Konidela Pawan Kalyan (born Konidela Kalyan Babu; 2 September 1968 or 1971[n 1]) is an Indian actor, politician, filmmaker, martial artist, and philanthropist who works in Telugu cinema. Known for his unique acting style and mannerisms, he has a large fan base and a cult following. One of the highest-paid actors of Indian cinema, he has been featured in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2013 and is the recipient of a Filmfare Award, a SIIMA Award, a CineMAA Award, and a Santosham Film Award.[5] He is also the founder of the Jana Sena Party.
In 2008, Kalyan entered into politics as the youth wing president of his brother Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party, but he left after it merged into the Congress party. He founded the Jana Sena Party in March 2014 and[10][11] was listed as the most searched Indian celebrity politician on Google at the time.[12] Kalyan is a known philanthropist and is the founder of the Andhra Pradesh charity [16]Common Man Protection Force.[17][18] He is a black belt in Karate and trains in various martial arts which he depicts in his films regularly. Kalyan is referred to as Power Star by his fans and in the media.
Kalyan was born as Konidela Kalyan Babu on 2 September 1971[n 1] in a Telugu family to Konidela Venkata Rao and Anjana Devi in Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh.[23][24] He is the younger brother of Chiranjeevi and Nagendra Babu. He was awarded "Pawan" during one of his public martial arts presentations.[25] He holds a black belt in karate.[26] He is also the uncle of actors Ram Charan, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej and Allu Arjun.[27][28][29]
Kalyan made his acting debut in 1996 with Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi. His second film Gokulamlo Seeta released the following year. He next appeared in A. Karunakaran-directed Tholi Prema (1999) which won the National Award and six Nandi Awards that year.[30] After Tholi Prema, Kalyan acted in Thammudu, playing the role of a kick boxer. Thammudu was released on 15 July 1999 and was written and directed by P. A. Arun Prasad. On 20 April 2000, he acted in Puri Jagannadh's first directorial venture, Badri. Produced by T. Trivikrama Rao and music composed by Ramana Gogula.
In 2001, he acted in the film Kushi. The film was released on 27 April 2001 and was directed by S. J. Suryah, which became a huge blockbuster that year.[31] In 2001, he was the brand ambassador for Pepsi at the time his brother Chiranjeevi was promoting Coca-Cola.[32] His next film Johnny, written and directed by himself, released on 26 April 2003. Kalyan also starred in the film, along with Renu Desai, produced by Allu Aravind, and music composed by Ramana Gogula.
In 2004, his film Gudumba Shankar was released. The film was directed by Veera Shankar and produced by Kalyan's brother Nagendra Babu under Anjana Productions banner. The film's script and screenplay were written by Kalyan and he also choreographed three songs in this film and action scenes were conceived and choreographed by him. In 2005, the film Balu, directed by A. Karunakaran was released. This was Karunakaran's second film with Kalyan after Tholi Prema. This film was produced by C. Ashwini Dutt under Vyjayanthi Movies banner.
In 2008, Jalsa, directed by Trivikram Srinivas and produced by Allu Aravind was released on 2 April. This film got the highest first-day collection in Telugu film history and was also the first for any regional film in south India in a single state by that time.[37] Jalsa turned out to be the highest grosser of 2008 in Telugu cinema.[38] Puli was written and directed by S. J. Suryah and released in 2010. An official announcement was made in the same year that Kalyan was going to play a small role in a movie about Jesus Christ directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao.[39] In 2011, he appeared in Teen Maar, a remake of Love Aaj Kal, directed by Jayanth C. Paranjee.[40] He also appeared in Vishnuvardhan's gangster film Panjaa.[41][42]
In 2012, he appeared in Gabbar Singh, a remake of Dabangg, directed by Harish Shankar.[43] The film successfully completed 100 days and stood as the second highest-grossing Telugu film at that time.[44][45] After this film, he worked in Puri Jagannadh's Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu.
In 2013, he appeared in Trivikram Srinivas's Attarintiki Daredi. The film, released on 27 September 2013, faced problems with piracy as half of the movie was leaked to the internet prior to its release.[46] In spite of this the movie was a blockbuster in 2013. The movie completed 100 days in 33 theaters and held the record of the highest-grossing film in Tollywood by that time, surpassing the previous record of Magadheera.[47] Later, it was surpassed by Baahubali: The Beginning.
