# Akul Balaji

Akul Balaji (born Akula Balaji on 23 February 1979) is an Indian actor, television host and dancer who works in Kannada and Telugu television shows and films. He started his career by acting and hosting television shows and has participated in the Kannada Film Industry for almost a decade. He shot to fame for co-hosting the hit Kannada reality show Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu 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

## 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 has also dabbled in theater in Director Pawan Kumar's adaptation of Badal Sarkar's Evam Inderjit in 2004. 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 and he has to his credit superhit shows like Kuniyonu Baara and 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, which was shot in Andaman Islands, Hosa Luv Story, and Nodi Swamy Naavirode Heege. He hosted Mane Munde Mahalakshmi, 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 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.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Work | Role | Network | Language |
| 2007 | Kuniyonu Baara | Host | Zee Kannada | Kannada |
| 2008 | Comedy Killadigalu | Host | Zee Kannada | Kannada |
| 2009 | Kuniyonu Baara Boys vs Girls | Mentor | Zee Kannada | Kannada |
| 2010 | Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu Season 1 | Host | Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2010 | Halli Haida Pyateg Banda | Host | Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2010 | Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru Season 1 | Host | Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2011 | Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu Season 2 | Host | Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2011 | Hosa Luv Story | Host | Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2011 | Pyate Mandi Kaadige Bandru Season 2 | Host | Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2012 | Nodi Swami Naavirodhe Heege | Host | Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2012 | Pellinati Pramanalu | Abhi | Zee Telugu | Telugu |
| 2013 | Mane Mundhe Mahalakshmi | Host | ETV Kannada | Kannada |
| 2013 | Sye Ante Sye | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu |
| 2013 | Indian | Host | ETV Kannada | Telugu |
| 2014 | Thaka Dhimi Tha Dancing star | Host | ETV Kannada | Kannada |
| 2014 | Bigg Boss Kannada (season 2) | Winner | ETV Kannada | Kannada |
| 2014 | Pyate Hudgir Halli Lifu (season 3) | Mentor | ETV Kannada | Kannada |
| 2015 | Dancing Stars Season 2 | Host | Colors Kannada | Kannada |
| 2015 | 3.2.1.GO | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu |
| 2015 | Dancing Star Junior | Host | Colors Kannada | Kannada |
| 2015 | Super Jodi | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2015 | 13 Fear is Real | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu |
| 2016 | Star Suvarna Dance Dance | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2016 | KICK | Host | Udaya TV | Kannada |
| 2017 | Super Jodi Season 2 | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2017 | Deshamudurlu | Host | MAA TV | Telugu |
| 2017 | Super Talk Time | Host | Colors Super | Kannada |
| 2018 | Master Dancer | Host | Colors Super | Kannada |
| 2018 | Pyate Hudgir Halli Lyfu Season 4 | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2018 | Sixth Sense Kannada | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2018 | Halli Haida Pyateg Banda Season 4 | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2019 | Thakadimitha | Host | Colors Kannada | Kannada |
| 2019 | Colors Comedy Company | Host | Colors Kannada | Kannada |
| 2021 | Cookku With Kirikku | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2021–present | Oohalu Gusagusalade | Abhiram | Zee Telugu | Telugu |
| 2021 | Bigg Boss Kannada Mini Season | Task Master | Colors Kannada | Kannada |
| 2022 | Dancing Champion | Host | Colors Kannada | Kannada |
| 2022 | Dance India Dance Telugu | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu |
| 2022 | Ghana Bajaana Season 3 | Host | Star Suvarna | Kannada |
| 2023 | Bharjari Bachelors | Host | Zee Kannada | Kannada |
| 2024 | Comedy Killadigalu Premier League | Judge / Team Owner | Zee Kannada |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
| 2006 | Kallarali Hoovagi | Thippaga | |
| 2007 | Milana | | Cameo appearance |
| 2008 | Athmeeya | Vijay | |
| 2008 | Paramesha Panwala | | |
| 2009 | Neramu Siksha | Rohit | Telugu film |
| 2009 | Banni | | |
| 2013 | Myna | Game show host | Cameo appearance |
| 2013 | Pyarge Aagbittaite | | Cameo appearance |
| 2013 | Loosegalu | Shankara | |
| 2014 | Crazy Star | | Cameo appearance |