Vijaya Krishna Naresh (born 20 January 1960), known mononymously as Naresh, is an Indian actor, politician, and activist, known mainly for his work in Telugu cinema and television. He began his acting career as a child artist in 1970 and went on to feature in approximately 200 films. Some of his notable films are Nalugu Stambhalata (1982), Rendu 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) and Samajavaragamana (2023).
Naresh received the state Nandi Award for Best Actor for Sogasu Chuda Taramaa? (1995), the Nandi Special Jury Award for Chitram Bhalare Vichitram (1991), and the platinum award for best feature film, Parampara (2014). He has also received one Television Nandi Award for his work in Doordarshan's Munimanikyam Gari Kantham Kadhalu.
He starred in the films Shrutilayalu (1987), that premiered at the International Film Festival of India and Hindustan The Mother (2000), which premiered at the International Film Festival of India, BFI London Film Festival and Mumbai Film Festival. In 2007 he appeared in Mee Sreyobhilashi, which also premiered at the International Film Festival of India. In 2014, he acted in Parampara, which won the Platinum Award for Best Feature at the International Indonesian Movie Awards, and premiered at the Jakarta International Film Festival.
Naresh received the Servant 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 Development C. P. Joshi. In 2017, he spoke about displaying arts in Indian films at the University of Bedfordshire in the presence of the vice chancellor.
Early and personal life Naresh is the son of Telugu cinema actress Vijaya Nirmala and her first husband, K. S. Murthy. His father died when he was young.
Naresh has been married 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 lyricist Devulapalli 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. In 2023, he married Kannada actress Pavitra Lokesh, 19 years younger than him.
Career Film Naresh made his debut as a child actor in the film Pandanti Kapuram (1972) as well as Kavitha, and Santosh Sowbhagyam. He later made his debut as a lead actor, at the age of 22, with the box office hit Nalugu Stambhalata (1982), directed by Sri Jandhyala and produced by Navata Krishnam Raju. He followed it up with Prema Sankellu (1982), which was directed by his mother Vijaya Nirmala. His other notable works include Rendu 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), and Gunasekhar's Sogasu Chuda Taramaa? (1995). After a small hiatus, he started his second innings as a supporting actor with Allari 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 and Drushyam (2014), Bhale Bhale Magadivoy (2015), Guntur Talkies (2016), Sathamanam Bhavati (2017), Rangasthalam (2018), and Sammohanam (2018).
Naresh served as the president of the Movie Artists Association from 2019 to 2021.
Politics Naresh is also an active politician, and a member of Bharatiya Janata Party state leader.
He worked as a state youth wing president of AP, and state secretary BJP, state general secretary vice president of BJP and also contested from Hindupur parliamentary seat. He also did a 125 km Padayatra from Icchampally Project to Warangal alongside C. Vidyasagar Rao for linking of "Krishna and Godavari" waters and is active in the Rayalaseema development. He is the founder president of KIV Kalakarula Ikya Vidika an NGO a non-profit and non-governmental organization, which works to protect ancient arts and support artists.
Filmography Telugu films YearTitleRoleNotes1972Pandanti Kapuram1974Devadasu1975Santanam Sowbhagyam1982Nalugu StambhalataNareshPrema Sankellu 1983Puttadi BommaAgni Samadhi Puli DebbaNareshRendu Jella SitaGopi1984Yama DoothaluOoha SundariChadarangamRajaMukkopiKotha DampathuluSreevariki Prema Lekha1985Shrivaari SobhanamMogudu Pellalu1986Jeevana PoratamMaavari GolaKrishna ParamatmaBhayam BhayamAadi DampatuluKirayi Mogudu1987Dammit Katha Addam ThirigindiPelliloyi PellilluKulala KurukshetramLawyer Bharathi DeviPaga SadisthaSrimathi Oka BahumathiShrutilayaluSri Kanaka Mahalaxmi Recording Dance TroupeGopalam1988Choopulu Kalasina ShubhavelaSri TatavatharamCollector VijayaPremayanamNava Bharatham1989Bava Bava PanneeruTwo Town RowdySahasame Naa Oopiri ShankarPinniGandipeta RahasyamHai Hai NayakaRamakrishnaPolice Report1990AlajadiJustice Rudrama DeviKokilaSiddharthaManasu MamathaBujjigadi BabaiIrugilli PorugilluPadmavati KalyanamPrajala ManishiVikramPolice Bharya1991Nenera PoliceNaa Pellam Naa IshtamPrema Enta MadhuramShiva ShaktiChitram Bhalare VichitramNimmagadda