AllMovie

Factsheet

• The engineering graduate got inspired by NTR to become an actor; it took a lot of persuasion for his father to send him to a film institute.
• Made his debut in the film Sneham (1977).
• Received the Nandi Best Actor Award for Erra Mandaram (1991).
• Was awarded an honorary doctorate by Andhra University.
• Bagged another Nandi Best Actor Award for Aa Naluguru (2004). 
• Dream (2012) won him the Royal Reel Award at the Canada International Film Festival.
• The Telugu Alliances of Canada bestowed him with the title Hasya Kireeti.
• Suffered a mild stroke in 2012.
• Was chosen as the tuberculosis ambassador for the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) Rally on World TB Day in 2014.
• Got elected as the president of Movie Artist Association (MAA) in 2015.