Chalapathi Rao (Telugu: చలపతిరావు ) is a Tollywood character actor known for comedy and villainous roles. He was born in 1944 May 8 at Barripalem, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. His son Ravi Babu is also an actor and director. He has acted in different roles in 600 films
Chalapathi rao, came to madras with stars in the eyes. To became a hero and replace NTR or ANR. Finally landed as a villan now turned to character actor.
As usual I started my career with dramas. After doing almost for 100 plays successfully from the days of my college and seeing the prizes I won in many plays I decided to join in the movies leaving my job. I want to become a star like NTR or ANR, if possible to replace either of them or both of them. That was my ambition at that time. So finally landed in madras with stars in eyes to become a big star.
Only after coming to madras I know how deep the sea is. Getting the role in films is not an easy task. It is very difficult. I used to roam all the studios for the roles on a Bicycle and Auto, but no chance. That time there are lot heroes around other than ANR and NTR like Shoban Babu Garu, Krishna garu, Chalam, Ramakrishna etc., usually at that time the movies are less like 50 or 55 per year and lot of heroes around, so the competition was tough. So I want to try as Villain, even though I don't like it. But for that also there is much in demand.
In 1968 my first break came with 'Kathanayakudu' with NTR. My first scene was with 16 other big artists like NTR, Nagabhushanam, Padmanabham etc., after that movie I did lot of other movies whichever comes on my way. In that process I finally settled as a villain. Villain means cut throat villain in all types. If I am doing inspector role, I used to be role model for it. So I am getting name but not big recognition. At that time NTR garu gave me lot of encouragement.
In DVS Karna he played three roles and gave me five roles. That gave me lot of recognition and appreciation. After that I did lot of mythology roles for some time. After these are in no longer production, Suresh productions Ramanaidu Garu gave me a break with 'mundaugu'. I was main Villain with other two are comedy Villains like Gollapudi Garu and Allu Garu. That was a big hit I and that combination was continued for some time, most of the time with Rao Gopal Rao Garu and others. When ever there is a rape scene Rao Gopala Rao Garu used to recommend my name. In that process I did 94 rapes over all, most of the south heroines I did became successful in both south and in north too.
My career took a turn with Krishna Vamsi and Nagarjuna's nine pelladuta. When that role was offered to me. Every one was against to it. But when the film was success, I started to get lot of mail from young people saying that they like to have a father like that, who encourages them. I was surprised and also was very happy about it. I thought why did I waste so much time doing vilan roles, because when I was doing those roles no one used to talk to me or write to me. They used to fear coming near to me. Now I am playing mostly the father roles to Nagarjuna, Srikanth, Suman, Rajendra Prasad, Balakrishna etc., but I am happy with both roles. Nothing is difficult to the artist. An artist should give justice to the type of role he was offered.
So I started my career with plays, wanted to become an hero and became Villain and a role model to father now and continuing my journey with the field.
On his becoming the producer
The reason I became the producer is to help my people who are near and dear to me, some of my friends and well wishers who are all depend on me. So to help them I made some films. See each film will give life to minimum fifteen families. So I want to do that in that process I made film like kaliuga krishnudu with Balakrishna. The film was a big hit. So I made some more films like Kadapareddamma, jaganatakam, pellante nurella panta and presidentigari alludu. And did six dubbing movies like ardharatri hatyalu and raktham chindina raatri etc.