Promotiondon at 09:56, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T09:56:06Z

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{{Short description|Indian film actor (born 1979)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Akul Balaji
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = ter
| image =
| caption = Akul at the Big Boss Kannada season 2 reality show
| birth_name = Akula Balaji
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|2|23}}
| birth_place = [[Railway Koduru|Koduru]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2002–present
| spouse = [[Jyothi Akul]] (2008–present)
| children = Krishaan Nag
| website =
}}

'''Akul Balaji''' (born '''Akula Balaji''' on 23 February 1979) is an [[Indian actor]], television host and dancer who works in [[Kannada]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] television shows and films. He started his career by acting and hosting television shows and has participated in the [[Kannada film|Kannada Film]] Industry for almost a decade. He shot to fame for co-hosting the hit Kannada reality show ''Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu''<ref>{{cite web|title=Pyate Hudgir Halli Life |url=http://www.exchange4media.com/news/story.aspx?Section_id=35&News_id=38089 |publisher=Exchange for Media.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195407/http://www.exchange4media.com/news/story.aspx?Section_id=35&News_id=38089 |archivedate=29 October 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> on [[Asianet Suvarna]] Channel, with Kannada Star [[Sudeep]]. He recently hosted a Kannada dance reality show named Takadhimita on Colors Kannada Channel.

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<ref>{{cite web|title=Breaking : Bigg Boss 8 Kanada Winner Is Akul Balaji|date=4 October 2014|url=http://businessofcinema.com/tele/breaking-bigg-boss-8-kanada-winner-akul-balaji/176169|publisher=Business of cinema|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006152147/http://businessofcinema.com/tele/breaking-bigg-boss-8-kanada-winner-akul-balaji/176169|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

== 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 also dabbled in theater in Director [[Pawan Kumar (director)|Pawan Kumar]]'s adaptation of [[Badal Sarkar]]'s ''Evam Inderjit'' in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=Evam Inderjit|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/sep302004/metro9.asp|newspaper=Deccan Herald Metrolife|date=2004-09-30|access-date=15 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217073159/http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/sep302004/metro9.asp|archive-date=17 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has also done an advance acting workshop under [[Mahesh Dattani]]. Akul Balaji married his wife [[Jyothi Akul]] in 2008. The couple have a son.

