Vijayashanti

Infobox_Celebrity
name = Vijayashanti


birth_date =birth date and age|1964|6|24
birth_place =Andhra Pradesh, India
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Actress
salary =
networth =
Copyrights =

Vijayashanti is an Indian actress who has starred in over 185 movies in 7 languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi. She was born in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India on June 24, 1964. She is credited as "The Lady Superstar" and "The Action Queen of Indian Cinema". At the peak of her career, she was the highest paid actor in India even more than Mada.

Background and career

Vijayashanti's given name was 'Shanti'. Her screen name was based her aunt Vijaya Lalitha, who was a veteran heroine in Telugu and Tamil films.

She began her acting career in 1979 at the age of 15 as the leading lady in the Tamil film Kallukkul Eeram ('Stones Have Tears') directed by the legendary Tamil film-maker Bharati Raja. The same year, she debuted in her native Telugu with the movie Kilaadi Krishnudu ('Cunning Krishna'), pairing opposite superstar Krishna.

For the first few years, she portrayed mostly glamour roles. Notable among them is her role in the Telugu film 'Satyam-Shivam' (1981), the cast of which included the two legends of Telugu Cinema - NTR and ANR.

Vijayashanti's first break as a performer came in the 1983 Telugu film 'Neti Bharatam' directed by T. Krishna. The next few years saw her in performance-oriented roles (Desamlo Dongalu Paddaaru, Vandemaataram, Pratighatana, Aruna kiranam ,Repati Pourulu, Devalayam, etc), and in glamorous roles (Challenge, Desodhdhaarakudu, Pasivaadi Praanam, Muddula Krishnaiah, Agni Parvatam, etc). By 1985 she was exclusively acting in Telugu films.

As an action heroine and mass entertainer

In the blockbuster movie 'Karthavyam' (1990), her electrifying performance as a tough cop (modeled after real-life supercop Kiran Bedi) won her the National Film Award from Indian Government and an Andhra Pradesh State award for best actress. The success of this movie saw her moving away from glamorous roles and limiting herself to tough lady roles. These tough lady roles made her a Superstar and became the highest paid actor in Telugu.In 1990, Kartavyam was dubbed into Tamil as 'Vijayanthi IPS' and its success brought her Superstardom in Tamil cinema as well. (It was also remade in Hindi as Tejaswini, with herself playing the lead role. As expected, Tejaswini did very well at the Hindi box-office). Though she limited herself to acting in Telugu movies, it did not stop her from being treated as a highly rated heroine in Tamil films. Following the success of Vijayanthi IPS, the producers of her films began releasing Tamil versions of her movies simultaneously with the Telugu versions. Her dubbed movies went on to become huge failures even more than direct Telugu movies.

The superstar of Indian cinema

She was treated as one of the top Superstars in the Indian cinema. Her image as a Superstar so outgrew that of her male counterparts that, no top hero was willing to act in her movie for the fear of being sidelined. She once joked in an interview, when asked of the difference between her and the other heroes: "There aren't many differences. One is, they dance around the trees with heroines imported from Bombay; and I dance around trees with heroes imported from Bombay. The other difference is, when in a slump, they can try a remake from other languages; but I don't get a subject to remake, and also they normally save heroines from the hands of villain and she usually save the heroes from the hands of villains".

Limiting herself to heroine-oriented films did not stop her from continuing as Number One. Between 1990 and 2000, she acted in films like Police-Lockup, Rowdy Inspector, Shatruvu, Mondi Mogudu - Penki Pellaam, Tejaswini, Mannan and Osey Ramulamma. Osey Ramulamma broke several box-office records, and won her, her 4th Andhra Pradesh State award for Best Actress in 1997. In the same year, she started her political career by joining the BJP. Soon she was made the secretary of BJP's Women's Wing (Bharateeya Mahila Morcha). During the 1999 Indian general elections, she was named BJP's contestant from the Cuddapah lok-sabha seat against Sonia Gandhi of Congress(I) (However, she withdrew from the race after Sonia Gandhi decided to contest from Bellary). She is an active campaigner for the separate Telangana movement as her forefathers hailed from Warangal district in Andhra Pradesh. But she stays in Chennai.

From 1999, her movie appearances decreased as she focused on her political career. By 2004, she had stopped signing new films. Ironically, she was a failure as a politician. Her latest film is Nayudamma, which was released in August 2006, after two long years in production. In her long career as a heroine, she has acted in over 165 films. No other actress except Sri Devi in Indian cinema has lasted for as long a period without turning to 'maternal' roles! At 44, she remains very fit,chewing panparag all the time, and may return to the screen with yet another flop performance.

