:Vijaya Shanthi

Vijaya Shanthi was born on 24 June 1966{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr4G9lOXe68 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/fr4G9lOXe68 |archive-date=22 December 2021 |url-status=live |title=Vijayashanti Personal Interview | Vanitha TV |via=YouTube |date=3 September 2013 |access-date=12 July 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web |url=https://archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4339 |title=Detailed Profile - Smt. M. Vijaya Shanthi - Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) - Who's Who - Government: National Portal of India |date=10 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010095456/https://archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4339 |archive-date=10 October 2018}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/specials/movies-music/madhu80/--1.211429 |title=മധുവിന്റെ പ്രമുഖ നായികമാര്‍ |website=Mathrubhumi |access-date=11 December 2019 |archive-date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606132654/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/specials/movies-music/madhu80/--1.211429 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/dec/15vijay.htm |title=Rediff On The NeT: Telugu superstar Vijayashanti eyes politics |work=Rediff.com |access-date=11 December 2019}} Vijaya Shanthi 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.{{cite news |last=Rao |first=Ch Sushil |date=20 March 2004 |title=I was not born in Telangana |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/I-was-not-born-in-Telangana/articleshow/570757.cms |url-status=live |access-date=12 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719060645/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-03-20/hyderabad/28338309_1_telangana-vijayashanti-separate-state |work=The Times of India |archive-date=19 July 2013}}

She completed her 10th class at Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai, before starting her film career.{{Cite web |url=http://ceoandhra.nic.in/GE_2009/AFFIDAVITS_PCs/06-MEDAK/M_Vijayashanthi.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 September 2013 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090416190919/http://ceoandhra.nic.in/GE_2009/AFFIDAVITS_PCs/06%2DMEDAK/M_Vijayashanthi.pdf |archive-date=16 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}

Vijaya Shanthi began her acting career at the age of 14 in 1980, Tamil film Kallukkul Eeram, directed by 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 K. Viswanath's Swayam Krushi, where she acts as an illiterate woman who falls in love with a cobbler. Her dialogue Atta Soodamakayya is highly applauded along with her performance in Swayam Krushi.

In 1992 Mondi Mogudu Penki Pellam was a huge success. Vijaya Shanthi played a bold lady speaking Telangana slang and delivered the career-defining song "Laloo Darwaja Laskar". In 1994 it was remade into Hindi as Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin. In the 1990s, Vijayashanti was the highest-paid heroine in India and her remuneration was equal to her co-stars Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan.{{cite news |first=Girish |last=Nikam |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bachchans-and-sridevis-outstripped-by-chiranjeevi-and-rajnikanth-in-terms-of-earning-power/1/307594.html |title=Southern superstars Chiranjeevi, Rajnikant and Vijaya Shanthi are paid more than Amitabh Bachchan or Sridevi |work=India Today |date=2 January 2013 |access-date=12 July 2016}} Her collaboration with Chiranjeevi (19 films) and Nandamuri Balakrishna (17 films) were huge hits at the box office. 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. She produced the film Nippu Ravva (1993), starring Balakrishna, under the banner Yuvarathna Arts.

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. Another Bollywood movie of hers is Gundagardi (1997), starring Dharmendra in an action role. In 1996, she was paired opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Zamaanat, directed by S. Ramanathan,{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} but the film was shelved.

In a carefully nurtured career, Vijayashanthi reached the status of a "HERO" at box office parlance. In the blockbuster movie Karthavyam (1990), her performance as a tough cop under the direction of Mohan Gandhi won her the National Film Award from the Government of India and an Andhra Pradesh State award for best actress. Actor Ravi Teja was introduced in the film as a side artist. The film was made with a budget of about 90 lakhs and grossed over 7 crores in southern territories alone.{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19931015-telugu-actress-vijayashanthi-all-set-to-woo-hindi-movie-audiences-in-tejasvini-811650-1993-10-15 |title=Telugu actress Vijayashanthi all set to woo Hindi movie audiences in Tejasvini |website=India Today |access-date=14 October 2018}} The film was screened at the 14th International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section.{{Cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm14IIFAAward.aspx?PdfName=14IIFA.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130012438/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm14IIFAAward.aspx?PdfName=14IIFA.pdf |archive-date=30 January 2013 |url-status=dead }} She was the third woman from Telugu cinema to win the award after Sharada and Archana.

