Akul Balaji Biography

Akul Balaji is an Indian film actor, television host, and dancer who has worked in both Kannada and Telugu. He kicked off his career by acting and hosting shows on television and is almost a decade old in the Kannada film industry. He shot to fame for co-hosting the hit Kannada reality show "Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu" on Asianet Suvarna Channel with Kannada actor Sudeep.

Early Life

Originally from a small town called Rly. Kodur in Andhra Pradesh, Akul Balaji was born to Shri. Akula Bhaskar Rao and Smt. Sarala Devi on February 23, 1979. After moving to Bangalore at the age of 16, he trained in Bharathanatyam under Smt. Usha Datar and later joined "Natya STEM Dance Kampni," headed by Madhu Nataraj, as a contemporary dancer and learned Kathak from Guru Smt. Dr. Maya Rao. He has also dabbled in theater, appearing in Director Pawan Kumar's adaptation of Badal Sarkar's Evam Inderjit in 2004. He has also done an advanced acting workshop under Mahesh Dattani.

Personal Life

Akul Balaji married Jyothi, the niece of actress Vijaya Nirmala, in 2008. The couple has a son named Krishaan Nag.

Television Career

With humble beginnings as a small-screen actor, he has come a long way by carving a niche for himself as a versatile actor and television host in Karnataka. He won "the most popular anchor award" from Big FM Big TV for the year 2010, and he has to his credit super-hit shows like "Kuniyonu Baara" and "Comedy Killadigalu" on Zee Kannada. He has hosted super-hit reality shows for Asianet Suvarna like "Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu" seasons 1 and 2, "Halli Haida Pyateg Banda," "Pyate Mandi Kadige Bandru 1," "Pyate Mandi Kadige Bandru 2," which was shot in the Andaman Islands, "Hosa Luv Story," and "Nodi Swamy Naavirode Heege."

He hosted "Mane Munde Mahalakshmi," a game show for ETV Kannada and "Indian." He hosted "Sye Ante Sye" for Zee Telugu. He also hosted the reality show called "ThaKaDiMiTha Dancing Stars" for ETV Kannada. He has acted in the following television series: Agatha (Udaya TV, 2002), Guptha Gamini (ETV Kannada), Yava Janumadha Maithri (ETV Kannada), Jagalagantiyaru (Udaya TV), and Pellinati Pramanalu (Zee Telugu, 2012).

Bigg Boss Kannada Season 2

Akul Balaji won season 2 of Bigg Boss Kannada. This season featured four finalists. Srujan Lokesh, Deepika Kamaiah, and Shwetha Chengappa were the other three finalists in the house.