Filmography (actress)

2006
#"Naayudamma" co-starring Prabhu Deva2004
#"Indiramma"2003
#"Shivani"
#"Bhannari Amman (Tamil) dubbed into Telugu as 'Maha Chandi'2002
#"Sri Srimathi Sathyabhaama" co-starring Raghu
#"Sambhavi IPS
#"Sahasa Baludu - Vichitra Kothi
#"Rifles" (Kannada) dubbed into Telugu as 'Vandemaataram'2001
#"Vijayanthi"
#"Adavi Chukka" .... Chukkamma/Santhi co-starring Charan Raj1999
#"Rajasthan" (Tamil) dubbed into Telugu as 'Rajastan', co-starring Sarath Kumar
#"Bharata Ratha" co-starring Vinod Kumar1998
#"Thadayam" .... Lawyer Nandhini (Tamil) dubbed into Telugu as 'Chattam', co-starring Ramkee
#"Srivaarante Maa Vaare" co-starring Suman
#"Kallukonduru Penn" (Malayalam)1997
#"Rowdy Darbaar" co-starring Ramkee
#"Goondaa Gardi" (Hindi) co-starring Aditya Pancholi and Dharmendra
#"Osey Ramulamma" .... Ramulamma co-starring Krishna and Ramkee (dubbed into Tamil as 'Adimai Penn')1996
#"Young Turks" (Malayalam) dubbed into Telugu as 'Delhi Dairy', co-starring Suresh Gopi1995
#"Street Fighter"1994
#"Lady Boss" co-starring Vinod Kumar (dubbed into Tamil as 'Lady Boss')
#"Maga Raayudu"
#"Tejasvini" .... Asst. Supt. of Police Tejasvini Joshi
#"Kuntee Putrudu" co-starring Mohan Babu
#"Attaa Kodallu" co-starring Anand
#"Rowdy Mogudu" co-starring Mohan Babu1993
#"Aasayam" co-starring Jagapathi Babu (dubbed into Tamil as 'Aasayam')
#"Doragaariki Donga Pellaam .... Rani co-starring Krishna
#"Surya IPS co-starring Venkatesh
#"China Raayudu" co-starring Venkatesh
#"Nippu Ravva" co-starring Bala Krishna
#"Police Lockup" (Vijaya, Shanti) co-starring Vinod Kumar (dubbed into Tamil as 'Police-Lockup')
#"Mechanic Alludu" co-starring Chiranjeevi (dubbed into Tamil as 'Mechanic Maappillai')1992
#"Mannan" co-starring Rajanikanth
#"Mondi Mogudu - Penki Pellaam" co-starring Suman
#"Rowdy Inspector" co-starring Bala Krishna (dubbed into Tamil as 'Auto Raani')
#"Aparadhi" .... Paro co-starring Anil Kapoor1991
#"Jaitra Yaatra" co-starring Nagarjuna
#"Gang Leader" .... Kanyakumari co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Stoovertpuram Police Station" .... Alakananda co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Talli Tandrulu" co-starring Bala Krishna
#"Lorry Driver" .... Jaya co-starring Bala Krishna
#"Muddula Menalludu co-starring Bala Krishna1990
#"Karthavyam" .... Vyjayanthi co-starring Vinod Kumar (dubbed into Tamil as 'Vijayanthi IPS')
#"Palnaati Rudraiah" co-starring Suman
#"Kondaveeti Donga" .... Srilatha co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Muqaddar Ka Badshaah" .... Bharti Rathod
#"Naagaastram" co-starring Krishna
#"Shatruvu' .... Vijaya co-starring Venkatesh1989
#"Bhale Donga co-starring Bala Krishna
#"Vijay" co-starring Nagarjuna
#"Koduku Diddina Kaapuram"co-starring Krishna
#"Gunda Raajyam" co-starring Krishna
#"Bhaarata Naari" co-starring Vinod Kumar
#"Dorikite Dongalu" co-starring Sobhan Babu
#"Rudranetra" co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Eeshwar" .... Lalita co-starring Anil Kapoor
#"Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu" .... Rekha co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Indrudu Chandrudu" co-starring Kamal Hasan
#"Muddula Mamaiah" .... Radha co-starring Bala Krishna1988
#"Inspector Pratap" co-starring Bala Krishna
#"Donga Pelli" co-starring Sobhan Babu
#"Aswadhdhaama co-starring Krishna
#"Yudda Bhoomi" co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Manchi Donga" co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Janaki Ramudu" co-starring Nagarjuna1987
# Padmati Sandhyaragam co-starring with Tom
# bhargava Ramudu co-starring with Bala Krishna
# Kalyana thambhulam co-starring with shobhan babu
#"Bhanumati Gaari Mogudu" co-starring Bala Krishna
#"Yamudiki Mogudu" co-starring Chiranjeevi
# "Muddayi co-starring Krishna
#"Swayam Krushi" .... Ganga co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Dongagaru Swagatam" co-starring Sobhan Babu
#"Pasivadi Pranam" co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Muvva Gopaludu" co-starring Bala Krishna
#"Sahasa Samrat" co-starring Bala Krishna1986
# Deshoddhorakudu co-starring with Bala krishna
# jeevana poratam co-starring with shobhan babu
# samsaram oka sangeetham co-starring with chandramohan
#"Aruna Kiranam co-starring Raja Sekhar
#"Samaajamlo Stree co-starring Suman and Bhanu Chandar
# Brahmashtram co-starring with krishna
#"Dairyavanthudu" co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Repati Pourulu" co-starring Raja Sekhar
# chankya shapadham co-starring with chiranjeevi
#"Kondaveeti Raja" co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Naaga Devata" co-starring Arjun
#"Sravana Sandhya" co-starring Sobhan Babu
#"Sakkanodu" co-starring Sobhan Babu
#"Apoorva Sahodarulu" co-starring Bala Krishna
#"Muddula Krishnaiah" .... Vijayashanti co-starring Bala Krishna

