Naresh (actor)

Naresh
Naresh in 2021
Born
Vijaya Krishna Naresh

20 January 1960
Hindupur, Andhra pradesh, India
Occupations
  • Actor
  • politician
  • social activist
Years active 1970–present (child actor)
1982–present
Spouse(s) Rekha Supriya (divorced)
Ramya Raghupati (divorced)
​
(m. 2023)​
Children 3
Parent(s) Vijaya Nirmala (mother)
K. S. Murthy (father)
Family See Nidudavolu Family

Vijaya Krishna Naresh (born 20 January 1960), known mononymously as Naresh, is an Indian actor, politician and social activist known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and television. He began acting as a child in 1970, and starred in around 200 films in a variety of roles as both lead and supporting actor. Some of the box office successes he appeared in were Rendu Jella Sita (1983), Sreevariki Prema Lekha (1984), Sri Kanaka Mahalaxmi Recording Dance Troupe (1987), Manasu Mamatha (1990), Chitram! Bhalare Vichitram!! (1991) and Jamba Lakidi Pamba (1993). He also received the title H.E. (his Excellency) and received a PhD in arts (his 2nd doctorate) from the United Nations International Commission of Diplomatic Relations Human Rights & Peace group.

Early and personal life

Naresh is son of actress Vijaya Nirmala and her first husband, K. S. Murthy. He mentioned in a TV interview that his father died when he was young and that he doesn't remember much about him. Naresh was married four times as of 2023. Naresh first married the daughter of senior dance master Srinu and the couple has a son named Naveen Vijaykrishna. Naresh divorced his first wife and married Rekha Supriya, the granddaughter of famous poet and film lyricist Devulapalli Krishna Shastri. The couple also has a son named Teja. Naresh divorced his second wife. He then married Ramya Raghupathi who was 15 years younger than him. The couple has a son. In 2023, he married Kannada actress Pavitra Lokesh.

Career

Film

Naresh made his debut as a child actor in the film Pandanti Kapuram (1972) as well as Kavitha, and Santosh Sowbhagyam. He later made his debut as a lead actor, at the age of 17, with the box office hit Nalugu Stambhalata (1982), directed by Sri Jandhyala and produced by Navata Krishnam Raju. He followed it up with Prema Sankellu (1982), which was directed by his mother Vijaya Nirmala. His other notable works include Rendu Jella Sita (1983), Sreevariki Prema Lekha (1984), Sri Kanaka Mahalaxmi Recording Dance Troupe (1987), Bava Bava Panneeru (1989), Manasu Mamatha (1990), Jamba Lakidi Pamba (1993), and Gunasekhar's Sogasu Chuda Taramaa? (1995). After a small hiatus, he started his second innings as a supporting actor with Allari Ramudu in 2002, and then went on to appear in many memorable films such as: Dhanalakshmi, I Love You (2002), Malliswari (2004), Oka Oorilo (2005), Mee Sreyobhilashi (2007), Andari Bandhuvaya (2010), 100% Love (2011), Chandamama Kathalu and Drushyam (2014), Bhale Bhale Magadivoy (2015), Guntur Talkies (2016), Sathamanam Bhavati (2017), Rangasthalam (2018), and Sammohanam (2018).

Naresh served as the president of the Movie Artists Association.

Politics

Naresh is also an active politician, and a member of Bharatiya Janata Party state leader.

