Vijayashanti

Vijayashanti is an Indian film actress and a politician from the state of Andhra Pradesh . Prior to joining politics in 2004, she has acted in over 186 movies in seven languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi. She is credited as "The Lady Superstar" and " Lady Amithabh" of South Indian cinema. She has won the National Film Award for Best Actress for Karthavyam in 1991 and she has also won six Filmfare Awards including Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (South), four Nandi Awards.

Childhood

She was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 24 June 1965. Her parents, Varalaxmi and Srinivas Prasad, from Ramannagudem in Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana). She completed her 10th class at Holy Angels High School, Chennai, before starting her film career.

Early career (1979–1983)

Her given name is 'Shanti'. She began her acting career at the age of 13 in 1980 as the leading lady in the Tamil film Kallukkul Eeram ("The moisture inside stone / rock") directed by Bharathiraja. The same year, she debuted in Telugu with the movie Kilaadi Krishnudu , pairing opposite Krishna. She was given screen name "Vijaya Shanthi" based on her aunt and veterna actress Vijaya Lalitha. She got a role in the Telugu film Satyam-Sivam (1981), the cast of which included N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.