Akul Balaji
Akul Balaji (born Akula Balaji on 23 February 1979) is an Indian actor, television host and dancer who works in Kannada and Telugu television shows and films. He started his career by acting and hosting television shows and has participated in the Kannada Film Industry for almost a decade. 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. He recently hosted a Kannada dance reality show named Takadhimita on Colors Kannada Channel.
Akul Balaji | |
---|---|
Born | Akula Balaji 23 February 1979 Koduru, Andhra Pradesh, India |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2002–present |
Spouse | Jyothi Samarthi (2008–present) |
Children | Krishaan Nag |
In 2014, by public vote, Akul won the second season of game show Bigg Boss Kannada – the Indian version of Celebrity Big Brother and currently produced by Endemol India[2]
Early and personal 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 has also done an advance acting workshop under Mahesh Dattani. Akul Balaji married in 2008. The couple have a son. His name is Krishaan Nag Akula. He produces music and publishes his works of art on his Youtube channel Akulad.
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 and[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 television series Agatha (2002), Guptha Gamini, Yava Janumadha Maithri , Jagalagantiyaru, Pellinati Pramanalu (2012). He made a comeback in the Telugu television industry in 2021 with Oohalu Gusagusalade. [10]
Filmography
Television
Year | Work | Role | Network | Language |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Kuniyonu Baara | Host | Zee Kannada | Kannada |
2008 | Comedy Killadigalu | Host | ||
2009 | Kuniyonu Baara Boys vs Girls | Mentor | ||
2010 | Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu Season 1 | Host | Suvarna | |
Halli Haida Pyateg Banda | Host | |||
Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru Season 1 | Host | |||
2011 | Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu Season 2 | Host | ||
Hosa Luv Story | Host | |||
Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru Season 2 | Host | |||
2012 | Nodi Swami Naavirodhe Heege | Host | ||
Pellinati Pramanalu | Abhi | Zee Telugu | Telugu | |
2013 | Mane Mundhe Mahalakshmi | Host | ETV Kannada | Kannada |
Sye Ante Sye | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu | |
Indian | Host | ETV Kannada | ||
2014 | Thaka Dhimi Tha Dancing star | Host | Kannada | |
Bigg Boss Kannada (season 2) | Winner | ETV Kannada | ||
Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu (season 3) | Mentor | |||
2015 | Dancing Stars Season 2[11] | Host | Colors Kannada | |
3.2.1.GO | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu | |
Dancing Star Junior | Host | Colors Kannada | Kannada | |
Super Jodi | Host | Star Suvarna | ||
13 Fear is Real | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu | |
2016 | Star Suvarna Dance Dance | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada |
KICK | Host | Udaya TV | ||
2017 | Super Jodi Season 2 | Host | Star Suvarna | |
Deshamudurlu | Host | MAA TV | Telugu | |
Super Talk Time | Host | Colors Super | Kannada | |
2018 | Master Dancer | Host | ||
Pyate Hudgir Halli Lyfu Season 4 | Host | Star Suvarna | ||
Sixth Sense Kannada | Host | |||
Halli Haida Pyateg Banda Season 4 | Host | |||
2019 | Thakadimitha | Host | Colors Kannada | |
Colors Comedy Company | Host | |||
2021 | Cookku With Kirikku | Host | Star Suvarna | |
2021–present | Oohalu Gusagusalade | Abhiram | Zee Telugu | Telugu |
2021 | Bigg Boss Kannada Mini Season | Task Master | Colors Kannada | Kannada |
2022 | Dancing Champion | Host | Colors Kannada | |
Dance India Dance Telugu | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu | |
Ghana Bajaana Season 3 | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada | |
2023 | Bharjari Bachelors | Host | Zee Kannada | |
Film
Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Kallarali Hoovagi | Thippaga | |
2007 | Milana | Cameo appearance | |
2008 | Athmeeya | Vijay | |
Paramesha Panwala | |||
2009 | Neramu Siksha | Telugu film | |
Banni | |||
2013 | Myna | Game show host | Cameo appearance |
Pyarge Aagbittaite | Cameo appearance | ||
Loosegalu | Shankara | ||
2014 | Crazy Star | Cameo appearance |
References
- "Pyate Hudgir Halli Life". Exchange for Media.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
- "Breaking : Bigg Boss 8 Kanada Winner Is Akul Balaji". Business of cinema. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- "Evam Inderjit". Deccan Herald Metrolife. 30 September 2004. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- "Kannada Television Awards". IndianTelevision.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- "Kuniyonu Baara". Zee Kannada. Archived from the original on 1 May 2010.
- "Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru". Media Asia. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
- "Hosa Luv Story". IndianTelevision. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- "Mane Munde Mahalakshmi". Oneindia Kannada. 29 December 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- "Dancing Star in ETV". Cineblitz. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- "Akul Balaji returns to acting with Telugu TV show - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- "ETV Twin Treat". India Glitz. 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
External links
- Akul Balaji at IMDb