Sobhan Babu

Sobhan Babu (born Uppu Sobhana Chalapathi Rao) (14 January 1937 – 20 March 2008) was an Indian film actor known for his works exclusively in Telugu cinema. He made his film debut in Bhakta Shabari (1959), but Daivabalam (1959), was released earlier at the box office. Sobhan babu has garnered five state Nandi Awards for Best Actor, and four Filmfare Awards for Best Telugu Actor.

Sobhan Babu was starred in National Award winning works such as Seetharama Kalyanam (1961), Mahamantri Timmarasu (1962), Lava Kusa (1963), Nartanasala (1963), featured at the 3rd Afro-Asian Film Festival held at Jakarta, Bangaru Panjaram (1969) for which he received special mention at the 4th International Film Festival of India,  and Desamante Manushuloyi (1970).

In a film career as a matinee idol, spanning more than thirty five years, Sobhan Babu was starred in more than 200 feature films in a variety of roles in works such as Veerabhimanyu (1965), Manushulu Marali (1969), Tara Sasankam (1969), Kalyana Mandapam (1971), Chelleli Kapuram (1971), Sampoorna Ramayanam (1972), Sharada (1973), Manchi Manushulu (1974), Jeevana Jyothi (1975), Soggadu (1976), Kurukshetram (1977),  Mallepoovu (1978), Gorintaku (1979), Karthika Deepam, (1979), Mosagadu (1980), Devatha (1982), and Mundadugu (1983).

Background
Sobhan Babu was born to Uppu Suryanarayana Rao and had four siblings, three sisters, Dhanaranga, Jhansi and Nirmala, and a brother, Sambasiva Rao. Sobhan Babu completed his initial schooling at Kuntamukkula, Mylavaram. He pursued his Intermediate in Krishna District.

Initial Struggle and Success
During the initial days of his career, Sobhan Babu had gone through a lot of struggles. He was offered small roles with very little remuneration and he couldn't meet the expenses of living. At this point, he decided to quit movies, but his career was changed when he got selected for Veerabhimanyu. Veerabhimanyu was the first movie for Sobhan Babu in the lead role and on the first day of the shoot, he was nervous and couldn't deliver his dialogues. Looking at tensed Sobhan Babu director V. Madhusudhan Rao decided to shoot a fight scene to reduce his nervousness, however, it didn't go well either. Sobhan Babu’s confidence was completely low and the next day he decided to inform his director and quit movies forever, however, that day he didn't get a chance to talk to the director, so before he could leave he decided to try for one last time, with nothing to lose he gave his best performance, leaving everyone in the sets spellbound. He never looked back after that and went on to act in many memorable films.

Awards

 * Nandi Awards
 * Nandi Award for Best Actor – Manushulu Marali (1969)
 * Nandi Award for Best Actor – Chelleli Kapuram (1971)
 * Nandi Award for Best Actor – Kalam Marindi (1972)
 * Nandi Award for Best Actor – Sharada (1973)
 * Nandi Award for Best Actor – Jeevana Jyothi (1975)


 * Filmfare Awards South
 * Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu – Khaidi Baabayi (1974)
 * Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu – Jeevana Jyothi (1975)
 * Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu - Soggadu (1976)
 * Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu - Karthika Deepam (1979)

Personal life
He married Santha Kumari on May 15, 1958. They had four children, a son, named Karuna Seshu and three daughters, named Mrudula, Prashanthi and Nivedhitha.

Death
Sobhan Babu died on 20 March 2008 due to a heart attack at the age of 71.