Akkineni Nageswara Rao

t was in 1941, at the age of 17, that he made his debut in the Telugu film, as he's fondly referred to, was discovered by chance at the Vijayawada railway station by the noted film producer, Ghantasala Balaramaiah. Before that, he predominantly acted in theater, many times donning female roles since women weren't allowed on stage at that time.His most popular stage plays were Asha Jyothy, Sathyanveshana, and Telugu Thalli. ANR was first cast in a lead film role in Sitarama Jananam, where he played the role of Lord Rama. He has since acted in over 255 films, spanning the Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages. A majority of his films were both commercial and critical successes.
Among other things, Nageswara Rao is credited for influencing Telugu film producers and creating a base for Telugu films in Hyderabad. The Telugu film industry in its early days was based out of Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu.The new state of Andhra Pradesh was carved out from the Madras Presidency on 1 November 1956 and several leaders opined that in order to create a separate identity for the Telugu film industry, it had to be based out of Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh. ANR was one of the first actors of that period who insisted on moving the Telugu film center from Chennai to Hyderabad. He established his own 28 acre production studio/house, Annapurna Studios in the heart of Hyderabad, to facilitate this

ANR played a variety of roles ranging from a charming prince to a frustrated alcoholic lover, from a valiant soldier to a holy saint, and from a college student to a composed government official. He excelled in mythological roles too as Abhimanyu in Maya Bazaar, as Lord Vishnu in Chenchu Lakshmi; as Narada in Bhookailash; and Arjuna in Krishnarjunula Yudhdham. In rural oriented films like Balaraju, Rojulu Maraayi, and Nammina Bantu, he attained the status of Telugu cinema's first superstar. Surprisingly in comedy films too like Missamma, Chakrapani, and Preminchi Choodu, he made a striking mark. ANR is fondly called the "Tragedy King" of Telugu cinema, through his milestone performances in romantic dramas such as Laila Majnu, Anarkali, Batasari, Prem Nagar, Premabishekam, and Meghasandesham. He was the first to don a double role in Telugu films, and even played nine roles in the film Navarathri. ANR's portrayal of an alcoholic jilted lover in Devadas erected an everlasting monument to Sarath Chandra's famous Bengali character. Although that role was reprised by many in later years in several different languages, it prompted the famous Hindi actor Dilip Kumar to say, "there is only one Devadas, and that is Nageswara Rao." A majority of ANR's social films like Samsaram, Bratuku Teruvu, Aradhana, Donga Ramudu, Dr. Chakravarthi, Ardhaangi, Mangalya Balam, Illarikam, Shantinivasam, Velugu Needalu, Dasara Bullodu, Bharya Bharthalu, Dharmadaata, Bahudoorapu Batasari, and College Bullodu were commercially successful films. Seetaramaiah gary Manavaralu was released in 1991, exactly 50 years after his debut, and was a huge success at the box office, despite the influx of newer and younger stars. [7][8][9] A unique feature that won ANR acclaim from critics and art lovers was that he enacted the roles of literary and cultural icons of different regions in India, thereby making them instruments of national integration.--as the great Sanskrit poet, Mahakavi Kalidas of Ujjain; as the celebrated musician saint, Bhakta Jayadeva of Orissa; as the temple sculptor, Amarasilpi Jakkanna of Karnataka; as the devotee saint, Vipranarayana of Tamilnadu; and as the singer Bhakta Tukaram.

Apart from being a movie star, ANR was a prolific writer. Some of his prominent books being are his autobiographical work, Nenu Na Jeevitham, the memoirs of his first visit to the USA, Nenu Choosina America, and the expression of his thoughts in his book, A Aalu. His most recent, contemplative, self-reflective work is the book Manasuloni Maata. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from several Indian universities.

ANR, an actor with barely minimum formal schooling, is a strong advocate of education. He donated generously to the Andhra, Madras, Sri Venkateswara, Osmania, Bangalore, Kerala, and Bombay universities, and instituted several scholarships. He was the chief donor and chairman of a college in his native Gudivada, which was later named after him--the ANR college. Apart from being a life member in the senate of the Andhra University in Vishakapatnam, ANR is also advisor to the department of Dramatics and Theatre Arts

ANR was invited as a guest of the State by the USA, Russia, UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Malaysia, and Japan. He toured all these countries as a cultural ambassador representing India. He visited Australia in 1967, leading a delegation representing the Indian film, Anthasthulu