Vijayashanti

Vijayashanti (born 24 June 1966) is an Indian actress, producer and politician.

In a film career spanning 40 years, she has acted in 187 feature films in a variety of roles in various languages predominantly in Telugu films, in addition toTamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam films.

Vijayashanti was born on 24 June 1966 in Madras to Satti Srinivas Prasad, a native of Anaparthi, in East Godavari, and his wife, Satti Varalakshmi, a native of Warangal and elder sister of actress and producer Vijayalalitha.

Having made her acting debut in the Tamil film Kallukkul Eeram (1980), she went on to star in successful films like Netrikkan (1981), Neti Bharatam (1983), Agni Parvatam (1985), Challenge (1984), Pratighatana (1985), Muddula Krishnayya (1986), Repati Pourulu (1986), Pasivadi Pranam (1987), Muvva Gopaludu (1987), Yamudiki Mogudu (1988), Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu (1989), Janaki Ramudu (1988), Muddula Mavayya (1989), Kondaveeti Donga (1990), Karthavyam (1990), Indrudu Chandrudu (1989), Lorry Driver (1990), Sathruvu (1990), Gang Leader (1991), Mannan (1992), Rowdy Inspector (1992), Mondi Mogudu Penki Pellam (1992), Chinarayudu (1993) and Police Lockup (1993), Osey Ramulamma (1997).

Vijayashanti had established herself as one of the leading actresses of Telugu cinema.

Vijayashanti began her acting career at the age of 14 in 1980, Tamil film Kallukkul Eeram, directed by P. S. Nivas starring Bharathiraja.

In the same year, she debuted in Telugu cinema with the movie Kilaadi Krishnudu, opposite Krishna, directed by Vijaya Nirmala.

She got a role in the Telugu film Satyam-Sivam (1981), the cast of which included N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.

Initially she played many character role like sister, daughter and then after a couple of inconsequential movies came Pellichoopulu (1983), which brought recognition to her as a star.

This was a remake of K. Bhagyaraj's Tamil film Thooral Ninnu Pochchu.

Her breakthrough movie was Neti Bharatam (1983), and from there she started acting in women-centric roles, teaming up with T. Krishna.

He spotted her on the sets of his friend Madala Rangarao's Navodayam.

He saw her perform and predicted that she would turn out to be a good actress.

In 1985, Pratighatana, one of the biggest blockbusters of the year, won her accolades and a state Nandi Award for the first time.

She delivered a powerful performance in the song "Ee Dhuryodhana Dusshasana", penned by legendary lyricist Veturi and powerfully sung by S. Janaki.

In 1987, she appeared in Swayam Krushi alongside Chiranjeevi, which was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival, and Padamati Sandhya Ragam with Hollywood actor Thomas Jane, which was screened at the Louisville International Film Festival.

In 1989, she was introduced to Hindi cinema by K. Viswanath alongside Anil Kapoor in the film Eeshwar, a remake of his Telugu film Swathi Muthyam.

Her second Hindi film was Muqaddar Ka Badshaah, a remake of the Telugu film Aswaddama.

In the Hindi version, she acted with another National Award-winning actress - Shabana Azmi.

Her other starrers are Apradhi, in which she is co-starring with Anil Kapoor and Tejaswini, a remake of Karthavyam, directed by N. Chandra.

She is widely referred as the "Lady Superstar", "Lady Amitabh", and "The Action Queen of Indian Cinema", She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her work as a female cop in Kartavyam for depicting both aggression and feminity with balance and restraint (1990).

In the 1990s, Vijayashanti was the only actress demanding highest remuneration in India, equal to her co-stars Rajnikanth and Chiranjeevi.

Most of her films with Chiranjeevi (19 films) and Balakrishna (17 films) were huge hits and her on-screen chemistry was huge success on par with the box office.

In K. Viswanath's Swayam Krushi, where she acts as an illiterate woman who falls in love with a cobbler played by Chiranjeevi.

Her dialogue in Atta Soodamakayya is highly applauded along with her performance in Swayam Krushi.

She starred in Sathruvu, Surya IPS and Chinarayudu, along with Daggubati Venkatesh.

She starred alongside Rajinikanth as the antagonist in the film Mannan, and with Kamal Haasan as an investigative reporter in Indrudu Chandrudu.

She acted in two movies with Malayalam superstar Suresh Gopi, Yuvathurki and Kallu Kondoru Pennu.

In 1992 Mondi Mogudu Penki Pellam was a huge success.

Vijayashanti played a bold lady speaking Telangana slang and delivered the career-defining song "Laloo Darwaja Laskar".

She produced the film Nippu Ravva (1993), starring Balakrishna, under the banner Yuvarathna Arts.

In 1994 it was remade into Hindi as Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin.

In 1996, she was paired opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Zamaanat, directed by S. Ramanathan, but the film was shelved.

Another Bollywood movie of hers is Gundagardi (1997), starring Dharmendra in an action role.

She entered state politics in 1998.

She is a recipient of several accolades, including four Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards for Best Actress, seven Filmfare Awards South together with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and the Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu Government.

Vijayashanti has said that she prefers to think of herself as being from Telangana rather than Madras, although as of 2004 she had never visited her ancestral village of Ramannagudem near Eturnagaram.

She completed her 10th class at Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai, before starting her film career.

She served as the Member of Parliament in the 15th Lok Sabha, representing the Medak constituency from Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

, she is a member of the Indian National Congress.