Personal Details

• 🎂 Date of Birth
• 02 September 1971
• 📍 Place of Birth
• Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh
• ‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family
• Father: Konidela Venkata Rao
• Mother: Anjana Devi
• Siblings: Chiranjeevi, Nagendra Babu
• Spouse: Nandini, Renu Desai, Anna Lezhneva
• Children: Akira Nandan, Aadhya, Mark Shankar Pawanovich, Polena Anjana Pawanova
  Relatives: Ram Charan (Nephew), Allu Arjun (Nephew), Varun Tej (Nephew), Niharika Konidela (Niece), Sai Dharam Tej (Nephew), Panja Vaisshnav Tej (Nephew)

Early Career

• Pawan Kalyan's professional journey began with a foray into acting marking the start of his rise to prominence in the Telugu film industry.
• 🧒 Birth & Family Background
• Pawan Kalyan was born as Konidela Kalyan Kumar in a Telugu family at Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. His father, Konidela Venkata Rao, worked as an excise police constable and was frequently transferred to different places. His mother is Anjana Devi.
• 🎓 Education
• Kalyan completed his schooling at St. Joseph's High School in Nellore and later pursued his education in Madras (now Chennai).
• 🥋 Martial Arts & the Name “Pawan”
• In 1997, during a public martial arts demonstration, the Isshin-ryū Karate Association (a style of Okinawan karate that emphasizes quick strikes, upright stances, and practical self-defense techniques) conferred on him the title “Pawan.”
• He also holds a black belt in Karate and has been a passionate martial artist since his youth.

