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The dare devil heroine of the Telugu screen
Indian films and audience have sketched out a short
life span for the actresses. But an exception is made
in the case of Vijay Shanti. Even after over
two decades and numerous Telugu, Tamil, Kannada,
Hindi and Malayalam films, she continues
to play leading roles and easily carry an entire film
on her lone shoulders.
Born in Madras on June 26, 1966 to S.Vara Laxmi
and Srinivas Prasad, already in the film world,
dreamt of the same career for their daughter. Their
wish was fulfilled in 1979 when noted director Bharati
Raja introduced 13 year-old Vijay Shanti as the
protagonist in his Tamil film Kallukkul Earam. She
was accepted by the vierwers and the critiques alike.
Vijay Shanti entered the Telugu film scene in 1983
with Vijay Nirmala's Khiladi Krishnudu and won
her first Andhra Pradesh Government's Nandi Best
Actress Award for the film Pratighatana (1985).
She won more Nandi awards for her performances in Bharat
Nari (1989), Kartavyam (1989) and Osey
Ramulamma (1997). Kartavyam also fetched her a national
award.
Her career was at its peek when she acted in several
blockbusters directed by her mentor T. Krishna. After
her mentor's death, she began to concentrate on commercial
films being made by others and did most of Chiranjeevi's
and Balaiah's films.
She debuted in the Hindi film with Eshwar with
Anil Kapoor, in 1989. With Kartavyam, Vijay
Shanti's career took another turn. She became an instant
hit with the masses with her portrayal of a simple,
wronged woman who boldly stands up for her rights as
a woman and daringly rises against the wrong-doers in
the society. Dasari Narayana Rao's Osey Ramulamma
was elemental in upheavin her career in films for more
than one reason. This movie helped her create a stir
amongst the film audience.
With Adavi Chukka released in July 2000, Vijay
Shanti completes a career span of 175 films. And she
still continues to woo the Telugu masses with movies
like Vandemataram made simultaneously in Telugu,
Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.
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