Varun Sandesh
{{Short description|Indian American actor}}
{{pp-semi-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Varun Sandesh
| image = Varun Sandesh speech in Micheal movie's trailer lunch event.jpg
| caption = Varun Sandesh in 2023
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|7|21}}{{Cite news|title=Varun Sandesh's birthday celebrations on the sets of his film in Hyderabad - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/hyderabad/varun-sandeshs-birthday-celebrations-on-the-sets-of-his-film-in-hyderabad/articleshow/15090904.cms|access-date=2021-02-25|website=The Times of India|language=en |last1=As |first1=Sashidhar }}
| birth_place = Rayagada, Odisha, India{{cite web | title= Varun Sandesh | publisher= www.idlebrain.com | url= http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/happydays/sandesh.html | access-date= 2008-10-30 | archive-date= 4 November 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081104004144/http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/happydays/sandesh.html | url-status= dead }}
| occupation = Film actor
| yearsactive = 2007–present
| spouse = Vithika Sheru
}}
Jeedigunta Varun Sandesh (born 21 July 1989) is an Indian actor known primarily for his works in Telugu cinema. He made his debut with Sekhar Kammula's coming-of-age blockbuster drama Happy Days (2007), and went on to star in films such as Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008), Kurradu (2009), Yemaindi Ee Vela (2010), D for Dopidi (2013), Pandavulu Pandavulu Thummeda (2014), Mama Manchu Alludu Kanchu (2015), Michael (2023) and Nindha (2024). In 2019, Sandesh appeared in Telugu reality TV show Bigg Boss 3 as a contestant and finished as a finalist.
Personal life
Varun Sandesh was born in Rayagada, Odisha and later lived in Hyderabad for four years. His family then moved to Bridgewater Township, New Jersey, in the United States, where he was educated. Varun Sandesh is the grandson of noted Telugu writer Jeedigunta Ramachandra Murthy, who worked for All India Radio for 28 years in Hyderabad. His uncle Jeedigunta Sridhar is a popular Telugu television personality in Hyderabad, India.{{cite web|url=http://www.maastars.com/3097/varun-sandesh-interview|title=Varun Sandesh Interview Stills - MaaStars|website=www.maastars.com|access-date=21 January 2013|archive-date=11 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511210040/http://www.maastars.com/3097/varun-sandesh-interview|url-status=live}}{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/waiting-for-the-turn/article3388744.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=Y. Sunita | last=Chowdhary | title=Waiting for the turn | date=2012-05-06 | access-date=21 January 2013 | archive-date=16 February 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216212857/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/waiting-for-the-turn/article3388744.ece | url-status=live }} He has one younger sister, Veena Sahithi, who has worked as a singer and lyricist in Nandini Reddy's Ala Modalaindi.{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/article902496.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=Y. Sunita | last=Chowdhary | title=Singing sibling | date=2010-11-21}}
Sandesh and actress Shraddha Das, who was his co-star in Maro Charitra, had a short-lived relationship in 2011.{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-29/news-interviews/29825269_1_shraddha-das-film-industry-bollywood-film | title=I was really shocked: Shraddha Das | access-date=21 January 2013 | archive-date=29 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529115505/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-29/news-interviews/29825269_1_shraddha-das-film-industry-bollywood-film | work=The Times of India | url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/telugu/news/2011/varun-sandesh-broke-shraddha-das-heart-290711.html|title=Varun Sandesh breaks Shraddha Das' heart!|date=29 July 2011|access-date=21 January 2013|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224115925/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/telugu/news/2011/varun-sandesh-broke-shraddha-das-heart-290711.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-04/news-interviews/31119769_1_shraddha-das-hindi-film-prakash-jha | title=Varun and I are over: Shraddha Das | access-date=21 January 2013 | archive-date=25 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625054917/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-04/news-interviews/31119769_1_shraddha-das-hindi-film-prakash-jha | work=The Times of India | url-status=dead }} Varun got engaged with actress Vithika Sheru whom he met in Paddanandi Premalo Mari (2015) on 7 December 2015, and they went on to get married.{{cite news | url=http://www.telangananewspaper.com/varun-sandesh-engagement-videos/ | work=The TNP | title=Varun Engagement Video with Vithika Sheru :NewsPaper | access-date=8 December 2015 | archive-date=8 December 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208202028/http://www.telangananewspaper.com/varun-sandesh-engagement-videos/ | url-status=live }}
Career
In 2007, Sandesh applied for auditions for a Sekhar Kammula film through an online advertisement, despite having no prior acting experience and previously planning to pursue medical studies.{{cite news |author=MADHURI KALYAN, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-03-17/news-interviews/27765787_1_tollywood-varun-sandesh-medical-students |title=Ticket to Tollywood |date=2008-03-17 |access-date=2013-01-24 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-03-17/news-interviews/27765787_1_tollywood-varun-sandesh-medical-students |work=The Times of India |url-status=dead }}