The success of this movie saw her moving away from glamorous roles and limiting herself to woman-oriented roles. "There were people who questioned how can a Heroine attain the image of Hero & charge highest remuneration. But, I had overcome all the hurdles and answered critics with successful films," she answered.

Vijaya Shanthi didn't rely on stunt doubles for performing risky stunts in many films. There were times when she jumped from a height of 30 feet and she hardly cared about the injuries.{{cite web |url=https://www.sakshi.com/news/family/heroine-vijaya-shanthi-special-interview-499175 |title=నేనె హీరో |date=13 August 2017 |website=Sakshi.com |access-date=14 October 2018}}

In 1990, Karthavyam was dubbed into Tamil as Vyjayanthi IPS and its success brought her fame in Tamil cinema. (It was also remade in Hindi as Tejaswini, with herself playing the lead role. This, too, did very well at the Hindi box office.) The film inspired the then 10-year old C. Indhumathi to take up the civil services exam; she cleared the UPSC exam and bagged 151st rank and placed in Madurai.{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Inspired-by-Vijayanthi-IPS-she-cracks-UPSC/articleshow/13004551.cms |title=Inspired by 'Vijayanthi IPS', she cracks UPSC |website=The Times of India |date=5 May 2012 |access-date=12 July 2016}} Vyjayanthi IPS ran for 50 days in Vetri theater in Chennai. This record was broken by a dubbed version of Baahubali in August 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.iqlikmovies.com/news/article/2015/08/26/Prabhas-Broke-Vijayashanti--039-s-Record/10713 |title=Prabhas Broke Vijayashanti's Record |website=Iqlikmovies.com |date=26 August 2015 |access-date=12 July 2016}}

A. M. Ratnam, Vijaya Shanthi's personal make-up man, turned out to be a money-making producer. As an executive producer for Vijaya Shanthi, he made the award-winning Karthavyam on the banner of Sri Surya Movies. On the same banner, she produced and acted in Aashayam released in 1993, which had a decent run. In Police Lockup she played a dual role, directed by Kodi Ramakrishna, for which she won another Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Later she continued her career in action roles. In Osey Ramulamma (1997), she played a downtrodden woman who rose against her oppressors. Directed by Dasari Narayana Rao, this was the biggest blockbuster of the year, giving Vijaya Shanthi her fourth Nandi Award and sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actress.{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/45thFilmfareSouthBestActresses |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170205073121/https://archive.org/details/45thFilmfareSouthBestActresses |url-status=dead |title=45th Filmfare South Best Actresses : Santosh : Free Download & Stream… |date=5 February 2017 |archive-date=5 February 2017 |website=Archive.org |access-date=14 October 2018}} This film gave her another name, called as "Ramulamma/Ramulakka" by the people. The music of this film, composed by Vandemataram Srinivas, also won the Nandi Award.

Later, she appeared in women oriented movies like Adavi Chukka and Rowdy Durbar, directed by Dasari Narayana Rao.

Vijayashanthi has also worked for many commercials like Chandana Bros., and Power Detergent soap. She was the first actress to be first featured in a Saree commercial.

