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Krishnam Raju Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth20 January 1940

Age82 Years

BirthplaceMogalturu, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh

ProfessionActor, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseU. Shyamala Devi

FamilyThree daughters: Sai Praseeda, Sai Pradeepti, Sai Prakeerti; previous spouse Seetha Devi (deceased)

Krishnam Raju Biography

Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju was an Indian film actor and politician known as the 'Rebel Star.' Across a five-decade career he appeared in over 180+ (c

Early life and background

Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju was born on 20 January 1940 in Mogalturu, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. He grew up in the region that remained central to his identity and later public life. As a young man he was active in sports, particularly kabaddi and volleyball; he played volleyball at the inter-collegiate level and was selected for national kabaddi events. He also worked as a journalist early in his career and earned recognition as a photographer at the state level.

Career

Krishnam Raju entered Telugu cinema in 1966 with the film Chilaka Gorinka. Though that debut did not translate into immediate box-office success, he steadily built a reputation for strong screen presence. His early high-profile turn as an antagonist in Nenante Nene (1968) brought him wider attention and helped establish a new template for charismatic villainy in Telugu films.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, he acted in a large body of films and became widely known by the sobriquet Rebel Star for his rugged, rebellious screen image. He played leading and character roles across genres, including mythological films such as Sri Krishnavataram (1967), Bhakta Kannappa (1976) — produced under his banner GopiKrishna — Kurukshetram (1977) and Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu (1979). His performance as Arjuna/Kannappa in Bhakta Kannappa was part of a film that received national-level recognition for its technical achievement.

The late 1970s and 1980s marked some of his most celebrated work. Amara Deepam (1977) raised his profile considerably and earned him industry awards. He won Filmfare Awards South and Nandi Awards for standout performances, including recognition for Amara Deepam, Bobbili Brahmanna (1984) — where he played dual roles — and Tandra Paparayudu (1986), a biographical war film that was showcased at the International Film Festival of India. Several of his films from that period became long-running theatrical successes and cemented his status as a leading figure in Telugu cinema.

He also branched into Kannada cinema in the late 1990s, taking roles in films such as Hai Bangalore and Simhada Mari. In the 2010s and early 2020s he continued to appear on screen; his final film appearance was in Radhe Shyam (2022), in which he played the role of Paramahamsa and which was presented by his production company, Gopi Krishna Movies. His filmography across genres included notable titles such as Mana Voori Pandavulu (1978), Katakatala Rudrayya (1978), Rangoon Rowdy (1979), Palnati Pourusham (1994) and Maa Nannaku Pelli (1997).

Politics

Krishnam Raju moved into politics in the 1990s. He first contested the Narasapuram Lok Sabha seat on an Indian National Congress ticket in the early 1990s but did not win. Later he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kakinada in 1998 and from Narasapuram in 1999. During his parliamentary tenure he served on committees including Commerce and Finance, and on consultative committees related to Information and Broadcasting and Commerce and Industry. He was appointed whip for the BJP parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha and later held several Union Minister of State positions covering External Affairs, Defence, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Rural Development in the early 2000s.

He briefly associated with the Praja Rajyam Party in 2009 and later rejoined the BJP. Throughout his political career he engaged in social causes such as relief and rehabilitation work after natural calamities and initiatives to educate rural populations about fiscal and civic issues. He also took part in Sangh Parivar activities and championed legislation interests such as moving a motion related to prohibition of cow slaughter in Parliament in 2000.

Public profile

Beyond his film and political roles, Krishnam Raju served for many years as president of the Telugu Artists Association. He was active in establishing open-air theatres in towns across Andhra Pradesh and collected funds for disaster relief and support for police families. He was known publicly for a varied set of interests that included reading, studying rural life, and religious observances.

Personal life and later years

Krishnam Raju married U. Shyamala Devi in September 1996; he was previously married to Seetha Devi. He had three daughters with Shyamala Devi. He was related to others in the film industry, including a nephew who is an actor.

In later years he faced several health challenges including diabetes, coronary heart disease with prior cardiac stenting and chronic heart rhythm disorder. In 2021 he underwent a leg amputation for peripheral vascular disease. Krishnam Raju died on 11 September 2022 at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology Hospitals in Hyderabad; he was 82. The reported cause of death was cardiac arrest following a month-long hospitalization for severe pneumonia and complications after COVID-19.

Latest updates

Krishnam Raju’s final screen appearance was in Radhe Shyam (2022), presented by his production house Gopi Krishna Movies. His long career left an imprint on Telugu cinema through memorable leading performances, mythological portrayals, and a string of award-winning roles.
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Recent Work

Radhe Shyam

Played the role of Paramahamsa; film presented by his production company Gopi Krishna Movies.

2022
Rudhramadevi

Played the role of Ganapati Devudu.

2015
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted in Telugu cinema with Chilaka Gorinka (1966).
  2. Won Filmfare Best Actor (Telugu) for Amara Deepam (1977), Bobbili Brahmanna (1984), and Tandra Paparayudu (1986).
  3. Received Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2006) and multiple lifetime achievement honours.
  4. Elected to Lok Sabha from Kakinada (1998) and Narasapuram (1999); served as Union Minister of State in several ministries.
  5. Acted in around 183 films across a five-and-a-half decade career and was widely known as 'Rebel Star.'
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Krishnam Raju born?

20 January 1940

What is Krishnam Raju known for?

Actor, Politician

What is Krishnam Raju’s marital status?

Married

Who is Krishnam Raju married to?

U. Shyamala Devi