Sivaji (Telugu actor)
Sontineni Sivaji, is an Indian actor and voice actor who works in Telugu cinema. He had won the Nandi Award for Best Male Dubbing Artist for Dil. His notable performances include Missamma, Adirindayya Chandram, Satyabhama, Mantra, Taj Mahal, Court – State vs a Nobody, and Dhandoraa. In 2023, he participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 7, and emerged as the second runner-up.
Beside acting, Sivaji was politically active as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2014 to 2015 when he exited the party citing ideological differences. He embarked on a hunger strike to demand special status for Andhra Pradesh.
Early life and career
Sivaji is from Chilakaluripet, a town part of Narasaraopet, Palnadu. Sivaji started his stint as an editor in Gemini TV He was offered a role in a TV serial and from then he started getting offers in Telugu movies. He acted in minor roles in notable films such as Kushi and Indra. He dubbed for Nithiin in the latter's early career. He did many films as a second lead. Sivaji's first success as a solo lead came with the film Missamma.Ever since the movement for keeping the state united in Andhra Pradesh, Sivaji became vocal about the political issues. Despite being a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party he started his fast unto death on granting a special status to Andhra Pradesh, which was a promise made by the erstwhile Congress government at the time of bifurcation of the state.