Vijaya Shanthi returned to cinema after a sabbatical of 13 years, starring in the 2020 film Sarileru Neekevvaru where Mahesh Babu played the main protagonist.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/vijaya-shanti/article28178588.ece |title=Vijayashanti is back to her first love |newspaper=The Hindu |date=27 June 2019 |last1=Thatipalli |first1=Mallik}}

Her last seen movie is Nayudamma, released in 2006. Anil Ravipudi shared a welcome picture on Twitter on 12 August 2019 announcing her return to films with a makeup mirror placed in front of her. He wrote "After 13 years.. It's make up time for Vijayashanthi garu.. Nothing has ever changed in all these 13 years. Same discipline, same attitude and same dynamism. Welcome on-board".{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/sarileru-neekevvaru-vijayashanthi-joins-the-sets-of-mahesh-babu-s-film-1580313-2019-08-13 |title=Sarileru Neekevvaru: Vijayashanthi joins the sets of Mahesh Babu's film |date=13 August 2019 |magazine=India Today}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/after-13-years-vijayashanti-returns-to-face-the-arc-lights-as-a-professor/story-8h5p2hD4CfHyVVVQPywICJ.html |title=After 13 years, Vijayashanti returns to face the arc lights as a professor |date=13 August 2019}} She was paid 4 crores for her re-entry film Sarileru Neekevvaru. 2025 marks her second re-entry film Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi is scheduled to release on April 18, herself starring in a powerful cop role alongside Nandamuri Kalyan Ram.

In 1998, Vijaya Shanthi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and was soon made the secretary of BJP's Women's Wing (Bharateeya Mahila Morcha).{{cite news |title=When entertainers turned to politics |work=Rediff |date=14 February 2012 |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-when-entertainers-turned-politicians/20120214.htm |access-date=24 February 2012}} In 1998, her first public meeting was held at Nellore, a big hit in support of BJP.{{cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/13vijaya.htm |title=Rediff On The NeT Elections '98: 'Lady Amitabh' Vijayashanti plays a double role in politics, too |work=Rediff.com |access-date=14 October 2018}} During the 1999 general election 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. In 1996, Vijaya Shanthi, who is pro-BJP, vowed her support to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and was a star campaigner for then Chief Jayalalithaa.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CFCjniBF9s8C&q=vijayashanti+jayalalitha+1998&pg=PA301 |title=Electoral Politics and General Elections in India, 1952-1998 |first=M. L. |last=Ahuja |date=14 October 1998 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=9788170997115 |access-date=14 October 2018 |via=Google Books}} Vijayashanti is the star campaigner for BJP Lok Sabha Polls in Tamil Nadu along with Cricketer Srikkanth.{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/10/stories/2004031011820400.htm |website=The Hindu |title=Srikkanth, Vijayashanthi star campaigners for BJP |access-date=14 October 2018}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

She started her own political party, Talli Telangana, in January 2005, which she merged into Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) due to lack of strength and support. From 1999, her movie appearances decreased as she focused on her political career. By 2004, she had stopped signing up for new films. In the 2009 general election, she won as a Member of Parliament from the Medak constituency from BRS.{{cite web |url=http://eciresults.nic.in/Results.htm |title=political results |website=Eciresults.nic.in |access-date=16 May 2009 |archive-date=19 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519095719/http://www.eciresults.nic.in/Results.htm |url-status=dead }} In June 2009, she resigned from the post of secretary general of BRS, expressing solidarity with the resignation of Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao.{{cite news |title=Vijayshanti resigns from TRS party post's and lost the election |work=Rediff |date=20 June 2009 |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/vijayshanti-resigns-trs-party-post/20090620.htm |access-date=24 February 2012}}

In 2011, she submitted her resignation as an MP along with Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao in agitation of Telangana movement. The resignation was later rejected by the speaker of the house, as it was not in the proper format. Later, she actively participated in politics for separate Telangana State (region), in which she played a key role.

Vijaya Shanthi joined the Indian National Congress party in February 2014 after a split with TRS chief KCR.{{cite web |title=TRS MP Vijayashanthi joins Congress day after party rules out merger |website=The Indian Express |date=27 February 2014 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/trs-mp-vijayashanthi-joins-congress-day-after-party-rules-out-merger/ |access-date=27 February 2014}} She contested in the assembly elections from Medak in the 2014 general elections from Indian National Congress party and lost as MLA. After some inactive years, in 2018 AICC president Rahul Gandhi appointed Vijaya Shanthi as star campaigner and adviser to the election campaign committee of Telangana PCC.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uniindia.com/rahul-approves-coordination-publicity-comm-for-telangana-appoints-vijayashanti-as-star-campaigner/india/news/1355877.html |title=Rahul approves coordination & publicity comm for Telangana, appoints Vijayashanti as star campaigner}}

