Nandamuri Balakrishna biography

Born	Nandamuri Balakrishna June 10, 1960 (age 52) Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Residence	Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Other names	NBK,Balayya, Yuvaratna.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1972–present
Spouse	Smt. Vasundhara Devi
Children	Brahmani Tejaswini Mokshagna Teja
Parents	Taraka Rama Rao Nandamuri Basava Tarakamma
Relatives	Chandrababu Naidu Nara(brother-in-law) Harikrishna Nandamuri (brother) Purandhareswari Daggubati(sister) Taraka Rama Rao Nandamuri, Jr.(nephew) Kalyan Ram Nandamuri(nephew) Taraka Ratna Nandamuri(nephew)

Nandamuri Balakrishna (born 10 June 1960) is a prominent Telugu film actor. He is the son of the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao. He made his acting debut at the age of 14 as a child artist in his father's movie Tatamma kala. He then starred in many critical and commercial films and established himself as one of the leading contemporary actors of Telugu Cinema. He appeared in the highest number of dual roles (Thirteen) and one triple role in the latest flick Adhinayakudu (2012).
He is popularly known as "Balayya" and "NBK" by his fans and admirers.In addition to films, balakrishna is associated with several philanthropic and social organisations activities. He campaigned for the Telugu Desam Party in the 2009 Assembly elections and he is the chairman of the trust board of The Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute.

Family

Balakrishna was born in Madras (now known as Chennai) Tamil Nadu, to prolific Indian film actor, politician N. T. Rama Rao and Smt. Basava Tarakam. He has six brothers Rama Krishna, Jaya Krishna, Harikrishna, Mohana Krishna, Sai Krishna, Jaya Shankar Krishna, and four sisters Uma Maheswari, Bhuvaneswari, Lokeswari, Daggubati Purandareswari. Balakrishna is married to Vasundhara Devi. They have a son Mokshagna Tarakarama Teja, and daughters Brahmini and Tejaswini. His elder daughter Brahmini was married to Nara lokesh, son of Nara Chandrababu Naidu who is the president of Telugu Desam Party and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Film career

Breakthrough (1974 to 1986)

In 1974, he acted in Tatamma Kala which was directed by NTR as a child artist. Over a period of time he acted in several films, many of them were directed by NTR.Out of which Dana Veera Soora Karna, Srimadvirataparvam, Akbar Saleem Anarkali and Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam became memorable films in his film career.His roles as Abhimanyu in DVSK,SMV and saleem in ASA, saint Narada In STVK are highly praised.In 1984 he debuted in a hero role with Sahasame Jeevitham. He then starred in a drama film Mangammagari Manavadu (1984) along side Bhanumathi, Suhasini directed by Kodi Ramakrishna. The film was a Block Buster at the box-office.In the same year, he acted in Kathanayakudu and in Biographical film Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra. Both the films were hits at the Box-office. Again his role as Siddhappa in Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra is critically praised.This movie was directed by his father NTR.In the year 1985,he acted with Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the film Bharya Bhartala Bandam alongside rajani,which is a moderate success. In the year 1986, all his six films were success at the Box-office

Commercial stardom (1987 to 1999)

In 1987, he acted in a dual role in the film Apurva Sahodarudu directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, was a box-office success.This year he had six super hit films in a row. In the same year, he starred in Presidentugari Abbai directed by Tatineni Rama Rao and Muvva Gopaludu by Kodi Ramakrishna were biggest hits of the year. Bhargava Ramudu, which is made from a novel,alongside vijayashanti is success at the box office. His other films like Inspector Pratap, Bharatamlo Bala Chandrudu, Tiragabadda Telugubidda, Rakthabhisekham were also critically and commercially successful at the boxoffice. In 1989, he paired with Vijaya Shanti in Muddula Mavayya directed Kodi Ramakrishna. The film was a blockbuster at the box-office. Bhale Donga alongside Vijayasanthi and sharada was also success at the boxoffice. In 1990, he acted in Nari Nari Naduma Murari directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy along side Shobana and Nirosha. The film was a box-office success. In the same year he appeared in B. Gopal's Lorry Driver opposite Vijaya Shanti; the film was a Superhit at the box-office.Talli Tandrulu alongside vijayasanthi was again a success at the boxoffice.