He worked as a state youth wing president of AP, and state secretary BJP, state general secretary vice president of BJP and also contested from Hindupur parliamentary seat. He also did a 125 km Padayatra from Icchampally Project to Warangal alongside C. Vidyasagar Rao for linking of "Krishna and Godavari" waters and is active in the Rayalaseema development. He is the founder president of KIV Kalakarula Ikya Vidika an NGO a non-profit and non-governmental organization, which works to protect ancient arts and support artists.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1970 Rendu Kutumbala Katha
1972 Pandanti Kapuram
1974 Devadasu
1975 Santanam Sowbhagyam
1982 Nalugu Stambhalata
Prema Sankellu
1983 Puttadi Bomma
Agni Samadhi
Puli Debba Naresh
Rendu Jella Sita Gopi
1984 Nenjathai Allitha Tamil film
Yama Doothalu
Ooha Sundari
Chadarangam Raja
Mukkopi
Kotha Dampathulu
Sreevariki Prema Lekha
1985 Shrivaari Sobhanam
Mogudu Pellalu
Porutham Tamil film
1986 Jeevana Poratam
Maavari Gola
Aadi Dampatulu
Kirayi Mogudu
1987 Damnit Katha Addam Tirigindi
Pelliloyi Pellillu
Paga Saadhista Vinod
Kulala Kurukshetram
Srimathi Oka Bahumathi
Shrutilayalu
Sri Kanaka Mahalaxmi Recording Dance Troupe Gopalam
1988 Choopulu Kalasina Shubhavela
Collector Vijaya
Nava Bharatham
1989 Bava Bava Panneeru
Two Town Rowdy
Sahasame Naa Oopiri
Pinni
Gandipeta Rahasyam
Hai Hai Nayaka Ramakrishna
Police Report
1990 Alajadi
Justice Rudrama Devi
Kokila Siddhartha
Manasu Mamatha
Bujjigadi Babai
Irugilli Porugillu
Padmavati Kalyanam
Prajala Manishi Vikram
Police Bharya
1991 Nenera Police
Naa Pellam Naa Ishtam
Prema Enta Madhuram
Shiva Shakti
Pichchi Pullayya
1992 Adrishtam
Chitram Bhalare Vichitram Nimmagadda Rajeswara Rao "Raja"/Prema
Hello Darling
Pelli Neeku Shubham Naaku
1993 Enti Bava Mareenu
Chitikela Pandiri
Ladies Special himself
Asale Pellaina Vanni
Jamba Lakidi Pamba
Konguchaatu Krishnaudu
Prema Chitram Pelli Vichitram
1994 Aame Vikram
Prema & Co
Pelli Koduku
1995 Sogasu Chuda Taramaa?
1996 Shri Krishnarjuna Vijayam Narada
Rendu Kutumbala Katha
1997 Mama Bagunnaavaa
Thoka Leni Pitta
1998 Life Lo Wife
2000 Hindustan The Mother
2002 Chandravamsam
Sontham
Allari Ramudu
Dhanalakshmi, I Love You Babu Rao
2003 Villain
2004 Gowri
Malliswari Prasad 's elder brother
2005 Chandra Vamsham
Oka Oorilo
Orey Pandu
2006 Nandanavanam 120km
Premante Inte
2007 Madhumasam Sanjay's elder brother
Maharathi
Mee Sreyobhilashi Surya Prakash Rao
Veduka
Yamadonga
Yamagola Malli Modalayindi Aishwarya's Father
2008 Ankit, Pallavi & Friends
Naa Manasukemaindi
Ontari
Vaana
Andamaina Abaddam
2009 Maska Krish's brother
Vaade Kaavaali
2010 Maro Charitra
Andari Bandhuvaya Nandu's father
Varudu Deepthi's father
2011 100% Love Ramesh, Balu's father
Mogudu Shankar Rao
2012 Yamudiki Mogudu
2013 1000 Abaddalu
Aadu Magaadra Bujji
2014 Malini 22 Palayamkottai Prakash Tamil film
Anaamika Home Minister
Nee Enge En Anbe Home Minister Tamil film
Chandamama Kathalu Mohan
Drushyam Prabhakar
Mike Testing 143
Ori Devudoy
Parampara
Chinnadana Nee Kosam Nithin's father
2015 Beeruva Surya Narayana
Gaddam Gang Dharmaraju
Sandamarutham DGP Tamil film
Bhale Bhale Magadivoy Hanumantha Rao
Subramanyam for Sale Subramanyam's father
2016 Eedu Gold Ehe Buchchaiah Chowdary
Guntur Talkies Giri
Hyper Narayana Murthy's friend
A...Aa Ramalingam
Brahmotsavam Mahalakshmi's brother
Garam
Nenu Sailaja Hari's father
Sri Sri
2017 Sathamanam Bhavati Bangarraju
MCA (Middle Class Abbayi) Nani's uncle
2018 Chalo Abhi's Father
Toli Prema House Owner
Chal Mohan Ranga Mohan's father
Rangasthalam Koteswara Rao
Sammohanam Sarvesh "Sarva"
Pedavi Datani Matokatundhi
Happy Wedding Anand's father
Srinivasa Kalyanam Raju
Sailaja Reddy Alludu Venu Reddy
Mahanati Cameraman Keshava
Devadas Mohan, Das's brother
Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava Saradhi
N. T. R. B. A. Subba Rao
24 Kisses Sri Lakshmi's father
2019 1st Rank Raju Shoban Babu
RDX Love
Prati Roju Pandage Naresh Prasad
2020 Entha Manchivaadavuraa Vijayakrishna
Disco Raja Kukuteshwar Rao
Bheeshma Anand Prasad
Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya Babji
V Aditya's father
Amaram Akhilam Prema Amar's father
Orey Bujjiga Krishnaveni's father
Miss India Siva Rama Krishna
Solo Brathuke So Better Virat's father
2021 Jathi Ratnalu Satish Janardhan
Sreekaram Ramana
Rang De Arjun's father
Sridevi Soda Center Sanjeev Rao
Tuck Jagadish Sathi Babu
Maestro Mohan
Pushpaka Vimanam School headmaster
Drushyam 2 Prabhakar
Arjuna Phalguna Village Sarpanch
2022 Super Machi
Hero Arjun's father
Ghani Ghani's college coach
Ante Sundaraniki Sundar's father
Ranga Ranga Vaibhavanga Rishi's father
Swathi Muthyam Bhagi's father
Ginna Veera Swamy
2023 Anni Manchi Sakunamule Sudhakar
Malli Pelli Narendra Also Producer
Samajavaragamana Uma Maheswara Rao
Martin Luther King
2024 Game Changer TBA