Rajeswara Rao "Raja"/PremaAlso singer for "Brahmachaarulam" Pichchi Pullayya1992AdrishtamMogudu Pellala DongataAyyayyo BrahmayyaHello DarlingPelli Neeku Shubham Naaku1993Enti Bava MareenuChitikela Pandiri Ladies SpecialhimselfIllu PelliAsale Pellaina VanniJamba Lakidi PambaKonguchaatu KrishnauduPrema Chitram Pelli Vichitram1994AameVikramPrema & CoPelli Koduku1995Sogasu Chuda Taramaa?1996Shri Krishnarjuna VijayamNaradaRendu Kutumbala Katha1997Mama BagunnaavaaThoka Leni Pitta1998Life Lo Wife2000Hindustan The Mother2002ChandravamsamSonthamAllari RamuduDhanalakshmi, I Love YouBabu Rao2003Villain2004Gowri MalliswariPrasad 's elder brother2005Chandra VamshamOka OoriloOrey Pandu2006Nandanavanam 120km Premante Inte2007MadhumasamSanjay's elder brotherMaharathiMee SreyobhilashiSurya Prakash RaoVedukaYamadongaYamagola Malli ModalayindiAishwarya's father2008Ankit, Pallavi & FriendsNaa ManasukemaindiOntariVaanaAndamaina Abaddam2009MaskaKrish's brotherVaade Kaavaali2010Maro CharitraAndari BandhuvayaNandu's fatherVaruduDeepthi's father2011100% Love Ramesh, Balu's fatherMoguduShankar Rao2012Yamudiki MoguduNarada, Trishanku20131000 Abaddalu Satya’s father Aadu Magaadra BujjiSiddhu’s father2014AnaamikaHome Minister AadhikesavayyaBilingual filmChandamama KathaluMohanDrushyamPrabhakarMike Testing 143Ori DevudoyParamparaChinnadana Nee KosamNithin's father2015BeeruvaSurya NarayanaGaddam GangDharmarajuBhale Bhale MagadivoyHanumantha RaoSubramanyam for SaleSubramanyam's father2016Eedu Gold EheBuchchaiah ChowdaryGuntur TalkiesGiriHyperNarayana Murthy's friendA...AaRamalingamBrahmotsavamMahalakshmi's brotherGaramRavi’s fatherNenu SailajaHari's fatherSri SriGhatanaPrakashBilingual film2017Sathamanam Bhavati BangarrajuMCA (Middle Class Abbayi)Nani's uncle2018ChaloAbhi's FatherToli PremaHouse OwnerChal Mohan RangaMohan's fatherRangasthalamKoteswara RaoSammohanamSarvesh "Sarva"Pedavi Datani MatokatundhiHappy WeddingAnand's fatherSrinivasa KalyanamRajuSailaja Reddy AlluduVenu ReddyMahanatiCameraman KeshavaDevadasMohan, Das's brotherAravinda Sametha Veera RaghavaSaradhiNTR: KathanayakuduB. A. Subba Rao24 KissesSri Lakshmi's father20191st Rank RajuShoban BabuRDX LoveVillagerPrati Roju PandageNaresh Prasad2020Entha ManchivaadavuraaVijayakrishnaDisco RajaKukuteshwar RaoBheeshmaAnand PrasadUma Maheswara Ugra RoopasyaBabjiVAditya's fatherAmaram Akhilam PremaAmar's fatherOrey BujjigaKrishnaveni's fatherMiss IndiaSiva Rama KrishnaSolo Brathuke So BetterVirat's father2021Jathi RatnaluSatish JanardhanSreekaramRamanaRang DeArjun's fatherSridevi Soda CenterSanjeev RaoTuck JagadishSathi BabuMaestroMohanPushpaka VimanamSchool headmasterDrushyam 2PrabhakarArjuna PhalgunaVillage Sarpanch2022Super Machi HeroArjun's father GhaniGhani's college coach Ante SundaranikiSundar's father Ranga Ranga VaibhavangaRishi's father Swathi MuthyamBhagi's father GinnaVeera Swamy2023Anni Manchi SakunamuleSudhakarNominated–SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actor – TeluguMalli PelliNarendraAlso ProducerSamajavaragamanaUma Maheshwara RaoThe Great Indian SuicideBallari NeelakantamMartin Luther KingJogi2024Veeranjaneyulu ViharayatraVididhinti Nageswara RaoMechanic RockyNagumomu Ramakrishna2025Game ChangerRam’s adoptive fatherSankranthiki VasthunamD. KeshavaJackPrasadSri Sri Sri Raja VaaruSubbarajuShow TimeA. Varada RajuluSundarakandaSurendraBeautyNarayanaK-RampNareshEnuguthondam GhatikachalamGhatikachalamMass JatharaDharmarajuChampionChandrakala’s father2026Nari Nari Naduma MurariKarthikHey BalwanthRao BalwanthBad Boy KarthikShivaSathi LeelavathiSrinivasa Mangapuram
Tamil films YearTitleRoleNotes 1984 Nenjathai AllithaMurali 1985Porutham2014Malini 22 PalayamkottaiPrakashBilingual filmsNee Enge En AnbeHome Minister Aadhikesavayya2015SandamaruthamDGP Rathinasamy IPS2016Peigal Jaakkirathai Saravanan's father
Television Year Title RoleNetworkNotes 1991 Munimanikyam Gari Kantham Kathalu Venkata RaoDoordarshan 1997 Popula Pette Kameswara Rao "Kamesam" ETV 2003 Amrutham Icchapurapu Amrutha Rao Gemini TVEpisodes 63–1052008Open Heart with RKHimselfABN Andhra Jyothi 2009 Count Down Himself ETV 2012 Maa Nanna Sivayya Gemini TV 2013 Mahalakshmi Nivasam Viswanatha Raju Gemini TV2019Alitho SaradagaHimselfETVEpisode 1142021Oka Chinna Family StoryHaridasZEE52022Modern Love HyderabadAmazon Prime Video2023Maya Bazaar For SaleZEE5
Awards 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) at 17th 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 (2018)
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