Chiranjeevi (Telugu: చిరంజీవి), born as Konidela Siva Shankara Vara Prasad on August 22, 1955, also known as Mega Star is a three-time Nandi Award in the Telugu cinema industry. He is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan Award.
Macho Telugu was a student at the Madras Film Institute and an amateur stage actor. His first public performance was in the Republic Day parade ballet of Andhra Pradesh on 26 January, 1976. His film debut was Punadhirallu (1978). His brother-in-law is producer Allu Aravind. His success started after his negative role in Initilo Ramayya Vidhilo Krishnayya (1981). Most of his memorable characters are 'rowdies' - playing potentially violent people who are always abused by the law. He has been quite successful in Hindi movies as well starting with Pratibandh (1990). He is the highest paid actor in India today and commands a huge fan following not only in Andhra Pradesh, his native state but all over India and his films are released in US, Europe and Asia Pacific as well.