Television

Year Work Role Network Notes Ref.
1991 Munimanikyam Gari Kantham Kadhalu Venkata Rao Doordarshan Nandi Award for Best Television Actor
1996 Popula Petti Srinivias ETV
2001 Amrutham Icchapurapu Amrutha Rao Gemini TV
2008 Open Heart with RK Himself ABN Andhra Jyothi
2009 Count Down Himself ETV
2012 Maa Nanna Sivaiah Gemini TV
2013 Mahalakshmi Nivasam Viswanatha Raju Gemini TV
2019 Alitho Saradaga Himself ETV Episode 114
2021 Oka Chinna Family Story Haridas ZEE5
2022 Modern Love Hyderabad Amazon Prime Video
2023 Maya Bazaar For Sale ZEE5

Singers

Brahmachaarulam - Chitram Bhalare Vichitram (1992)

Accolades

Naresh received the state Nandi Award for Best Actor for Sogasu Chuda Taramaa? (1995), the Nandi Special Jury Award for Chitram Bhalare Vichitram (1991), and the platinum award for best feature film, Parampara (2014). He has also received one Television Nandi Award for his work in Doordarshan's Munimanikyam Gari Kantham Kadhalu.

He starred in the films Shrutilayalu (1987), that premiered at the International Film Festival of India and Hindustan The Mother (2000), which premiered at the International Film Festival of India, BFI London Film Festival and Mumbai Film Festival. In 2007 he appeared in Mee Sreyobhilashi, which also premiered at the International Film Festival of India. In 2014, he acted in Parampara, which won the Platinum Award for Best Feature at the International Indonesian Movie Awards, and premiered at the Jakarta International Film Festival.

Naresh received the Servant Of The Poor award on the occasion of the 4th national meet of CNRI held during 4–6 November 2009 at New Delhi, presented by the union Minister for Rural Development C. P. Joshi.

In 2017, he spoke about displaying arts in Indian films at the University of Bedfordshire in the presence of the vice chancellor.

Awards