Career Journey

• Pawan Kalyan is a multifaceted Indian figure primarily known for his acting prowess in Telugu cinema, but also recognized for his political endeavors and philanthropic activities, leaving a significant mark on both the entertainment industry and Andhra Pradesh's political landscape.
• 🎬 1996–1997: Early Work
• Pawan Kalyan debuted in 1996 with Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi, directed by *E. V. V. Satyanarayana and produced by Allu Aravind (Geeta Arts), co-starring Supriya Yarlagadda. Its creative campaign with posters like “Who is this guy?” and “This is our Kalyan” drew attention. The film was a moderate success, but his martial arts and performance stood out.
• In 1997, he starred in Gokulamlo Seeta (dir. Muthyala Subbaiah) with Raasi and Harish, playing a spoiled rich youth who reforms for love. This was the first time he was credited as Pawan Kalyan, after receiving the title “Pawan” in March 1997. The film was a commercial success.
• His third film, Suswagatham (1998, dir. Bhimaneni Srinivasa Rao, prod. R. B. Choudary, Super Good Films) with Devayani, marked the first time he was credited as “Power Star.” Playing a young man destroyed by blind love, his performance won acclaim. The film was a super hit and laid the foundation for his stardom.
• 🌟 1998–2001: Success Streak and Stardom
• In 1998, Pawan Kalyan starred in Tholi Prema (dir. A. Karunakaran, co-starring Keerthi Reddy), which became a cult romantic hit, winning the National Film Award, six Nandi Awards, and screening at the International Film Festival of India. It was later remade in Kannada and Hindi.
• In 1999, he delivered Thammudu (dir. P. A. Arun Prasad), playing a kickboxer, which became a blockbuster with record collections. It was later remade in Tamil (Badri), Kannada (Yuvaraja), and Bengali (Champion).
• Next came Badri (2000, dir. Puri Jagannadh), co-starring Ameesha Patel and Renu Desai, which expanded his mass appeal. The film’s dialogues and songs became iconic, and it was remade in Hindi as Shart: The Challenge.
• In 2001, he acted in Kushi (dir. S. J. Surya, co-starring Bhumika), which became a record-breaking blockbuster and the highest-grossing Telugu film of its time. Pawan choreographed the action sequences himself, and his style, dialogues, and mannerisms became a youth trend.
• With four consecutive blockbusters — Tholi Prema, Thammudu, Badri, and Kushi — Pawan Kalyan achieved cult status, becoming a youth icon with a massive independent fanbase. In 2001, he also became the first South Indian brand ambassador for Pepsi, while his brother Chiranjeevi endorsed Coca-Cola.
• 🎥 2002–2007: Directorial Debut & Career Fluctuations
• In 2003, Pawan Kalyan made his directorial debut with Johnny, which he also wrote and starred in alongside Renu Desai. Despite record distribution rights and a stylish martial arts theme, it became his first flop after six consecutive hits. However, its action choreography, trends like Johnny T-shirts and bandanas, and its screening at the International Film Festival of India left an impact.
• In 2004, he starred in Gudumba Shankar (prod. Nagendra Babu), where he handled screenplay, choreography, and stunts. It was an average grosser, though his unique style gained attention.
• With Balu (2005, dir. A. Karunakaran), co-starring Shriya, he introduced stylish fashion trends, including Italian pants, and the film became the first Telugu release in South Africa, though only an average success.
• In 2006, he starred in Bangaram (dir. Dharani), playing a reporter aspiring to join BBC. The film underperformed, leading him to refund distributors. That year, he also launched his ambitious directorial project Satyagrahi with A. R. Rahman and P. C. Sreeram, but later shelved it to pursue real-life activism.
• Closing this phase, Annavaram (2006), co-starring Asin, saw him in a rural backdrop as a vigilante brother. The film was an above-average hit.
• 🎬 2008–2011: Continued Career
• In 2008, Pawan Kalyan scored a huge comeback with Jalsa (dir. Trivikram Srinivas), where he played an aerobics instructor with a Naxalite past. The film set opening day records, became the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2008, and marked his first hit after five flops.
• His next, Puli (2010, dir. S. J. Surya), despite high expectations and a ₹40 crore budget, was a box office disaster. Around the same time, he was announced for an ambitious Jesus Christ film (dir. Singeetam Srinivasa Rao), planned as India’s costliest film, but it never materialized.
• In 2011, he starred in Teen Maar, a remake of Love Aaj Kal, playing dual roles; it was an average grosser. Later that year, Panjaa (2011), a gangster drama, was released with Pawan in a rugged new look. Though mixed at the box office, it later gained cult status as an underrated film.
• 🌟 2012–2013: Comeback with Blockbusters
• In 2012, Pawan Kalyan returned to form with Gabbar Singh (dir. Harish Shankar), a remake of Dabangg. The film grossed ₹110 crore worldwide, becoming the 2nd highest-grosser in Telugu cinema at the time. His charismatic performance won him Filmfare, SIIMA & CineMAA Awards.
• That same year, he starred in Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu (dir. Puri Jagannadh), a political action drama. Despite controversies and protests, it grossed ₹52 crore in its opening weekend and was a success.
• In 2013, Attarintiki Daredi (dir. Trivikram Srinivas) shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing Telugu film ever (surpassing Magadheera). Despite piracy leaks, it was a blockbuster, won multiple Nandi & Filmfare Awards, and was remade in three languages.
• By 2014, Pawan was ranked among the Top 5 Heroes of India in a Star India survey.
• 🗳️ 2014–Present: Balancing Politics & Cinema
• In 2014, Pawan Kalyan launched the Janasena Party while continuing to make films. His first release post-politics entry was Gopala Gopala (2015), where he played Lord Krishna, a commercial success with ₹88.1 crore gross.
