Vallabhaneni Janardhan

{{short description|Indian actor, producer, and director (1959–2022)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Vallabhaneni Janardhan

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1959|09|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Pothunuru, Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh, India

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|12|29|1959|09|25|df=y}}

| death_place = Hyderabad, India

| occupation = Actor, producer, director

| spouse = V. Lalini Chowdary

| children = Abhinaya, Avinash

| relatives = Vijaya Bapineedu (father-in-law)

}}

Vallabhaneni Janardhan (25 September 1959 – 29 December 2022) was an Indian actor, director, and producer known for his work in Telugu cinema.{{Cite web |last=Rajpal |first=Roktim |date=29 December 2022 |title=Veteran Telugu filmmaker and actor Vallabhaneni Janardhan passes away at 63 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/veteran-telugu-filmmaker-and-actor-vallabhaneni-janardhan-passes-away-at-63-2315078-2022-12-29 |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=India Today |language=en}} Over his career, he acted in more than 120 films and directed several projects.{{Cite web |last=Thanjavur |first=Kiran Kumar |date=29 December 2022 |title=Vallabhaneni Janardhan: వామ్మో.. చిరంజీవి విలన్‌ వల్లభనేని జనార్దన్ దగ్గర అన్ని వందల కోట్ల ఆస్తులున్నాయా.. |url=https://telugu.news18.com/photogallery/movies/vallabhaneni-janardhan-passed-away-do-you-remember-chiranjeevi-gang-leader-bad-police-actor-vallabhaneni-janardhan-and-his-net-worth-assets-list-ta-1558606.html |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=News18 |language=te}}

Janardhan's most notable role is in the 1991 film Gang Leader. He also appeared in significant roles in films like Surya IPS (1991), Stuartpuram Dongalu (1991), and Lakshmi Narasimha (2004).{{Cite news |date=29 December 2022 |title=Veteran Telugu cinema Actor, Director, Producer Vallabhaneni Janardhan passes away |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/veteran-telugu-cinema-actor-director-producer-vallabhaneni-janardhan-passes-away/articleshow/96593235.cms?from=mdr |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}} In addition to his film career, Janardhan ventured into television with the show Anveshita (1998).{{Cite news |date=29 December 2022 |title=Gang Leader actor Vallabhaneni Janardhan passes away at age 63 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/gang-leader-actor-vallabhaneni-janardhan-passes-away-at-age-63/articleshow/96590201.cms |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} He was the son-in-law of filmmaker Vijaya Bapineedu.

Early life and education

Janardhan was born on 25 September 1959 in Pothunuru{{Cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title=Vallabhaneni Janardhan: సీనియర్ నటుడు వల్లభనేని జనార్ధన్ మృతి.. టాలీవుడ్‌లో మరో విషాదం |url=https://telugu.samayam.com/telugu-movies/cinema-news/senior-actor-vallabhaneni-janardhan-passed-away/articleshow/96588063.cms |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=Samayam |language=te}} near Eluru, Andhra Pradesh into an affluent family. He completed his graduation from Loyola College in Vijayawada.{{Cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title=Vallabhaneni Janardhan: నటుడు, నిర్మాత, దర్శకుడు వల్లభనేని జనార్ధన్ ఆకస్మిక మృతి |url=https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/cinema-news/actor-and-director-vallabhaneni-janardhan-at-apollo-hospital-291457.html |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=NTV |language=te-IN}} During his college days, he actively participated in theatre, which ignited his passion for acting. He went on to establish a drama troupe called Kala Madhuri, earning recognition as both an actor and director in theatrical performances before transitioning to the film industry.{{Cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title=Vallabhaneni Janardhan: 'గ్యాంగ్‌లీడర్‌'లో సుమలత తండ్రి.. ఇక లేరు |url=https://www.eenadu.net/telugu-news/movies/senior-actor-vallabhaneni-janardhan-passed-away/0210/122242513 |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=Eenadu |language=te}}

Film career

= Assistant director =

Janardhan began his career in the film industry as an assistant director under K. Raghavendra Rao with the film Gajadonga (1980). He continued to work in the same capacity for notable films such as Tiruguleni Manishi (1981), Ragile Jwala (1981), and Kondaveeti Simham (1981).

= Production and direction =

Janardhan began his film career in production by founding Arjun Arts. He initially produced Mammagari Manavalu, but the film was ultimately canceled. He then turned to direction, remaking the Kannada film Manasa Sarovara (1982) as Amayaka Chakravarthi (1983) in Telugu, which became a major success. He also directed Thodu Needa (1983), a Telugu remake of the Hindi film Baseraa (1981).{{Cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title='గ్యాంగ్ లీడర్'లో ఎస్పీగా నటించిన వల్లభనేని జనార్ధన్ మృతి - ఆయన బ్యాక్‌గ్రౌండ్‌ తెలుసా? |url=https://telugu.abplive.com/entertainment/tollywood-veteran-actor-vallabhaneni-janardhan-dies-in-apollo-hospital-hyderabad-70346 |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=ABP Desam |language=te}} Later, Janardhan established another production company, Swetha International, under which he produced and directed films like Srimathi Kavali (1984) and Paripoyina Khaidilu (1985).{{Cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title=Vallabhaneni Janardhan Passed Away: వారం వ్యవధిలో మరో విషాదం.. టాలీవుడ్ సీనియర్ నటుడు జనార్దన్ మృతి! |url=https://zeenews.india.com/telugu/entertainment/tollywood-senior-actor-vallabhaneni-janardhan-passed-away-due-to-ill-health-87997 |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=Zee News Telugu |language=te}} Then, he directed the film Mahajananiki Maradalu Pilla (1990) under the supervision of his father-in-law, Vijaya Bapineedu. He was also involved in the production of Nee Kosam (1999), the debut film of director Srinu Vaitla, which starred Ravi Teja in the lead role.

= Acting =

Janardhan made his acting debut in his own directorial venture, Srimathi Kavali, stepping into a role when another actor was unavailable. He went on to appear in supporting roles in several acclaimed films, including Gang Leader (1991), Stuartpuram Dongalu (1991), and Surya IPS (1991). He acted in several films directed by his father-in-law, Vijaya Bapineedu. His portrayal of a police officer in Gang Leader garnered significant recognition and is considered one of the most notable performances of his career.

Personal life

Janardhan married V. Lalini Chowdary, the third daughter of producer-director Vijaya Bapineedu. The couple had three children: Swetha (who died at a young age), Abhinaya, and Avinash. Janardhan died on 29 December 2022 in Hyderabad after a prolonged illness at the age of 63.{{Cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title=Veteran actor Vallabhaneni Janardhan passes away |url=https://www.ntnews.com/cinema/vallabhaneni-janardhan-is-no-more-903941 |access-date= |website=Namasthe Telangana}}{{Cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title=Actor-filmmaker Vallabhaneni Janardhan passes away |url=https://www.idlebrain.com/news/today/vallabhanenijanardhan-nomore.html |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=Idlebrain.com}}