Dhulipala Sitarama Sastry

Biography:

Dhulipala was an Indian actor and playwright best known for his roles in Telugu films. He was well known for portraying mythological characters, particularly Shakuni. He started acting when he was just 13 years old, and he eventually appeared in around 300 movies. He rose to stardom by costarring with N. T. Rama Rao in the films Bhishma and Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam.

He was born on September 24, 1921, in Dachepalli village, Palnadu taluk, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, to parents Sankarayya and Ratnamma. He dropped out of school after the eighth grade and spent a year studying Vedas at Sankara Vidyalayam, Bapatla. He then worked as an advocate’s clerk after that. concurrently taking the stage and first playing female roles.

His preceptor, Mr. Gayudu (1927–2005), who was a well-known actor, director, writer, singer and music director, make-up artist, and owner of the costumes for mythological productions, gave him his first introduction to the film industry. Initially, Mr. Gayudu was selected for the role of Bhishma in the movie Bhishma and N. T. Rama Rao was offered the role of Duryodhana, but, due to a conspiracy to wedge Mr.Gayudu from entering the film industry, the Art Director of the movie, Mr. Vali, was arrested and made a deal out of it with Mr. Gayudu that if he drops out of the role of Bheeshma which he was offered and instead play the role of Duryodhana, he could get Vali released.

Mr. Gayudu wasn’t willing to accept the bargain, but he left the movie saying his student Dhulipala is qualified to play Duryodhana out of concern for his friend Vali. Mr. Gayudu responded, displaying all the letters and telegrams he had already received, “I am backing off for the sake of my friend Vali,” when NTR thanked him for leaving the film. Remember that despite your professional success, I was always the first option for the main role in every movie, and you were always the second because I couldn’t make it on time and you seized the opportunities.

Dhulipala, who was well-known for playing Duryodhana on stage, so made his film debut with that one. Mr. Gayudu was the top candidate for every leading role in mythological films, but his family forbade him from going into the business out of concern for his safety after his uncle, the legendary actor Dommeti Surya Narayana, was murdered by his foes while still a successful first-generation Telugu film industry superstar. They hid every letter and telegram Mr. Gayudu received from them offering him the lead roles in their films.