He received a reply of one scene's film script, which he was asked to act out and send back.{{cite web |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/sandesh-movie-cricket.html |title=Varun Sandesh talks about his movies and his cricket - telugu cinema news |publisher=Idlebrain.com |date=2007-11-28 |access-date=2013-01-24 |archive-date=3 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803191558/http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/sandesh-movie-cricket.html |url-status=live }} He shot and sent video clippings of himself to Kammula, which promptly landed him a lead role in the film Happy Days. Featuring an ensemble cast, comprised almost entirely with newcomers,{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/happy-days-review-telugu-14534917.html |title=Movie Review:Happy Days |website=Sify |access-date=2013-01-24 |archive-date=10 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710000449/http://www.sify.com/movies/happy-days-review-telugu-14534917.html |url-status=dead }} Happy Days was a major critical and commercial success, winning several accolades, including six Filmfare Awards South and three Nandi Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/filmfareawards-south2008.html |title=filmfare south awards 2008 - Telugu cinema function |publisher=Idlebrain.com |date=2008-07-12 |access-date=2013-01-24 |archive-date=6 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106194451/http://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/filmfareawards-south2008.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/nandiawards2007.html |title=Nandi awards 2007 announced - Telugu cinema news |publisher=Idlebrain.com |date=2008-01-12 |access-date=2013-01-24 |archive-date=31 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531021540/http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/nandiawards2007.html |url-status=dead }}
He then starred in romantic drama Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008), which received critical acclaim and went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Sandesh followed this initial success by starring in a number of films that did not perform well at the box office, including action film Kurradu (2009), a remake of the 2007 Tamil hit film Polladhavan,{{cite web|title=Varun Sandesh in 'Kurradu'|website=Sify |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/varun-sandesh-in-kurradu-news-telugu-kkfseafhfag.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301075101/http://www.sify.com/movies/varun-sandesh-in-kurradu-news-telugu-kkfseafhfag.html|archive-date=1 March 2014|access-date=21 January 2013}}{{cite news|author=B V S Prakash, TNN|date=2010-02-24|title=Money's not important: Varun|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-24/news-interviews/28136985_1_varun-sandesh-films-overseas-market|url-status=dead|access-date=2013-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112109/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-24/news-interviews/28136985_1_varun-sandesh-films-overseas-market|work=The Times of India|archive-date=24 December 2013}} and romantic drama Maro Charitra (2010), a remake of the K. Balachander-directed 1978 blockbuster of the same title, which starred Kamal Haasan.{{cite news|author=TNN|date=2010-02-26|title=Varun stepping into Kamal Haasan's shoes|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-26/news-interviews/28139121_1_shoes-varun-sandesh-kamal-haasan|url-status=dead|access-date=2013-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224115837/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-26/news-interviews/28139121_1_shoes-varun-sandesh-kamal-haasan|work=The Times of India|archive-date=24 December 2013}} Sandesh's career prospects declined further following a series of box office flops through the 2010s, with his only successes being the romantic comedy Yemaindi Ee Vela (2010), crime comedy D for Dopidi (2013),{{cite news|title=Another hiest [sic] drama|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-29/news-interviews/36050169_1_varun-sandesh-movie-sundeep-kishan|url-status=dead|access-date=21 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224122600/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-29/news-interviews/36050169_1_varun-sandesh-movie-sundeep-kishan|work=The Times of India|archive-date=24 December 2013}} and ensemble comedy Pandavulu Pandavulu Thummeda (2014).
In 2019, Sandesh became a notable television personality for his participation in Star Maa's reality TV show Bigg Boss Telugu 3, reaching the grand finale and finishing in 4th place. Sandesh is also the brand ambassador for the Kalanjali store in Andhra Pradesh, India.{{cite web|title=Telugu Cinema News - Telugu Movie Reviews - Telugu Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Telugu|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/58723.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924010950/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/58723.html|archive-date=24 September 2010|access-date=30 April 2012}}{{cite web|last=Ragalahari|title=Varun Sandesh at Kalanjali, Visakhapatnam Photo Gallery|url=http://www.ragalahari.com/localevents/1778/varun-sandesh-kalanjali-vizag.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315000700/http://www.ragalahari.com/localevents/1778/varun-sandesh-kalanjali-vizag.aspx|archive-date=15 March 2012|access-date=30 April 2012}}
Filmography
=Films=
{{Pending films key}}
=Television=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Year !Tite !Role !Network !Notes |
| 2018
|Hey Krishna |Krishna | |
| align="center" | 2019
|Contestant |3rd Runner up |
= Music Video =
| class="wikitable"
|+ {{nowrap|Varun Sandesh music video credits}} | |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Singer ! scope="col" | Composer ! scope="col" | Language ! class="unsortable" scope="col" | {{ref heading}} | |
|---|---|
| 2016
| "Tumse Kehna Tha" | Varun
| Joell Mukherjee | Hindi | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=2967763}}
- {{Twitter|itsvarunsandesh}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandesh, Varun}}
Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:21st-century Indian male actors
Category:Indian emigrants to the United States
Category:Male actors from Odisha