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Rajesh

Rajesh

Actor
Biography:  Vidyasagar known by his stage name Rajesh  was an Indian actor who appears in Kannada films. Known as 'Kala Thapaswi', Rajesh is an ardent fan of literature. Vidyasagar is the original name of Rajesh. He appeared in many films as the lead in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but later on, started appearing in character roles. He is the father of film actress Aasha Rani who had acted in the film Rathasapthami with Shivrajkumar and the father-in-law of popular Kannada and Tamil actor Arjun Sarja. He has acted in over 150 films. "Kalathapasvi Rajesh Athmakathe" is the biography of Rajesh. In 2014, he was awarded the Dr. Rajkumar Cultural Endowment Award by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat.  Early life Rajesh was born as Vidyasagar in 1935 in Bangalore, India. He grew up watching then stars such as Thyagaraja Bhagavatar, Rajakumari, and T. R. Mahalingam. He developed an interest in theatre from his childhood and joined Sudarshana Nataka Mandali without his parents' knowledge. In the name of tuition, he was going for practice and the first role he got was ‘Sri Rama’. From pamphlets, his parents came to know that he has joined a theatre troupe. He currently lives in Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore. Early career Rajesh initially worked as a typist in government offices. Later he formed the Shakti Nataka Mandali, staging many popular plays. One fine day he got up from the sleet and started writing a play on unemployment. It was titled ‘Nirudyogi Baalu’. The play he directed later. Got good appreciation. ‘Badavana Baalu’ was his next and it continued like that. Playwright Basheer asked to him act in plays and he was in Visha Sarpa, Nandadeepa, Chandrodaya, and Kittur Rani Chennamma. Thackeray's role was well received. His theatre performances eventually progressed to film roles. It was veteran director Hunsur Krishnamurthy who introduced Vidyasagar in Veera Sankalpa. He applied for 15 days' leave to his job and went to Madras. While acting in this film he got an offer for ‘Sri Ramanjeneya Yuddha’. Dr Rajakumar was Sri Rama and he was Bharatha, Udayakumar was Anjaneya. It was a successful film. While acting in his second film he got an offer from BR Panthuluji for ‘Gange Gowri’. Dr. Rajkumar was ‘Shiva’ and he was ‘Maha Vishnu’. For some politics he rejected the offer in ‘Jeevana Tharanga’. he kept quiet for two years and came back to Bangalore. But Narayan Seth from Mumbai came in touch with him and took him to CV Shivashanker. That was the new beginning of his life. Vidyasagar became Rajesh and the film was ‘Namma Ooru’. He was not only good at acting but also a good singer. The turning point was Namma Ooru in 1968. Directed by C.V. Shivashankar, it was a runaway hit and then Finance Minister Ramakrishna Hegde gave it a 100 percent tax exemption. It was the film's producer B.S. Narayan, Late Shri Suryanarayan Rao & Late J N Shetty who rechristened Vidyasagar as Rajesh and after that, he was flooded with offers, the song "Hoogadhiri Soohdarare" of the film Namma Ooru is a famous Hit. He recently acted in Nanna Gopala, a children's film directed by Lakshman. Though he started a little late compared to the Kumars - Udaykumar, Rajkumar, and Kalyan Kumar, they were all contemporaries. In that competitive period, Rajesh stood strong for his terrific performance on the silver screen in Kannada cinema. In the charged-up roles similar to what counterpart Sivaji Ganesan was doing the stellar performance of Rajesh was well received. He was not only good at acting but also singing. Later career He was doing what Chi Udayashanker famous cinema writer was doing in the office. In the ledger books, he was keeping the famous novels and reading. Chi Udayashanker was sent out from the office for that. Even he also faced the same situation. After he became a hero as Rajesh he has acted with Dr. Rajakumar again in Devara Makkalu, Prathidwani, Kranthiveera. In ‘Devara Gudi’ he was with Vishnuvardhana in an important role. From 1975 he got various good offers. Devara Duddu, Badhu Bangaravaythu, Beluvaladha Madilalli, Mugiyadha Kathe, which all one after the other became hits. It was a lifetime role for him in ‘Beluvaladha Madilalli’. Kaliyuga, Pitamaha. Satyanarayana Pooja Phale, Karna, and the recent Bhimoos Bang Bang Kids of SV Rajendra Singh Babu played important roles. He is of the notion that in 1950 onwards Honnappa Bhagavatar, Rajkumar, Udayakumar, Kalyankumar, B.R. Pantulu, K. S. Ashwath, Narasimha Raju, Balakrishna, Iyer, B. Saroja Devi, Leelavathi, Pandari Bai, MV Rajamma, Mynavathi, Vandhana, Kalpana, Jayanthi, Bharathi enriched the film industry. But, now Rajesh regrets that Kannada films produced in recent times have lost their credence in the absence of good stories and social commitment. The yesteryear star says "Those films had a message for the society besides providing healthy entertainment. But the films that have come after 1980 lack social commitment and are of cheap taste. The technological development and huge money being spent on films have not been used by filmmakers for the good of the society," Awards Honorary Doctorate: For his contribution to Indian Cinema and achievements in the Kannada Film Field for four and a half decades, legendary actor Rajesh was conferred the honorary doctorate by the Karnataka University in the year 2012.  Death Actor Rajesh passed away on February 19, 2022, due to breathing complications and age-related illness.
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Rajesh Movies

Movies Director Release Date
Kannada
as Actor
C Lakshmana Aug 2010
Kannada
as Actor
Subbarao B 26 Apr 1991
Kannada
as Actor
Singeetam Srinivasa Rao 19 Jun 1986

Rajesh: Age, Net Worth, Movies, Family, and Personal Details

About Rajesh

Name Rajesh
Profession(s) Main Profession


Other Profession
Date Of Birth 15 Apr 1932
Age 92
Birth Place Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore
Current Residence
Religion
Nationality
Height
Zodiac Sign
Hobbies

Rajesh Net Worth

Net Worth

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Rajesh

  • The age of Rajesh in the 2024 was 92.

  • The Rajesh 's was born in Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore.

  • The DOB for Rajesh was 15 Apr 1932.

  • The most recent movies for Rajesh is Nanna Gopala.

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