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A Serious Film Actor
WINNING NANDI AWARD FOR A 12 MINUTE ROLE
The dashing and handsome Jagapathi Babu, with
an enviously clean, gentlemanly look, walks with an
aura of seriousness around him. He had no interest in
studies and at Vizag he hardly attended the college
. Somehow he managed to pass B.A. (Corporate) examination
and, before his father could ask him to go in for post
graduation studies, he joined the family's furniture
business. His looks and personality drew lots of attention,
especially from dreamy eyed girls, who told him that
he ought to have been in films.
So he gave the film world a shot ended with his working
on his first film, Simha-swapnam. This movie
didn't give him recognition of any kind. But his second
chance came in Jagannatakam and Pedarikam.
Jagapathi Babu's performance in the former and good
music in the latter saw both the films faring well.
Jagapathi Babu had found a sure foothold in the Telugu
film land. He had now decided not to fall for the mere
singing-dancing-fighting roles. He had begun to prefer
strongly etched character roles to glamorous ones. He
had become choosy and, importantly, he had begun to
accept only those films that would present him in a
different light.
If in Gayam he was an action hero, in Shubhalagnam
he succeeded in attracting the attention of the
women viewers. His insistence on doing only finely worked
out roles made him take on even guest roles that are
brief but with a lot of thought built-in the character.
One such trial is a mere twelve-minute role in Antahapuram
in Ravoyi Chandamama. Though it was not accepted
by the viewers, it fetched him the coveted Nandi
state award.
A full-fledged role in Adivilo Abhimanyudu also
won for him laurels and awards. His search for roles
with a difference and his business acumen made himforay
into film production. His Jagapathi Pictures brought
out such films as Pellipatalu. Though none of
them fared well at the box office, he was not to be
perturbed. With Manoharam presently he has 50
films to his credit. More films are in the offing. They
are films with him playing different and meaningful
role. With a wife and two daughters, Meghna and
Lekha he is leading a happy family life.
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