• He followed with Sardaar Gabbar Singh (2016) and Katamarayudu (2017), both receiving mixed reviews. His 25th film, Agnyaathavaasi (2018), directed by Trivikram Srinivas, turned out a box-office failure, after which he briefly retired to focus on politics.
• Kalyan made a strong comeback with Vakeel Saab (2021), a remake of Pink, which despite political hurdles and COVID challenges, grossed ₹137.65 crore worldwide. In Bheemla Nayak (2022), alongside Rana Daggubati, he delivered a massive hit, crossing ₹192 crore globally.
• His 2023 release Bro, co-starring Sai Dharam Tej, saw him play Titan (Time) in a fantasy drama, earning mixed reviews.
• Despite facing restrictions and political obstacles since 2019, Pawan’s films have still performed impressively at the box office.
• 🎬 Upcoming
• He will next be seen in Ustaad Bhagat Singh (dir. Harish Shankar) and the gangster drama OG (dir. Sujeeth), where he is reportedly charging ₹100 crore, making him one of India’s highest-paid actors.
• 🏛️ Political Career
• 🌱 Early Political Entry (2008–2011)
• Pawan Kalyan began politics in 2008 as president of Yuvarajyam, the youth wing of PRP founded by his brother Chiranjeevi. He campaigned actively but never contested. In 2009, he suffered health issues during rallies. After PRP merged with Congress in 2011, he expressed discontent and stepped back.
• 🚩 Formation of Jana Sena (2014–2019)
• On 14 March 2014, he launched Jana Sena Party and co-authored Ism (party ideology). He supported BJP–TDP alliance in the 2014 elections, playing a key role in their victory with the slogan “Congress Hatao, Desh Bachao.”
  He raised issues like the Uddanam kidney crisis, DCI privatization, land pooling, illegal mining, and farmer suicides, establishing JSP as a people’s voice.
• ⚖️ Setback & Resurgence (2019–2024)
• In 2019, JSP allied with BSP, CPI & CPM. Pawan contested from Gajuwaka & Bhimavaram but lost both, while the party won only 1 seat (Razole) with ~6% votes.
• Despite setbacks, he continued movements for farmers, women’s safety, sand scarcity, and justice cases. In 2020, JSP re-allied with the BJP.
• In 2022–23, he started Jana Vani meetings and the Varahi Yatra. By 2024, JSP allied with TDP & BJP, winning 21 MLA seats & 2 MP seats, while Pawan won from Pithapuram with 70,000+ votes.
• 🏛️ Deputy Chief Minister (2024–Present)
• On 14 June 2024, he became Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, also handling Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, Water Supply, Environment, and Forests.
• He set a world record by holding 13,326 Grama Sabhas in one day (Aug 2024). Later, he launched Palle Panduga, covering 30,000 projects worth ₹4,500 crore. In Oct 2024, he ordered inspections of schools, hospitals, and sanitation in his Pithapuram constituency.
• ❤️ Philanthropy
• Pawan Kalyan is known for his extensive charity in disaster relief, healthcare, education, farmers’ and soldiers’ welfare, parasports, elderly & orphan care, literature, arts, and temples.
• Donated to soldiers during the Kargil War (1999) and founded the Common Man Protection Force (2007) with ₹1 crore.
• Supported Uttarakhand floods (2013), Cyclone Hudhud (2014), Hyderabad floods (2020) and COVID-19 relief (2020) with multi-crore donations.
• Helped temples, farmers, athletes, para-cricketers, cancer patients, and folk artists with direct financial aid.
• Donated ₹5 crore for farmers (2022), ₹74 lakh to families of farmers who died by suicide, and continued targeted welfare for villages & fishermen (2022–2023).
• In 2024, gave ₹6 crore for flood relief, ₹60 lakh for a school sports ground, and ₹10 lakh for victims of water contamination.
• Awarded the Indo-European Business Forum’s Excellence Award (2017) for philanthropy.
• 📢 Other Works
• First South Indian Pepsi Brand Ambassador (2001).
• Brand Ambassador for Handloom Weavers (2017).
• Brand Ambassador for Jeevandan (organ donation, 2017).
• Invited to Harvard University India Conference (2017) to deliver a speech alongside R. Madhavan.
• 🎬 Filmography
• Pawan Kalyan, an actor, filmmaker, singer, and politician, made his debut with Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi (1996). He rose to stardom with consecutive hits like Gokulamlo Seeta (1997), Suswagatham (1998), Tholi Prema (1998), Thammudu (1999), Badri (2000), and Kushi (2001). His directorial venture Johnny (2003) failed, followed by a string of average films, but Jalsa (2008) revived his career. After setbacks like Puli (2010), Teen Maar (2011), and Panjaa (2011), he made a strong comeback with Gabbar Singh (2012) and the record-breaking Attarintiki Daredi (2013). Later, Gopala Gopala (2015) succeeded, though Sardaar Gabbar Singh (2016), Katamarayudu (2017), and Agnyaathavaasi (2018) disappointed. He returned with Vakeel Saab (2021) and Bheemla Nayak (2022), both successful. Recent projects include Bro (2023) and Hari Hara Veera Mallu (2025), with OG (2025) and Ustaad Bhagat Singh (2026) upcoming. Beyond acting, he directed Johnny, wrote and produced films like Gudumba Shankar and Sardaar Gabbar Singh, produced Chal Mohan Ranga (2018), and worked as a stunt coordinator, choreographer, and playback singer in multiple films. He also narrated Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019). His discography includes popular songs like “Kaatama Rayudu” (Attarintiki Daredi), “Kodakaa Koteswar Rao” (Agnyaathavaasi), and multilingual tracks for Hari Hara Veera Mallu (2025).

Achievements and Milestones

• Here's a list of awards received by Pawan Kalyan:
• Filmfare Award (Best Actor – Telugu) – Gabbar Singh 2012
• Hyderabad Times Film Award (Best Actor) – Gabbar Singh 2012
• CineMAA Award (Best Actor – Male) – Gabbar Singh 2012
• SIIMA Award (Best Actor – Telugu) – Gabbar Singh 2012
• Santosham Film Award (Best Actor) – Attarintiki Daredi 2013
• Margadarsi Big Telugu Entertainment Award (Best Actor) – Attarintiki Daredi 2013