== 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<ref>{{cite web|title=Kannada Television Awards|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k10/dec/dec230.php|publisher=IndianTelevision.com|access-date=15 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217070509/http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k10/dec/dec230.php|archive-date=17 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and he has to his credit superhit shows like ''Kuniyonu Baara'' and<ref>{{cite web|title=Kuniyonu Baara |url=http://zeekannadatv.com/contest-kb-boysvsgirls.aspx |publisher=Zee Kannada |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501160751/http://www.zeekannadatv.com/contest-kb-boysvsgirls.aspx |archivedate=1 May 2010 }}</ref> ''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'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru |url=http://www.mediaworldasia.dk/index.php/media-articles/773-suvarna-takes-second-season-of-reality-show-to-andaman-islands |publisher=Media Asia |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403203001/http://mediaworldasia.dk/index.php/media-articles/773-suvarna-takes-second-season-of-reality-show-to-andaman-islands |archivedate=3 April 2013 }}</ref> which was shot in [[Andaman Islands]], ''Hosa Luv Story'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Hosa Luv Story|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k11/jan/jan95.php|publisher=IndianTelevision|access-date=15 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217070507/http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k11/jan/jan95.php|archive-date=17 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Nodi Swamy Naavirode Heege''. He hosted ''Mane Munde Mahalakshmi'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Mane Munde Mahalakshmi|date=29 December 2012|url=http://kannada.oneindia.in/movies/tv/2012/12/mane-munde-mahalakshmi-on-etv-kannada-070550.html|publisher=Oneindia Kannada|access-date=15 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217105626/http://kannada.oneindia.in/movies/tv/2012/12/mane-munde-mahalakshmi-on-etv-kannada-070550.html|archive-date=17 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/102069.html|publisher=Cineblitz|title=Dancing Star in ETV|access-date=14 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110143745/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/102069.html|archive-date=10 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 (TV series)|Oohalu Gusagusalade]].'' <ref>{{Cite web|title=Akul Balaji returns to acting with Telugu TV show - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/akul-balaji-returns-to-acting-with-telugu-tv-show/articleshow/82629958.cms|access-date=2021-09-16|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"|Year
! scope="col"|Work
! scope="col"|Role
!Network
!Language
|-
|2007
| ''Kuniyonu Baara''
|Host
| rowspan="3" |[[Zee Kannada]]
| rowspan="10" |Kannada
|-
|2008
| ''Comedy Killadigalu''
| Host
|-
|2009
| ''Kuniyonu Baara Boys vs Girls''
| Mentor
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2010
| ''Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu Season 1''
| Host
| rowspan="7" |[[Star Suvarna|Suvarna]]
|-
| ''Halli Haida Pyateg Banda''
| Host
|-
| ''Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru Season 1''
| Host
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2011
| ''Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu Season 2''
| Host
|-
| ''Hosa Luv Story''
| Host
|-
| ''Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru Season 2''
| Host
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| ''Nodi Swami Naavirodhe Heege''
| Host
|-
|''Pellinati Pramanalu''
|Abhi
|[[Zee Telugu]]
|Telugu
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2013
| ''Mane Mundhe Mahalakshmi''
| Host
|[[ETV Kannada]]
|Kannada
|-
| ''Sye Ante Sye''
| Host
|[[Zee Telugu]]
| rowspan="2" |Telugu
|-
| ''Indian''
| Host
| rowspan="2" |[[ETV Kannada]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2014
| ''[[Thaka Dhimi Tha Dancing star]]''
| Host
| rowspan="4" |Kannada
|-
| [[Bigg Boss Kannada (season 2)|''Bigg Boss Kannada'' (season 2)]]
| Winner
| rowspan="2" |[[ETV Kannada]]
|-
|''Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu'' (season 3)
|Mentor
|-
| rowspan="5" |2015
| ''Dancing Stars'' Season 2<ref>{{cite web|title=ETV Twin Treat|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/etv-twin-treat-kannada-news-124523|website=India Glitz|date=2 February 2015|access-date=17 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520175445/http://www.indiaglitz.com/etv-twin-treat-kannada-news-124523|archive-date=20 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Host
|[[Colors Kannada]]
|-
| ''3.2.1.GO''
|Host
|[[Zee Telugu]]
|Telugu
|-
|''Dancing Star Junior''
|Host
|[[Colors Kannada]]
| rowspan="2" |Kannada
|-
|''Super Jodi''
|Host
|[[Star Suvarna]]
|-
|''13 Fear is Real''
|Host
|[[Zee Telugu]]
|Telugu
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
|''Star Suvarna Dance Dance''
|Host
|[[Star Suvarna]]
| rowspan="3" |Kannada
|-
|''KICK''
|Host
|[[Udaya TV]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |2017
|''Super Jodi Season 2''
|Host
|[[Star Suvarna]]
|-
|''Deshamudurlu''
|Host
|[[MAA TV]]
|Telugu
|-
|''Super Talk Time''
|Host
| rowspan="2" |[[Colors Super]]
| rowspan="8" |Kannada
|-
| rowspan="4" |2018
|''Master Dancer''
|Host
|-
|''Pyate Hudgir Halli Lyfu'' Season 4
|Host
| rowspan="3" |[[Star Suvarna]]
|-
|''Sixth Sense Kannada''
|Host
|-
|''Halli Haida Pyateg Banda'' Season 4
|Host
|-
| rowspan="2" |2019
|''Thakadimitha''
|Host
| rowspan="2" |[[Colors Kannada]]
|-
|''Colors Comedy Company''
|Host
|-
|2021
|''[[Cookku with Kirikku|Cookku With Kirikku]]''
|Host
|[[Star Suvarna]]
|-
|2021–present
|''[[Oohalu Gusagusalade (TV series)|Oohalu Gusagusalade]]''
|Abhiram
|[[Zee Telugu]]
|Telugu
|-
|2021
|''Bigg Boss Kannada Mini Season''
|Task Master
|[[Colors Kannada]]
| rowspan="2" |Kannada
|-
| rowspan="3" |2022
|''[[Dancing Champion]]''
|Host
|[[Colors Kannada]]
|-
|''Dance India Dance Telugu''
|Host
|[[Zee Telugu]]
|Telugu
|-
|''Ghana Bajaana Season 3''
|Host
|[[Star Suvarna]]
| rowspan="2" |Kannada
|-
|2023
|''[[Bharjari Bachelors]]''
|Host
|[[Zee Kannada]]
|-
|2024
|''[[Comedy Killadigalu Premier League]]''
|Judge / Team Owner
|[[Zee Kannada]]
|-
|2024
|''[[Zee Entertainers]]''
|Show Host
|[[Zee Kannada]]
|-
|2025
|''[[Halli Power]]''
|Show Host
|[[Zee Power]]
|Kannada
|}

=== Film ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role(s) !! class="unsortable" !| Notes
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Kallarali Hoovagi]]'' || Thippaga ||
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Milana (film)|Milana]]'' || || Cameo appearance
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2008 || ''Athmeeya'' || Vijay ||
|-
| ''[[Paramesha Panwala]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2009 || ''[[Neramu Siksha (2009 film)|Neramu Siksha]]''
|| Rohit || [[Telugu language|Telugu]] film<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2009/Apr/09/neramu-siksha-in-re-recording-39766.html|title=Neramu-Siksha in re-recording|date=15 May 2012|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
|-
| ''Banni'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2013 || ''[[Myna (film)|Myna]]'' || Game show host || Cameo appearance
|-
| ''[[Pyarge Aagbittaite (film)|Pyarge Aagbittaite]]'' || || Cameo appearance
|-
| ''[[Loosegalu]]'' || Shankara ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Crazy Star (film)|Crazy Star]]'' || || Cameo appearance
|}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=5834505|name=Akul Balaji}}

{{Bigg Boss Kannada}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Vijay Raghavendra]] |
title= [[Bigg Boss Kannada]] Winner |
years= ([[Bigg Boss Kannada 2|Series 2]]) 2014 |
after= [[Shruti (actress)|Shruti]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balaji, Akul}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:People from Kadapa district]]
[[Category:Male actors from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Telugu television]]
[[Category:Male actors in Kannada television]]
[[Category:Telugu male actors]]
[[Category:Bigg Boss Kannada winners]]

Akul Balaji - Revision history

Promotiondon at 09:56, 27 March 2026