Akul Balaji
| Akul Balaji | |
|---|---|
| Born |
23 February 1979 Rly.Kodur, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Residence | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse(s) | Jyothi Samarthi (2008–present) |
| Children | Krishaan Nag |
Akul Balaji (born Akula Balaji on 23 February 1979) is an Indian film actor, television host, dancer who has worked in both Kannada and Telugu languages. He started his career by acting and hosting shows in television and is almost a decade old in the Kannada Film Industry. He shot to fame for co-hosting the hit Kannada reality show "Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu"[1] on Asianet Suvarna Channel, with Kannada Star Sudeep.
In 2014, by public vote, Akul won the second season of game show Bigg Boss Kannada – the Indian version of Celebrity Big Brother, currently produced by Endemol India[2]
Early life
Originally from a small town called Rly.Kodur in Andhra Pradesh, Akul Balaji was born on 23 February 1979. After moving to Bangalore at age 16, he trained in Bharathanatyam under Smt.Usha Datar and later joined "Natya STEM Dance Kampni" headed by Madhu Nataraj as a contemporary dancer and learned Kathak from Guru Smt. Dr. Maya Rao. He has also dabbled in theater in Director Pawan Kumar's adaptation of Badal Sarkar's Evam Inderjit in 2004.[3] He also has done an advance acting workshop under Mahesh Dattani.
Personal life
Akul Balaji married in 2008. The couple have a son.
Television career
From beginnings as a small screen actor, he has become an actor and television host in Karnataka. He had won "The most popular anchor award" by Big FM Big TV for the year 2010[4] and he has to his credit superhit shows like "Kuniyonu Baara,[5] Comedy Killadigalu on Zee Kannada. He has hosted super hit reality shows for Asianet Suvarna like "Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu" season 1 & 2, "Halli Haida Pyateg Banda", "Pyate Mandi Kadige Bandru 1", "Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru 2" [6] which was shot in Andaman Islands, "Hosa Luv Story",[7] and "Nodi Swamy Naavirode Heege". He hosted "Mane Munde Mahalakshmi"[8] a game show for ETV Kannada and "INDIAN". He hosted "Sye Ante Sye" for Zee Telugu. He also hosted the reality show called "ThaKaDiMiTha Dancing Stars" [9] for ETV Kannada. He has acted in the following television serials:
Agatha (Udaya TV, 2002) Guptha Gamini (ETV Kannada) Yava Janumadha Maithri (ETV Kannada) Jagalagantiyaru (Udaya TV) Pellinati Pramanalu (Zee Telugu, 2012)
Reality shows
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Kuniyonu Baara | Host |
| 2008 | Comedy Killadigalu | Host |
| 2009 | Kuniyonu Baara Boys vs Girls | Mentor |
| 2010 | Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu Season 1 | Host |
| 2010 | Halli Haida Pyateg Banda | Host |
| 2010 | Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru Season 1 | Host |
| 2011 | Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu Season 2 | Host |
| 2011 | Hosa Luv Story | Host |
| 2011 | Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru Season 2 | Host |
| 2012 | Nodi Swami Naavirodhe Heege | Host |
| 2013 | Mane Mundhe Mahalakshmi | Host |
| 2013 | Sye Ante Sye | Host |
| 2013 | INDIAN | Host |
| 2014 | Thaka Dhimi Tha Dancing star | Host |
| 2014 | Big Boss Kannada 2 | Winner |
| 2015 | Dancing Stars Season 2 [10] | Host |
| 2015 | Zee Telugu 3.2.1.GO | Host |
| 2015 | Colors Kannada Dancing Star Junior | Host |
| 2015 | Super Jodi | Host |
| 2015 | Zee Telugu 13 Fear is Real | Host |
| 2016 | Star Suvarna Dance Dance | Host |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Milana (Kannada) | Guest | |
| 2008 | Athmeeya (Kannada) | Lead | |
| 2009 | Banni (Kannada) | Lead | |
| 2009 | Neramu siksha (Telugu Debut) | Lead | |
| 2013 | Myna (Kannada) | Guest | |
| 2013 | Pyarge Aagbittaite (Kannada) | Guest | |
| 2013 | Loosegalu (Kannada) | Lead | |
| 2014 | Crazy Star (Kannada) | Guest | |
| 2014 | Ranadheera (Telugu/ Kannada)[11] | Lead | Under production |
| 2014 | Shubha Vivaha (Kannada) | Lead | Under production |
| 2014 | Gaganachukki (Kannada) | Lead | July |
| 2014 | Love on NH4 (Kannada) | Lead | Under Production |
| 2014 | Devarawne Bidu Guru | Lead | Under Production |
References
- ↑ "Pyate Hudgir Halli Life". Exchange for Media.com.
- ↑ "Breaking : Bigg Boss 8 Kanada Winner Is Akul Balaji". Business of cinema.
- ↑ "Evam Inderjit". Deccan Herald Metrolife. 2004-09-30.
- ↑ "Kannada Television Awards". IndianTelevision.com.
- ↑ "Kuniyonu Baara". Zee Kannada.
- ↑ "Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru". Media Asia.
- ↑ "Hosa Luv Story". IndianTelevision.
- ↑ "Mane Munde Mahalakshmi". Oneindia Kannada.
- ↑ "Dancing Star in ETV". Cineblitz.
- ↑ "ETV Twin Treat". India Glitz.
- ↑ "Akul Balaji is both Ranadheera and Magadheera". Times of India. 2013-10-03.
External links
- http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-14/news-interviews/39952901_1_kannada-films-tollywood-telugu
- http://filmysouth.com/Kannada/article_MovieNews/42/Akul-Balaji-back-with-Shubha-Vivaha
- http://indiankannadarealityshow.blogspot.in/2013/07/akul-balaji-anchor-of-indian-reality.html
- http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/06/06/stories/2008060651410400.htm
- http://entertainment.oneindia.in/celebs/akul-balaji/photos.html
- http://gallery.oneindia.in/kannada-events/etv-kannada-launches-indian-reality-show/photos-c24-e43880-p355098.html
- http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-01/news-interviews/33534803_1_film-industry-films-today-sleeper-hits
- http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-25/previews/40793155_1_vani-harikrishna-akul-balaji-aishwarya-nag
- http://www.audiencematters.com/article-final.php?title=Suvarna+launches+Pyate+Mandi+Kadige+Bandru,+a+mega+sequel+to+Halli+Hyda+Pyateg+Banda+reality+show
| Preceded by Vijay Raghavendra |
Bigg Boss Kannada Winner (Series 2) 2014 |
Succeeded by Shruti |