1985
#"Pratighatana" .... Jhansi co-starring Chandra Mohan and Raja Shekhar
#"Srivaru co-starring Sobhan Babu
#"Ooriki Soggaadu" co-starring Sobhan Babu
#"Darja Donga" co-starring Suman
#"Chiranjeevi" co-starring Chiranjeevi
# Thirugubatu co-starring with Mohanbabu
#"Agni Parvatam" co-starring Krishna
#"Desamlo Dongalupaddaru" co-starring Suman
#"Devalayam" co-starring Sobhan Babu
# Bhandhi co-starring with Krishnam raju
#"Kothapelli Kuthuru"
#"Pattabhishekham" co-starring Bala Krishna
#"Vande Mataram" co-starring Rajasekhar1984
# Kurra cheshtalu co-starring with suman
# Kutumbha gouravam co-starring with Muralimohan
# Adadhani saaal co-starring with Murali mohan
# Veerabhadhrudu co-starring with karthik
# Dhongallo dora co-starring with Suman
# Raaraju co-starring with krishnam raju
# Jadagantalu co-starring with suresh
# Enkennalli charithra co-strring with Suman
# Abhimanyudu co-starring with shobhan babu
#"Challenge" .... Haarika co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Mahanagaramlo Mayagadu" co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"SP Bhayankar" co-starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Krishnam Raju
# Sundhari-subbarao co-starring with chandhra mohan
#"Devanthakudu" co-starring Chiranjeevi1983
# Kalyana Kanavugal (Tamil)
# Thalaimagan (Tamil)
# Villiyanur Matha (Tamil)
# Neeru Pootha Neruppu (Tamil)
# Keralida hennu (kannada)
# Pandanti kapuraniki 12 suthralu (telugu)
# Dharmathmudu (telugu)
# Pelli Chesi chupistam (telugu)
# Amayaka chakra varthy (telugu)
#"Sangarshana" co-starring Chiranjeevi
#"Navodayam"
#"Mukku pudaka (telugu)
#"Neti Bharatam" co-starring Suman
#"Pelli Choopulu"
#"Rakasi loya (telugu)
#"Shri Ranganeethulu" co-starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao1982
# Vedikkai Manidhargal (Tamil)
# Nizhal Thedum Nenjangal (Tamil)
# Manjal nilla (Tamil)
# Ilan jodigal (Tamil)
# krishnavatharam co -starring with krishna
# prathikaram co starring with shobhan babu
#"Vamsha gouravam co-starring with Shobhan babu
#"Pelleedu Pillalu" .... Santhi1981
# Sivappu malli (Tamil)
# Pattam Parakkattum (Tamil)
# Sandhana malargal (Tamil)
# Nenjile Thunivirunthaal (Tamil)
# Netrikann (Tamil)
# Rajangam (Tamil)
# Pandanti jeevitham co starring with Sobhan babu
#"satyam sivam co strring with NTR&ANR1980
#"Kallukkul Eeram" (Tamil)1979
#"Kiladi Krishnudu" co-starring Krishna

Filmography (producer)

#" Kartavyam (1990) — Telugu
#" Nippu Ravva (1992) — Telugu
#" Tejaswini (1994) — Hindi
#" Adavi Chukka (1999) — Telugu

Incomplete films

Below is a list of Vijayashanti's incomplete movies. Some of them were announced but never started; some more were started but never finished.

#"Zamaanat (Hindi)
#"Akshaya Paatra
#"Zindabad
#"Adavi Raani
#"Home Minister
#"Raayala Seema Raktam
#"Tamasoma Jyotirgamay

Awards and accolades

Osey Ramulamma (1997) - AP State Award as Best Actress
Kartavyam (1990) - AP State Award as Best Actress, Indian Govt Award as Best Actress
Bharatanaari (1989) - AP State Award as Best Actress
Pratighatana (1986) - AP State Award as Best Actress
FilmFare award for Lifetime Achievement in Indian Cinema
Numerous other awards

External links

*imdb name|id=0897227|name=Vijayshanti
*