In 1991, he acted in another blockbuster Science fiction film Aditya 369 directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. The film is about a time machine that goes into the past and the future.This is the only science fiction film in Telugu cinema,during that period of time.He then had two releases in 1992 Dharma Kshetram was a disappointment and Rowdy Inspector directed by B. Gopal, was a "Super Hit" at the box-office. In the year 1993, balakrishna had two releases on the same day which are Nippu Ravva along side Shobana and Vijaya Shanti directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy and Bangaru Bullodu along side Raveena Tandon and Ramya Krishna directed by Ravi Raja Pinisetty, out of which "Bangaru Bullodu" was a hit. His next appearance was a folk role in Bhairava Dweepam (1994) directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. The film was critical and commercial success, and fetched him a Filmfare Award for Best Actor.In Brahmarshi Viswamitra,directed by his father,he played as Satya Harischandra and Dushyanta. Between 1994–1999, he acted in super hit movies like Bobbili Simham, Vamsanikokkadu, Peddannayya, Yuvaratna Rana and moderate successes like Muddula Mogudu, Maatho Pettukoku and Pavitra Prema. In the year 1999, he acted in B. Gopal's action film Samarasimha Reddy opposite Simran and Anjala Zhaveri. The film went on to become one of the biggest hits of Telugu cinema of its time.

Recent work (2000 to present)

In 2000, Balakrishna acted in Goppinti Alludu directed by E V V Satyanarayana with Simran. The film was a hit at the box office. In 2001, he starred in B. Gopal's directed faction film Narasimha Naidu opposite Simran. The film broke several box office records and it completed 100 days in as many as 109 centres in the state and neighbouring states and silver jubilee in a record 17 centre. He won his first Nandi Award for Best Actor for his performance. In the same year, he appeared in Bhalevadivi Basu with Shilpa Shetty, Anjala Zhaveri which opened to average reviews. His 2002 and 2003 films include Seema Simham, Chennakeshava Reddy neither of which were well received, but the later one did an average business at the box office. In 2004, he performed in a remake of the 2003 Tamil hit Saamy titled Lakshmi Narasimha with Asin Thottumkal. The film and Balakrishna's performance won critical acclaim and was a box office hit.
The years from 2005 to 2008 saw a lull in Balayya's career. Action-drama flicks such as Vijayendra Varma, Veerabhadra, Allari Pidugu, Okka Magadu and Maharadhi bombed at the box office. Balakrishna paired with Sneha and Tabu in the mythological movie Panduranga (2008) directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. He played the dual roles of Krishna and Panduranga. Rediff described his performance as "Balakrishna does justice to both the roles of God and Ranga. He shines in the climax of the movie. It's quite a task to step into NTR's shoes but his son has done pretty well, though one does miss NTR in the role of Krishna!". The film was an average success and his performance won him the Santosham Best Actor Award. In the year 2009, he starred in family drama Mithrudu alongside Priyamani in a slightly different role — that of a dependable friend and confidante to the female lead. The film opened to average reviews.
In 2010, he acted in Boyapati Srinu's film Simha alongside Nayantara and Sneha Ullal. NBK played dual roles as father and son. The film opened to positive reviews, and went on to became one of the highest grossing film of the year. A review in Rediff said about his performance "Balakrishna has put in a restrained performance. Though his character is supposed to roar at times, he seems subdued most of the time. But he's given plenty to be pleased about as it is his show all the way." In 2011 he acted in a mythological film Sri Rama Rajyam based on the epic Ramayana.

Controversy

Balakrishna was involved in a shooting controversy. The incident took place on June 3, 2004 around 20:50 hrs at his residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. It is alleged that the actor has fired shots at the producer B.Suresh and his associate, Satyanarayana Chowdhary. Later both the wounded were admitted into Apollo hospital.The circumstances under which the case was handled led to much controversy as purported by the Human Right Forum (HRF). The HRF has questioned the authenticity of people who handled the case, and the circumstances under which the actor was shielded from police by giving refuge in the CARE Hospital with out any justifiable cause.

The two victims have given statements before the magistrate alleging that actor has fired shots at them during their treatment in the hospital but soon they were retracted and made volte-face of their earlier statements.The actor was arrested later on June 6 at around 3:30 AM and produced before fifth Metropolitan Magistrate. A show cause notice was also served on Bala Krishna's wife Smt. Vasundhara Devi (married: 1982) as the weapon used was licensed under her name and she could not give sufficient protection to her licensed weapon. But later the actor was granted bail.

Awards and honors

Nandi Awards

Nandi Award for Best Actor – Narasimha Naidu (2001).
Nandi Award for Best Actor – Simha (2010).

Filmfare Awards

Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) – Bhairava Dweepam (1994).

Santosham Film Awards

Santosham Best Actor Award – Pandurangadu (2008).
Santosham Best Actor Award – Simha (2010).
Santosham Best Actor Award - Sri Rama Rajyam (2011).

CineMAA Awards

CineMAA Award for Best Actor - Male – Simha (2010).

Other Awards

He won the A.P. CINE Goers association best actor award for his performance in Narasimha Naidu (2001), Chennakesava Reddy (2002), and Pandurangadu (2008).
Balakrishna was presented with Akkineni Abhinaya Puraskaram for the year 2007.