Nagarjuna is still busy at 53

Telugu superstar Nagarjuna, who turns 53 today, is all geared up for his upcoming release Shirdi Sai. The actor recently launched the music of the film in Hyderabad.

The superstar has many films in his kitty. Nagarjuna's much awaited film Damarukum, which was delayed due to technical issues, may finally see the light of the day this year. The actor is also busy shooting for a romantic film, Love Story, opposite Nayanthara and will soon start shooting for Veerabhadram's film Bhai.

The actor recently teamed up with Amitabh Bachchan and other southern superstars Prabhu, Shiva and Raaj Kumar to advertise for a jewellery brand.

The actor an Annapurna Studios recently invested Rs 100 crores for his production studios in Hyderabad.

Akkineni Nagarjuna was born to veteran actor Nageswara Rao Akkineni and Annapurna Akkineni, in Chennai on August 29, 1959.

The superstar is a mechanical engineer and also holds an M Sc (Automobile Engineering) from Eastern Michigan University.

Nagarjuna's acting career began as a child star in the 1967 Telugu film Sudigundalu at the age of eight. He then made his debut as a lead actor with Vikram in 1986. But it was Mani Ratnam's Geethanjali (1989), a love story which made him a star.

The same year came Ram Gopal Varma's Telugu action film Shiva which became an instant hit and has been lauded for setting new standards. Shiva earned Nagarjuna the Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu). Subsequently, Nagarjuna made his Bollywood debut with the remake of Shiva, which was also a hit.

A slew of action films like Killer, Chaithanya, Nirnayam and President Gari Pellam, followed.

Nagarjuna was also cast in Mahesh Bhatt's bi-lingual film Criminal. In 1994, he ventured into comedy for the first time with Hello Brother. It was later remade into Hindi as Judwaa staeeing Salman Khan.

In 1996, Nagarjuna produced and starred in Ninne Pelladatha. He followed this up by experimenting with a period film, portraying the 15th-century Telugu singer and poet Annamacharya. The power-packed character depiction earned Nagarjuna his third Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) and his first Nandi Award for Best Actor.

The 2002 rom-com Santosham opposite Shriya Saran and Gracy Singh won Nagarjuna his second Nandi Award for Best Actor. The blockbuster film was dubbed in Tamil as Santhosha Vanille and in Hindi as Pehli Nazar Ka Pehla Pyaar.

Like other successful South stars, Nagarjuna tried his luck in Bollywood. He fared well too, working in several films such as Shiva (1989), Drohi (1992), Khuda Gawah (1992), Criminal (1994), Mr Bechara (1996), Zakhm (1998), Angaarey (1998), Agni Varsha (2002) and LOC Kargil (2003).

Apart from acting, Nagarjuna's other interests include TV where he has produced the serial Yuva in 2007. The star is also a shareholder in Telugu channel Maa TV.

In 1984, Nagarjuna married Lakshmi Daggubati, sister of Telugu actor Venkatesh and daughter of renowned film producer Dr D. Ramanaidu. They have a son called Naga Chaitanya Akkineni, who is a successful Telugu actor. Their marriage lasted for six years and the two were divorced in 1990.

The actor married his Shiva co-actor Amala in 1992 and together they have a son named Akhil Akkineni.

In March 2011, Income Tax officials raided the actor's homes and offices, suspecting foul play in land transactions made on behalf of him. The actor's brother Venkat and other Telugu stars were raided too. Also under the scanner was a convention centre developed with huge investment by the star. Nagarjuna is one of the richest stars in the Telugu film industry with reported hefty investments in real estate.

Here's wishing the dashing superstar a long innings ahead.