Honnasandra Narasimhaiah Chandrashekar, better known as Mukhyamantri Chandru, is an Indian actor and politician. He predominantly works in the Kannada film industry. He is best known for playing the role of Chief Minister in the Kannada play, “Mukhyamantri.” He is the member of the Indian National Congress.
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Wiki/Biography
Mukhyamantri Chandru was born on Friday, 28 August 1953 (age 67 years; as in 2020) in Honnasandra, Nelamangala, Bangalore Rural, Mysore. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He did his schooling from Tumkur’s Siddaganga Matha and went to Bangalore’s Government Arts and Science College to pursue his graduation in Science. While in college, Chandru used to watch plays at Ravindra Kalakshetra, and from there, he developed an interest in acting. After completing his graduation, Chandru worked as a clerk in Bangalore University. Simultaneously, he got involved in theatre.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Caste
Mukhyamantri Chandru belongs to a Jain Family.
Parents & Siblings
His father was an agriculturist. Not much is known about his mother and siblings.
Wife & Children
Chandru got married to actress, Padma, in June 1983. The couple has two sons, Bharath and Sharath.
Mukhyamantri Chandru with his wife
Mukhyamantri Chandru’s son, Sharath
Acting Career
Mukhyamantri Chandru started his theatre journey in 1978, when he was chosen to play the role of ‘Krishna Dwaipayana Kaushal,’ the Chief Minister of a fictitious Indian State of Udayanchal in a play titled “Mukhyamantri.” Chandru incorporated his own dialogues in the play and turned the serious drama into a comedy. The play received huge popularity and earned Chandru the moniker of ‘Mukhyamantri.’
Mukhyamantri Chandru in the Kannada play, Mukhyamantri
Chandru started his acting career in 1983 with a Kannada film, “Chakravyuha.” Subsequently, he appeared in several Kannada films, like “Mududida Tavare Aralithu,” “Jwaalamukhi,” “Guri,” “Avale Nanna Hendthi,” and “Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare.”
Mukhyamantri Chandru in Chakravyuha
In 1990, Chandru played a notable role in the comedy film, “Ganeshana Maduve.” Thereafter, he appeared in many popular Kannada films, like “Sipayi,” “Ammavra Ganda,” “Karnana Sampathu,” “Mathadana,” “Manasugula Mathu Madhura,” and “Govindaya Namaha.”
Political Career
Chandru started his career in politics in 1985 by joining the Janata Party. In the same year, he won the year’s assembly elections from Gauribidanur. In 1991, he switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party, and subsequently, he became the Member of the Legislative Council in 1998 and 2004.
Mukhyamantri Chandru addressing a rally as a member of BJP
He, then, served as the chairperson of the Kannada Development Authority till 2013. In 2014, Chandru left the Bharatiya Janata Party and joined the Indian National Congress.
Mukhyamantri Chandru as a member of the Indian National Congress
On 13 July 2023, he was appointed as the Aam Aadmi Party Karnataka President.
Favourite Things
- Comedians: Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin
- Food: Ragi Mudde, Bas Saaru Meal
- Books: Vachana Sahitya, Janapada Sahitya
- Colour: Blue
Facts/Trivia
- His hobbies include reading books and doing theatre.
- Chandru shared in an interview that in childhood, his IQ was so low that he feared talking even to his friends.
- Chandru was awarded an honorary doctrate by the Gulbarga University for his contribution to Kannada theatre and activism in promoting and safeguarding the Kannada language.
- Chandru became popular by playing the role of the ‘Chief Minister’ in the Kannada play, “Mukhyamantri.” However, he was not the first choice to play the role. The role was initially offered to Lohithaswa who was unable to play the role as he had fallen ill.
- In January 2020, Chandru’s play, “Mukhyamantri” completed its 700th show across India and outside.
- During his tenure as the chairperson of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA), Chandru worked for the protection and promotion of the Kannada language. In December 2008, he called for a compulsory display of vehicle registration plates of all vehicles of the state government in Kannada. He even raised his voice for making Kannada a compulsory subject for classes 1 to 5.
- Chandru shared in an interview that his parents could not affort to send him to Bangalore for his higher studies, so he spent his college life while staying at friends and relatives houses. He even shared that there was a time when Chandru used to sleep at public places.