In 2021, he made a comeback to films by appearing in Vakeel Saab, directed by Venu Sriram. He announced Hari Hara Veera Mallu, which is being directed by Krish Jagarlamudi. The shooting of the film has currently been on hold for almost 2 years, owing to Kalyan's political commitments. Mythri Movie Makers also announced Ustaad Bhagat Singh with Kalyan, under the direction of Harish Shankar.[50] He also acted in the remake of Vinodhaya Sitham, Bro, with Sai Dharam Tej, under the direction of Samuthirakani, who also directed the original film. Another film, They Call Him OG, was subsequently announced with Sujeeth as the director and to be produced by D. V. V. Danayya.
Kalyan started his political career in 2008[51] as the president of Yuvarajyam,[52] the youth wing of Praja Rajyam Party which was started by his elder brother Chiranjeevi. He neither contested in elections nor did he hold any constitutional post during his days in Praja Rajyam Party. While he actively campaigned for the party, he was also hit with few health problems. Kalyan was struck with bouts of vomiting, as he was hit by a sunstroke during a roadshow at Vizag on 19 April 2009.[53] Later, in 2011, when Chiranjeevi merged his party[54] with Congress,[55] Kalyan took a break from political life, expressing his silent discontent with his brother's decision to merge the party,[56] and started a new political party in 2014 called Jana Sena Party.
He brought the Uddanam kidney disease crisis to the attention of media and politicians through protests and a hunger strike. Government of Andhra Pradesh responded by constructing dialysis centers and implementing various schemes for the village.[64][65] In November 2016, Kalyan announced that Jana Sena will contest in the 2019 general elections in Andhra Pradesh.[66] He stated that he was planning to contest from all 175 legislatures of Andhra Pradesh without any alliance.[67] He opposed central government's move to privatise Dredging Corporation of India (DCI)[68] on a golden platter.[69] Kalyan led a protest march to condolence farmers who committed suicides or migrated from the drought-prone regions of Rayalaseema.[70] He opposed the TDP Government's decision on land pooling.[71] Kalyan conducted a march on the historical Dowleswaram Barrage in Rajahmundry demanding political accountability.[72] He exposed the alleged unchecked mining in the reserve forest area at Vanthada village of Prathipadu in East Godavari district.[73]
Kalyan has announced the Jana Sena party's 2019 election manifesto at Rajahmundry[75] public meeting with many measures to improve the lives of farmers,[76] farm labourers, women, youth, and students. His party would contest together with left parties[77] Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Bahujan Samaj Party[78] for the upcoming 2019 elections in both Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. At the same time, when he was actively campaigning for the elections all around Andhra Pradesh, he fell sick and shared a few health problems. As he was getting ready for his next round of campaign at Sattenapalle, he felt dizzy and nauseated. When the chopper was down for refilling at Gannavaram airport, he was down with vomiting, dehydration, and drowsiness. Immediately then, he was hospitalized and treated in Vijayawada. Again the campaign resumed after he got well.[79][80]
Later the same year, on 3 November 2019, Kalyan led a long march in Visakhapatnam in support of construction workers against YSR Congress Party governance who have been facing unemployment due to shortage of supply of sand in Andhra Pradesh.[85]
On 16 January 2020, Kalyan has announced his party's alliance with BJP, after three years of distancing from it. Both the parties would fight together in the upcoming elections in 2024.[86] On 12 February 2020, he led a rally for justice to Sugali Preethi, a 15-year-old girl who was brutally raped and murdered, in Kurnool.[87] He demanded an inquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident.[88]
In 2009, Kalyan married Desai after eight years of live-in companionship.[97] Their daughter Aadya was born in 2010.[98] The couple parted ways in 2012 with a formal divorce. In an interview in 2018, Desai claimed that Kalyan "insisted on a divorce in spite of her initial protests." She added that Kalyan denied her request of making a public statement about their divorce.[99]
Kalyan met his third wife, Anna Lezhneva, a Russian citizen during the shoot of Teen Maar (2011).[93] They married in September 2013 under Special Marriage Act at a Sub-Registrar Office in Hyderabad.[94] The couple has a daughter Polena Anjana Pawanova and a son Mark Shankar Pawanovich.[100][101]
With Vakeel Saab releasing later this week, there's going to be a lot of discussion about Power Star's "mass". This will be in addition to the discourse around the sidelining of its female characters, with Kalyan playing their savior. So, before you indulge in verbal ping-pong about the rights and wrongs of remaking the Hindi drama Pink with an actor whose image is larger-than-life, here's a list of his massy scenes and songs that you can dive into.
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