The Actor With The Guinness World Document For Most Film Appearances

In the US, the huge world of Telugu cinema is not terribly well-known. Certainly, many People might need first been uncovered to Telugu cinema as not too long ago as 2022 with the discharge of S.S. Rajamouli’s musical motion epic “RRR,” a movie that received Greatest Authentic Tune on the Academy Awards. Telugu cinema — typically known as Tollywood — is an business that goes again 1912, and is produced within the southern a part of India. Tollywood films are to not be confused with Bollywood films, which belong to a separate business, describing films made out of Bombay. Tollywood films are in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, or Malayalam. Bollywood films are in Hindi, but in addition typically within the Punjabi or Haryanvi languages. Additionally, usually talking, Bollywood films are shorter than Tollywood films, and the previous tends to skew towards romantic melodramas whereas the latter leans towards motion and spectacle. 

Working on the earth of Telugu cinema since his first characteristic movie in 1986 is the prolific famous person Kanneganti Brahmanandam, who’s normally credited by simply his final identify. Brahamanandam’s first film was director Jandhyala’s romantic dramedy dud “Chanttabai,” a movie a few would-be detective (Chiranjeevi) who fashions his life round James Bond. Brahmanandam’s character isn’t named, however he reveals up within the background. 

Since then, Brahmanandam has racked up a staggering 1,049 further movie credit. All through the Nineties, he appeared in a mean of 40 films per 12 months. His nice face and expertise for comedy has him certainly one of Telugu cinema’s most dependable and in-demand actors, and it appears that evidently Brahmanandam by no means says no to something. He additionally has branched out of Telugu cinema infrequently, having a modest filmography in Tamil as effectively. He presently holds the Guinness World Document for essentially the most variety of credit of any residing actor — and, sure, that features voice actors and grownup performers as effectively. 

Brahmanandam began prolific and easily by no means stopped. He made his debut in 1986, however 1987 was already busy; he appeared in six characteristic movies that 12 months. By 1988, he starred in 18 films. He remained at that clip for many years, solely slowing barely in 2016, when he solely appeared in 13 movies. In 2017, he took a little bit of a break, exhibiting up in solely seven. We right here in the US turn out to be impressed when, say, Jude Legislation reveals up in 5 high-profile films. Brahmanandam beats Legislation’s yearly report by mid-January. In 2024, Brahamanandam appeared within the animated collection “Bujji and Bhairava,” one movie in Hindi, one movie in Nepali, two Tamil movies, and three Telugu films. That is along with his dubbing work. 

People could also be accustomed to a personality Brahmanandam has performed, as he supplied the Telugu language dialogue for Pumbaa within the Indian dub of Jon Favreau’s “The Lion King.” He returned to the function for the prequel movie, “Mufasa: The Lion King” as effectively. 

American audiences searching for simply accessible Brahmanandam performances will discover his movies “Indian II,” “Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo,” “Kushi,” “Bro,” and “Manmadhudu 2” on Netflix. The streaming service Sunnxt additionally has 24 extra. Given how prolific he’s, although, these movies are however a sampling of the person’s wonderful comedic abilities. Whereas a whole lot of Telugu movies can be found all around the world, the huge bulk of them are nonetheless solely obtainable in India. In his native nation, nonetheless, Brahmanandam is a nationwide treasure and recognizable on sight. 

Earlier than changing into an actor, Brahmanandam went to school, bought a Masters of Arts diploma, and labored as a lecturer and occasional performer, giving stage examples of assorted bodily comedy sorts. His mock performances have been spectacular and humorous sufficient to draw the eye of playwright Adi Vishnu. Vishnu had connections at a neighborhood Telugu TV station, and Brahmanandam was capable of get a gig acting on TV. That efficiency, in flip, attracted movie director Jandhyala, and a movie profession was kicked off.

Brahamnandam has been so prolific, there are few different biographical particulars to report. He acted. He acted extra. He acted much more. He did discover time to marry sooner or later and has two sons, each of whom even have appearing credit.

When he cracked 1,000 credit in 2015, Brahmanandam was interviewed by the Instances of India, and he was impressively modest concerning the achievement. He stated: 

“Each man aspires to do one thing together with his life, which is why I consider it is not me that’s the reason. I am certain each actor works as laborious as me, if no more. However individuals have not gotten uninterested in me but. […] I do plan to go simple and be extra selective with my movies any longer. There’s an outdated saying: [translated as] ‘Recent water replaces the outdated water, however the moss stays instead.’ I suppose that explains my longevity.” 

Brahmanandam can be very non secular (he’s a Brahamanist), and claimed to be authoring a ebook primarily based on his private relationship to God and his religion journey. Thus far, he has received six Nandi Awards, the Oscars of Telugu cinema. He has no intention of retiring anytime quickly, so his data will solely increase. “I will proceed doing it,” he stated, “so long as the present goes on.” Telugu cinema would not be the identical with out him. He’s now 69 years outdated. 

Brahmanandam is, nonetheless, solely essentially the most prolific actor that’s nonetheless alive, and solely holds the report for many movie credit. As volumetric data go, Brahmanandam has a methods to go earlier than he can beat the report of the late Jan Leighton, the American actor who, in line with the Guinness Guide, performed extra roles than any recognized actor in historical past. Leighton’s report consists of voice roles, stage performances, commercials, print adverts, and occasional movie and TV components. However by Guinness’ estimation, Leighton “performed” (or no less than dressed as) over 3,000 individuals in his lifetime. 

Leighton, born in 1921, started securing stage roles within the late ’50s, and appeared on just a few TV reveals within the Nineteen Sixties. He was keen on historical past, and infrequently learn historic biographies, permitting him to painting historic figures with aplomb. He normally constructed his personal costumes and stored them in his dwelling. In accordance with a 1989 interview with New York Journal, Leighton owned piles of wigs, sneakers, togas, virtually 200 hats, and 71 pairs of glasses. In accordance with Leighton’s 2009 obituary within the New York Instances, he was credited with greater than 2,400 roles. His now-defunct web site, nonetheless, put that quantity at effectively over 3,000. 

Leighton was capable of pad out his credit by together with modeling work. He dressed as Henry Kissinger and Leonardo da Vinci on covers of New York Journal, as an example. He was Dracula in a cell phone advert, and Robert E. Lee in a division retailer business. He even performed the voice of John Wayne on the 1981 Kleeer single “Get Powerful.” 

As for movie credit, Leighton is much less prolific. His most seen movie function may be enjoying Albert Einstein in the raunchy (and offensive) 1982 supernatural intercourse farce “Zapped!”