Vijaya Shanthi in March 2019, started a controversy after she compared Narendra Modi to a terrorist and claimed he was “ruling like a dictator”. She made these statements at a rally in Telangana's Shamshabad village in Ranga Reddy district.{{Cite web |url=https://scroll.in/latest/916056/telangana-congress-leader-compares-modi-to-terrorist-at-a-rally-in-presence-of-rahul-gandhi |title=Telangana Congress leader compares Modi to terrorist at a rally in presence of Rahul Gandhi |website=Scroll.in}} Vijaya Shanthi said, “He is appearing like a terrorist. Instead of loving his people, he is scaring them. And said this is not a characteristic of a prime minister.{{Cite web |title=In Rahul Gandhi's Presence, Congress Leader Says PM Modi Like "Terrorist" |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-rahul-gandhis-presence-congress-leader-vijayashanti-says-pm-modi-like-terrorist-2005310 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=NDTV.com}}

She resigned from the Congress in November 2020 and rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party on 6 December 2020 in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/telugu-actress-vijayashanti-meets-home-minister-amit-shah-to-join-bharatiya-janata-party-tomorrow-2335054 |title=Telugu Actor Vijayashanti Meets Amit Shah, To Join BJP Today |website=NDTV.com}}

In November 2023, she left BJP and rejoined Congress on 17 November 2023, in the presence of Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge.{{Cite web |last=Mustafa |first=Gulam |date=2023-11-16 |title=Vijayashanti quits BJP, likely to join Congress |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/vijayashanti-quits-bjp-likely-to-join-congress-838105 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=en}}

She was unanimously Elected as Member of Telangana Legislative Council on 13 March 2025.{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=13 March 2025 |title=Telangana: Five MLCs elected unanimously under MLA quota |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/telangana-five-mlcs-elected-unanimously-under-mla-quota-1866696 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313150415/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/telangana-five-mlcs-elected-unanimously-under-mla-quota-1866696 |archive-date=13 March 2025 |access-date=13 March 2025 |work= |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}{{cite web | title=MLC poll: 3 from Cong, 1 each of CPI & BRS win unopposed | website=The Times of India | date=14 March 2025 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/mlc-poll-3-from-cong-1-each-of-cpi-brs-win-unopposed/articleshow/118991525.cms | access-date=17 March 2025}}

On April 7, 2025, Vijayashanti has taken oath as elected Member of Legislative Council (MLC) from Congress along with Addanki Dayakar and Shankar Nayak.

Vijaya Shanthi is married to Moturi Venkata Srinivasa Prasad in 1988. He does real estate business around Chennai and Hyderabad. He is a nephew to Daggubati Purandeswari.

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{IMDb name|0897227}}
• {{Bollywood Hungama person|vijayashanti}}
• {{Twitter|vijayashanthi_m}}

{{National Film Award for Best Actress}}{{Nandi Award for Best Actress}}{{FilmfareTeluguBestActress}}

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{{S-start}}

{{S-bef| before= A. Narendra}}

{{S-ttl| title= Member of Parliament from Medak |years= 2009 – 2014}}

{{S-aft | after= Kotha Prabhakar Reddy}}

{{end}}

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Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Telangana

Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Telangana

Category:Bharat Rashtra Samithi politicians

Category:Actresses from Telangana

Category:Women in Telangana politics

Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema

Category:Best Actress National Film Award winners

Category:Indian actor-politicians

Category:India MPs 2009–2014

Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema

Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema

Category:Filmfare Awards South winners

Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema

Category:Nandi Award winners

Category:Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh

Category:20th-century Indian actresses

Category:People from Medak district

Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema

Category:Women members of the Lok Sabha

Category:21st-century Indian women politicians

Category:Actresses from Chennai

Category:Members of the Telangana Legislative Council