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Vijaya Krishna Naresh (born 20 January 1960/1963), knownmononymously asNaresh, is an Indian actor, politician, and activist, known mainly for his work inTelugu cinema and television.^[3] He began his acting career as a child artist in 1970 and went on to feature in approximately 200 films.^[4][5] Some of his notable films areRendu Jella Sita (1983),Sreevariki Prema Lekha (1984),Sri Kanaka Mahalaxmi Recording Dance Troupe (1987),Manasu Mamatha (1990),Chitram! Bhalare Vichitram!! (1991),Jamba Lakidi Pamba (1992) andSamajavaragamana (2023).^[6][7]

Naresh is the son of Telugu cinema actressVijaya Nirmala and her first husband, K. S. Murthy.^[8] His father died when he was young.^[9]

Naresh has been married^[10][11] four times and divorced thrice, as of 2023. Naresh first married the daughter of senior dance master Srinu and the couple has a son named Naveen Vijaykrishna. The couple divorced and he married Rekha Supriya, the granddaughter of famous poet and film lyricistDevulapalli Krishna Sastri. The couple has a son named Teja. Naresh divorced his second wife and then married Ramya Raghupathi who was 15 years younger than him. The couple has a son.^[12][13] In 2023, he married Kannada actressPavitra Lokesh, 19 years younger than him.^[14]

Naresh made his debut as a child actor in the filmPandanti Kapuram (1972) as well asKavitha, andSantosh Sowbhagyam. He later made his debut as a lead actor, at the age of 17,^[15] with the box office hitNalugu Stambhalata (1982), directed by SriJandhyala and produced by Navata Krishnam Raju. He followed it up withPrema Sankellu (1982), which was directed by his motherVijaya Nirmala.^[16] His other notable works includeRendu Jella Sita (1983),Sreevariki Prema Lekha (1984),Sri Kanaka Mahalaxmi Recording Dance Troupe (1987),Bava Bava Panneeru (1989),Manasu Mamatha (1990),Jamba Lakidi Pamba (1993), andGunasekhar'sSogasu Chuda Taramaa? (1995).After a small hiatus, he started his second innings as a supporting actor withAllari Ramudu in 2002, and then went on to appear in many memorable films such as:Dhanalakshmi, I Love You (2002),Malliswari (2004),Oka Oorilo (2005),Mee Sreyobhilashi (2007),Andari Bandhuvaya (2010),100% Love (2011),Chandamama Kathalu andDrushyam (2014),Bhale Bhale Magadivoy (2015),Guntur Talkies (2016),Sathamanam Bhavati (2017),Rangasthalam (2018), andSammohanam (2018).

Naresh served as the president of theMovie Artists Association.^[17]

Naresh is also an active politician, and a member ofBharatiya Janata Party state leader.^[18]

He worked as a state youth wing president of AP, and state secretary BJP, state general secretary vice president of BJP and also contested fromHindupur parliamentary seat. He also did a 125 kmPadayatra fromIcchampally Project toWarangal alongsideC. Vidyasagar Rao for linking of "Krishna and Godavari" waters and is active in theRayalaseema development. He is the founder president of KIV Kalakarula Ikya Vidika^[19] an NGO a non-profit and non-governmental organization, which works to protect ancient arts and support artists.^[20]

Naresh received the stateNandi Award for Best Actor forSogasu Chuda Taramaa? (1995), theNandi Special Jury Award forChitram Bhalare Vichitram (1991), and the platinum award for best feature film,Parampara^[22] (2014). He has also received one TelevisionNandi Award for his work inDoordarshan'sMunimanikyam Gari Kantham Kadhalu.^[23]

He starred in the filmsShrutilayalu (1987), that premiered at theInternational Film Festival of India andHindustan The Mother (2000), which premiered at the International Film Festival of India,BFI London Film Festival andMumbai Film Festival.^{[24][25][26][27]} In 2007 he appeared inMee Sreyobhilashi, which also premiered at the International Film Festival of India.^[28] In 2014, he acted inParampara, which won the Platinum Award for Best Feature at the InternationalIndonesian Movie Awards, and premiered at theJakarta International Film Festival.^[29][30]

Naresh received theServant of the Poor award on the occasion of the 4th national meet of CNRI held during 4–6 November 2009 at New Delhi, presented by the union Minister for Rural DevelopmentC. P. Joshi.

In 2017, he spoke about displaying arts inIndian films at theUniversity of Bedfordshire in the presence of the vice chancellor.^[31]

• Nandi Award for Best Actor –Sogasu Chuda Taramaa? (1995)
• Nandi Special Jury Award –Chitram Bhalare Vichitram (1992)
• Nandi Award for Best Character Actor –Parampara (2013)
• Nandi Award for Best Character Actor –Sathamanam Bhavati (2017)
• Best Character Actor Award –Sathamanam Bhavati (2017) at17th Santosham Film Awards
• Nandi Best Actor Television –Munimanikyam Gari Kantham Kadhalu (1991)
• SVR Character Award –Sathamanam Bhavati (2017)
• Received the title H.E. (his Excellency) and received a PhD in arts from the U.N. ICDRHRP^[32] (2018)

• Naresh atIMDb

• Telugu male actors
• Living people
• Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Andhra Pradesh
• Telugu politicians
• Male actors from Andhra Pradesh
• Indian male comedians
• Telugu comedians
• Filmfare Awards South winners
• Indian male film actors
• Male actors in Hindi cinema
• Male actors in Tamil cinema
• Nandi Award winners
• Indian actor-politicians
• Ramakrishna Mission schools alumni
• People from Anantapur district
• Male actors in Telugu cinema
• 20th-century Indian male actors
• Santosham Film Awards winners
• 1965 births

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