Kaikala Satyanarayana

Kaikala Satyanarayana (25 July 1935 – 23 December 2022) was an Indian actor, producer, director, and politician who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema. He appeared in more than 750 films over six decades. He was a recipient of the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 2011, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Renowned for his acting prowess across a range of roles and genres, he was given the epithet Navarasa Natana Sarvabhouma. He served as the Member of Parliament in the 11th Lok Sabha representing Machilipatnam constituency from the Telugu Desam Party. Early life Kaikala Satyanarayana was born on 25 July 1935 to Kaikala Laxmi Narayana from Kavutaram village in Krishna district. Having completed his primary education in Gudlavalleru and intermediate education in Vijayawada, Satyanarayana graduated from Gudivada College. Career Kaikala was first noticed by D. L. Narayana, who offered him a role in his film Sipayi Koothuru directed by Changayya in 1959. Though it did not do well at the box office, he was noticed for his resemblance to N.T. Rama Rao. They found him as a prospective candidate to play dupe to NTR. Satyanarayana aptly fitted that place. He played dupe to NTR in several movies. NTR offered Satyanarayana a role in his film Apoorva Sahasra Siraccheda Chintamani in 1960, directed by S. D. Lal. Satyanarayana played the role of a prince.