Varun Sandesh

Varun Sandesh is an Indian actor and singer who appears in Telugu-language films. He started his film career through Sekhar Kammula's film Happy Days in 2007.^[1]

Early life

Varun Sandesh was born in Rayagada, Orissa and later lived in Hyderabad for four years. His family then shifted to Bridgewater, New Jersey in the US, where he did his education.^[1]

Career

In 2007, Sandesh saw the advertisement for an audition for a Sekhar Kammula film on a website and applied for the role, although he had no previous acting experience and was planning to pursue medical studies.^[2] He received a reply with the script of one scene from the film, which he was asked to enact and send back.^[3] He shot and sent video clippings of himself to Kammala, and promptly landed a lead role in the film Happy Days. Featuring an ensemble cast comprising almost entirely newcomers,^[4] Happy Days was a high critical and commercial success, winning several accolades, including six Filmfare Awards South and three Nandi Awards.^[5][6] Sandesh portrayed a "timid son [...] who develops a misunderstanding with his lover over a petty issue",^[7] and his performance was well received.^[8][9] Even before the release of his debut film, Telugu film producer Dil Raju had signed Sandesh for his film Kotha Bangaru Lokam, which was released on 9 October 2008. It also received positive critical response and was declared a blockbuster,^[10] while critics noted that Sandesh had improved his acting skills,^[11] calling it a "much matured performance".^[12] Sandesh's third film was AVM Productions' Evaraina Epudaina (2009),^[13] in which he had also sung a song.^[14][15] Later that year he had another release, Kurradu, a remake of the 2007 Tamil film Polladhavan,^[16] which bombed at the box office.^[17]

Sandesh subsequently was seen in a number of unsuccessful films, Maro Charitra, a remake of the K. Balachander-directed same-titled 1978 cult classic starring Kamal Haasan,^[18] Happy Happy Gaa, Kudirithe Kappu Coffee that had generated pre-release buzz and had a wide release,^[19] Brahmigadi Katha and Priyudu.^[20] Sandesh admitted that the romance flick Yemaindi Ee Vela, which released in November 2010, was his only successful in two years.^[21] He had been signed on by Sri Maha Ganapathi Films for a romantic entertainer to be directed by Kadhir, featuring music by A. R. Rahman;^[22][23] however the film was shelved later.

In 2013, Sandesh has been working on several projects simultaneously, including G. Neelakanta Reddy's Chammak Challo and the crime comedy D for Dopidi by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K..^[24]

He is the brand ambassador for Kalanjali store in Andhra Pradesh, India.^[25][26]

Personal life

Varun Sandesh is the grandson of noted Telugu writer Jeedigunta Ramachandra Murthy, who worked for All India Radio for 28 years in Hyderabad. His uncle Jeedigunta Sridhar is a popular Telugu television personality in Hyderabad, India.^[27][28] He has one younger sister, Veena Sahithi, who has worked as a singer and lyricist in Nandini Reddy's Ala Modalaindi.^[29]

Sandesh and actress Shraddha Das, who was his co-star in Maro Charitra, had a short-lived relationship in 2011.^[30][31][32]

Filmography

References

External links

• Varun Sandesh at the Internet Movie Database