He is called the adventurer and the horror of Russian show business, he says with great pleasure that he is an “anti-publicist” and a “chemical pure genius”. A bright brawler, a shocking showman, an unpredictable and bold journalist, a television and radio host are all Otar Shalvovich Kushanashvili. He can sympathize with someone, and annoy someone. It captivates the public with incredible wit, erudition, courage of judgments, sincerity.
Young years
Otar was born in the city of Kutaisi (Georgia) on June 22, 1970 in a large family. His parents - Shalva and Nelly Kushanashvili - raised nine children. While still a schoolboy, he became interested in journalism. By nature, emotional and erudite, he saw himself only in this area. His communication with the outside world and the desire to express his opinion on any occasion, even if someone did not like something, was in the blood of Otar. The first test in journalism occurred in the small newspaper Kutaisi Pravda. An ambitious guy read a lot. He did not just get acquainted with the authoritative publication Literary Newspaper, but literally swallowed its contents. He wrote his thoughts to popular authors of publications and critics - Stanislav Rassadin and Leo Anninsky.
After graduation, Otar Kushanashvili enters the University of Tbilisi at the Faculty of Journalism. But after some time he was very quickly expelled for his long tongue and unacceptable behavior. Soon the guy was drafted into the army. Having served the country honestly and faithfully, he decided to go conquer Moscow. But the capital did not immediately meet him with hospitality and friendliness. At first, the young guy washed the floor at the Paveletsky railway station, worked as a school watchman at night, and sent his resume every day to all Moscow publications. He sent messages to 35 editors, but received only one answer.
The beginning of the creative path
The career of Otar Kushanashvili (photo is in the article) began in the newspaper "New Look" led by Yevgeny Dodolev. A stubborn and ambitious Georgian was hired as a correspondent. At first, it was very difficult for him, because the first difficult test for him was the study of Russian grammar. But the young journalist turned out to be capable and persistent, and after 5 months he was awarded the editorial prize for the excellent interview that he took from Vera Glagoleva and Victor Merezhko. But still Kushanashvili did not sit in one place, he tried to make his way wherever possible.
Soon he met with the director of the TV-6 channel, Ivan Demidov. It was he who saw in this impudent and impudent guy that he needed for promotion of the project “Sharks of a feather”. Ultimately, Otar lived up to his expectations. The first airs raised the ratings of the program, the name of Otar appeared on the hearing. The guy asked the invited stars very provocative questions, from which they were shocked. The Georgian was not shy, he showed absolutely no respect for people who are known throughout the country. The biography of Otar Kushanshavili replete with vivid and memorable events. So, in a question to Valery Leontiev he was not soft. He asked what orientation the singer was and whether he had contact with his dog. The artist was shocked and surprised, but fended off the answer with humor and inherent grace. But not everyone has such a composure as Leontyev.
Fashion model Natalya Medvedeva was very offended by the impudent guy and threw a microphone at him. But soon the negligent reputation of the inglorious cynic and brawler no longer pleased the journalist himself. He realized that in pursuit of ratings and popularity, he crossed the forbidden line, and soon left the television show.
Scandalous fame
Of course, the journalist was not going to change radically, because this is his image, for which he is paid a lot of money. Once, Sergey Lazarev was subjected to his harsh attacks - Otar announced all his show business to his terrible vocal abilities. He was repeatedly brought to the courts by Alexander Abdulov, Alla Pugacheva. Sometimes unknown people beat him badly. No wonder one day his teeth were knocked out. The biography of Otar Kushanshvili also touched on politics. In 2008, he called Mikhail Saakashvili a disgrace to the nation, but after a while he changed his mind about him as a person.
But there were celebrities who were not criticized by the shocking and daring journalist. For example, Ksenia Sobchak, he considered the smartest of all the girls, who will not give offense. Those respected by Kushanashvili included the following Russian pop stars: Joseph Kobzon, Valery Meladze, Leonid Agutin.
Projects
Already in the mid-90s, Otar Kushanashvili’s creative biography was replenished with new projects, he became a big celebrity in the world of show business. And it doesn’t matter at all that the word “personality” was supplemented with the prefix “scandalous” - nobody disputed the popularity of the journalist. In 1995, he became the head of the weekly Musical Truth. As part of the project, Otar took about 300 interviews with celebrities. In 1997, he began conducting the Party Zone music program with Lera Kudryavtseva.
Later he was invited as a leader in the projects "Big jackpot", "On the Boulevard". Also Otar and radio did not ignore: he broadcast on the waves of “Europe Plus” and “Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda”.
Since October 2015, the journalist’s biography has been enriched with new pages. He began to lead the show "100% morning" on the radio "Sport FM" in the morning. Then he tried to take the vacant seat on the Ukrainian radio channel Radio Vesti, but the request was refused to the journalist.
Acting
Biography of Otar Kushanashvili every year replenished with a wide variety of events, which included samples in the cinema. So, he appeared in the comedy film “33 square meters”, in the crime series “Kamenskaya-3”, in the action-drama “Club”. In addition, he starred in such films as: "Kaleidoscope", "Life is like a movie." Otar has several published books: “I and the Way in … How to Defeat the Good”, “I. The book is revenge."
Otar Kushanashvili: biography, personal life
Once Otar said that he could not repeat the feat of his parents and raise nine children. But, despite this, the journalist already has 8. The first wife, Maria Gorokhova, gave him three babies: the daughter Daria (Dariko), the sons of George and Nicholas. Everyone now lives with their mother in Kiev. According to Otar Kushanashvili, children are his pride. Especially Daria is a beauty and a smart girl, her plans are a successful career on television. When the couple divorced, Maria seized all the property from Otar.
After breaking up with Maria Otar met his new love in the person of Irina Kiseleva. She was not related to show business and worked as a bank lawyer. Two children were born in their family: daughter Elina and son Fedor.
