Krishnam Raju is an all-round star––action king and ‘rebel star’ on the silver screen; a Pole Star on the political horizon; and a hero not only in reel life but also in real life. He is none other than U Krishnam Raju. He achieved what no other film star could ever dream of––being a Minister of State first in the External Affairs Ministry and now in the Defence Ministry. He proved to be the right choice for such an onerous job by virtue of his exceptional qualities and exemplary efficiency at work. Behind this tall, towering and fiery personality is a calm, concerned and genuine human being.
Many in the industry believe that Krishnam Raju alone can suit certain roles. He played a variety of roles in Krishnaveni, Bhaktha Kannappa, Amara Deepam, Mana Voori Pandavulu, Katakatala Rudraiah, Seetha Ramulu, Thrishoolam, Bobbili Bhahmanna, Tandra Paparayudu, etc. He could enact a pious role as elegantly as he did that of an angry young man or a historical character. Recognition for his histrionics came in the form of the President’s Award and Filmfare Award for Amaradeepam and Mana Voori Pandavulu.

Later, he entered the film production field and brought out many successful films under the banner Gopikrishna. He also produced a Hindi film Dharmadhikari starring stalwarts such as Dilip Kumar. He is widely considered as a master producer. Krishnam Raju is an optimist to the core. He is untiring in his pursuits and accepts success and failure with equanimity. In his long journey from Mogalthuru village to the national capital, he always exhibited dedication, honesty and hard work in whatever work he took up. No wonder he has a huge fan following as much in politics as in the film industry.
Krishnam Raju is a versatile personality. Not many people may know that he was once a journalist; he worked as a reporter for the Andhra Patrika. Apart from producing films, he also turned industrialist with his Gopi Krishna Granites, through which he provided employment to hundreds of people. He passionately participates in many social service programmes. Krishnam Raju played a crucial role in launching the open-air theatres in the towns of Vijayawada, Eluru and Nellore. He was a hero in real life too; he stood by the needy people and donated huge amounts to those afflicted by famine, natural calamities, disturbances, and so on. The film industry recognised his leadership qualities by unanimously electing him thrice as president of the Cine Artistes Society.
Krishnam Raju’s shift from filmdom to politics also left commendable records. He contested an unsuccessful election in 1992 for the Narasapuram Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket. After a brief hibernation, he rejoined politics, accepting an invitation from the Bharatiya Janata Party. He won the 1998 Lok Sabha election from Kakinada. He set a record with a thumping majority of over 165,000 votes––the maximum majority as compared to any of the 42 other constituencies in AP–– which ensured him a berth at the Centre. He was in the advisory committees of the Information & Broadcasting, and Commerce Ministries during 1998-99.

Born in the motherland of Alluri Sitarama Raju, the great freedom fighter, Krishnam Raju continues to forge ahead with his lasting smile and service, daring and dedicated as Alluri himself. At 60+, Krishnam Raju rejuvenates himself with twice-a-day yoga session. He is into transcendental meditation and says that with meditation one can be as active with just two hours of sleep instead of the usual eight hours. He believes that the body is a slave to the mind and that no medicine is more powerful than a controlled mind. He is a voracious reader and takes keen interest in spiritual writings.