 1996. He has four daughters, one from the first wife, and the remaining three born to his second wife. Film producer U. Suryanarayana Raju is his younger brother and actor Prabhas is his nephew. Another nephew Siddharth Rajkumar made his acting debut with Keratam (2011). Krishnam Raju worked as a journalist for the Andhra Ratna. He was awarded the Second Best Photographer in state level. He is fond of cameras and has a collection of cameras. He is the owner of Gopi Krishna Movies.

He contested an unsuccessful election in 1992 from Narsapuram on a Congress ticket. After a brief hibernation, he rejoined politics, accepting an invitation from the Bharatiya Janata Party. He won the 1998 Lok Sabha elections from Kakinada. He set a record with a thumping majority of over 165,000 votes, the maximum majority as compared to any of the other constituencies in Andhra Pradesh which ensured him a berth at the Centre. He was in the advisory committees of the Information and Broadcasting and Commerce and Industry Ministries during 1998-99.

1998 Elected to 12th Lok Sabha

1998-99 Member, Committee on Commerce Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

1999 Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (2nd term)Whip, B.J.P. Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha

1999-2000 Member, Committee on Finance Member, Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme

2000 Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

30 Sept 2000- Union Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs 22 July 2001

22 July 2001- Union Minister of State, Ministry of Defence 30 June 2002

1 July 2002 - Union Minister of State, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food onwards and Public Distribution

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