KONIDALA PAWAN KALYAN CAREER:

Konidala Pawan Kalyan is a distinguished actor in Telugu cinema, known for his unique style and charisma. His fanbase is renowned for its intensity and loyalty, often described as “unfathomable” and “cult-like.” Kalyan is one of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema and has consistently featured in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list since 2012. His accolades include a Filmfare Award and a SIIMA Award, among others.

Kalyan made his acting debut with Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi in 1996. His career gained momentum with a series of hits, including Tholi Prema (1998), Thammudu (1999), Badri (2000), and Kushi (2001), all of which were major successes and established him as a prominent youth icon. Notably, he was the first South Indian actor to become a brand ambassador for Pepsi in 2001.

Despite experiencing a period of lesser success, Kalyan’s popularity remained robust. He made a significant comeback with Jalsa (2008), which became the highest-grossing Telugu film of that year. His subsequent films, including Gabbar Singh (2012), Attarintiki Daredi (2013), Gopala Gopala (2015), and Bheemla Nayak (2022), have continued his successful streak. Kushi and Attarintiki Daredi each held the record for the highest-grossing Telugu film at their respective times. Kalyan received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance in Gabbar Singh.

Political career:

Pawan Kalyan began his political journey in 2008, serving as the president of Yuvarajyam, the youth wing of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which was founded by his elder brother, Chiranjeevi. Despite his prominent role in the youth wing, Kalyan did not contest in elections or hold any formal political position during his time with PRP. He was actively involved in campaigning for the party, but his efforts were affected by health issues, including a sunstroke that led to vomiting during a roadshow in Vizag on April 19, 2009.

In 2011, the PRP merged with the Congress Party, a move that reportedly caused Kalyan some silent discontent. He was not pleased with his brother’s decision to merge the party and subsequently took a break from political activities. There were speculations that he wanted his brother to keep PRP independent despite the electoral setback.

2014–2019: Formation and growth of Janasena:

Pawan Kalyan founded the Jana Sena Party on March 14, 2014, marking a significant shift from his earlier political involvement. He co-authored the book Ism, which outlines the party’s ideology and vision. In the run-up to the 2014 elections, Kalyan supported the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) alliance, campaigning extensively and opposing the Congress party with the slogan “Congress Hatao, Desh Bachao” (Remove Congress, Save the Nation). His efforts were instrumental in the TDP-led National Democratic Alliance’s victory in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.

In November 2016, Kalyan announced that the Jana Sena Party would contest in the 2019 general elections in Andhra Pradesh. He aimed to contest all 175 legislative seats without forming alliances. By August 2017, Kalyan committed to full-time politics, planning to start in October 2017 after completing his film commitments.

Throughout his political career, Kalyan has been active in addressing various issues. In 2017, he highlighted the Uddanam kidney disease crisis, leading to government action such as constructing dialysis centers and implementing schemes in affected areas. He also opposed the central government’s move to privatize the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) in December 2017, the TDP government’s forced land pooling in July 2018, and engaged in multiple protests and marches addressing issues such as political accountability, unchecked mining, and the plight of farmers in Rayalaseema. His activism has included a hunger strike and various public demonstrations to draw attention to these causes.

2019–2024: Setback and Resurgence:

In the lead-up to the 2019 elections, Pawan Kalyan unveiled the Jana Sena Party’s manifesto in Rajahmundry, focusing on improving the lives of farmers, laborers, women, youth, and students. The Jana Sena Party formed an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) for the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana elections. During the campaign, Kalyan faced significant health issues, including dizziness, nausea, and dehydration, which required hospitalization. Despite these setbacks, he continued campaigning after recovering.

In the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, the Jana Sena Party contested 140 constituencies. Kalyan ran in Gajuwaka and Bhimavaram but lost to YSR Congress Party candidates. The party managed to secure just one seat from Razole and achieved a vote share of around 6%.

Post-2019, Kalyan and the Jana Sena Party concentrated on issues like farmer welfare, transparent governance, and infrastructure improvements. Kalyan led a notable long march in

Visakhapatnam in November 2019 to support construction workers affected by a sand supply shortage. In January 2020, he announced an alliance with the BJP, ending a period of distancing from the party. He also led a rally in February 2020 demanding a CBI investigation into the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl, Sugali Preethi.

In late 2022, Kalyan initiated ‘Jana Vani,’ a series of public meetings to address people’s grievances. In 2023, he embarked on a state-wide yatra using his customized vehicle, ‘Varahi,’ to strengthen his party’s connection with voters.

The 2024 General and state Assembly elections marked a significant turning point. Kalyan played a crucial role in forging an alliance between the Jana Sena Party, TDP, and BJP, strategically limiting the number of seats his party contested. This alliance achieved a landslide victory, with Jana Sena winning all the seats it contested—21 MLA seats and 2 MP seats. Kalyan himself was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Pitapuram constituency with a substantial margin of over 70,000 votes.

2024–present: Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh:

On June 12, 2024, Pawan Kalyan was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Four days later, on June 16, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state. In addition to his role as Deputy Chief Minister, he holds multiple ministerial portfolios: Panchayat Raj, Rural Development & Rural Water Supply; Environment, Forests, Science & Technology.

In his role as Deputy Chief Minister, Kalyan has emphasized the importance of transparent governance. He has instructed his officers to ensure that all contracts and transactions are executed properly, free from tainted money and undue influence. His goal is to make the system more transparent and accountable to the public.

During a visit to his constituency of Pitapuram, Kalyan outlined plans to transform the area into a model region. His key initiatives include developing temple tourism, establishing a reeling center for sericulturists, setting up a chili crushing unit, and creating a cold storage facility. Additionally, he has addressed environmental concerns, such as coastal erosion in Uppada, collaborating with officials from the Ministry of Earth Science and the Maritime Board to tackle these issues.