N. T. Rama Rao Jr. (born Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao on 20 May 1983) known popularly as Jr. NTR, is an Indian film actor in Telugu Cinema and an accomplished Kuchipudi dancer. He is the grandson of veteran actor and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N.T. Rama Rao and the son of actor and Member of Parliament Nandamuri Harikrishna.
N.T.R. marked his debut in Telugu cinema as a child actor in Brahmarshi Viswamitra (1991) and then was starred as Lord Rama in Ramayanam (1997), which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film in 1998. Five years later he starred in a lead role with Ninnu Chudalani (2001).
He was then starred in the blockbuster film Student No. 1 directed by S. S. Rajamouli. He then acted in many successful hits like Aadi, Simhadri, Rakhi, Yamadonga, Adhurs, Brindavanam, Oosaravelli, and Dammu which established him as one of the leading actors in Telugu cinema.
N.T.R. has won two Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards, one Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Award, three CineMAA Awards. Other than films he is the brand ambassador for several brands such as Malabar Gold, Navratna Hair Oil, and Zandu Balm in Andhra Pradesh.
He was also involved in politics and campaigns for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founded by his grandfather in 2009 elections.
Contents
1 Personal life
2 Career in Telugu cinema
3 Political stint and accident
4 Filmography
4.1 As actor
4.2 As singer
5 Awards and nominations
Personal life
He was born to politician and actor Nandamuri Harikrishna and Nandamuri Shalini on the 20 May in 1983. Actor Nandamuri Balakrishna is Tarak's uncle.
Career in Telugu cinema
He began his career as a child artist. His first movie he starred in was Brahmarshi Viswamithra directed by N. T. R. But his full length major role was in the movie Bala Ramayanam directed by Guna Shekar. Tarak made his re-entry into the Tollywood with Ninnu Choodalani in 2001; but it failed to perform well at the box office. He mentioned in an interview that his remuneration for "Ninnu Choodalani" was about 6 lakh Rupees.
However in the same year he went on to gain fame with Student No. 1 directed by S.S. Rajamouli, followed by soft love story Subbu and Aadi, which was a blockbuster, and brought immediate stardom for him. In year 2003, he came up with a political movie Naaga. Even though the movie raised some political issues worth giving a thought, it settled as an average grosser. However his next movie Simhadri went on to become a blockbuster.
In 2004, his career took a down turn with Andhrawala. Though Samba fared as above average grosser his next movies Naa Alludu and Narasimhudu released in year 2005 did badly at box office. In 2006, his film Ashok had the biggest opening week gross in his career but did not appease his fans.
His next movie Rakhi directed by Pasupuleti Krishna Vamsi, which proved an average grosser at the box office, gained him admirable reviews from fans and critics alike. His next movie, Yamadonga, which was inspired by his grandfather's blockbuster Yamagola, released in August 2007 brought him back into the super-hit stream, and became the sensational movie of the year, Yamadonga Tarak's next film was Kantri, released in May 2008 exposed his superb skill of dancing but did average at box office with 25 Crores. In year 2010 he appeared in two movies, and both of them Adhurs in which he played a dual role and Brindavanam succeeded well at box-office,. Then Shakthi released on 1 April 2011 and it failed to perform well at the box office. Tarak played the lead role in the film Oosaravelli, directed by Surender Reddy, which was released on 6 October 2011 and though it received mixed reviews, it generated good revenue at the box office.
Another movie titled Dhammu under the direction of Boyapati Seenu was launched on 18 February 2011 which received decent reviews.Dhammu. After the above average success of Dhammu, he is now heading for Baadshah with Srinu Vaitla and first look of the film is released on his birthday.The shooting of the film was supposed to start on 1 July 2012 in Italy, but was postponed to 9 July 2012
Political stint and accident
Tarak was one of the campaigners for the Telugu Desam Party, for the Indian general election, 2009 from April to May 2009. For a span of about 14 days, Tarak continuously amassed huge crowds at his road shows, and received great acclaim for his speaking abilities and maturity levels at such a young age. On March 26, 2009, After electioneering, en route to Hyderabad, the SUV which he was driving was struck head-on with a tree, at Khammam. He and his companions were thrown from the SUV and suffered brutal injuries, Tarak, was treated at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, in Secunderabad to recuperate.
Filmography
As actor
Year Title
1991 Brahmarshi
1996 Ramayanam
2001 Ninnu Chudalani
2001 Student No.1
2002 Subbu
2002 Aadi
2002 Allari Ramudu
2003 Naaga
2003 Simhadri
2004 Andhrawala
2004 Samba
2005 Naa Alludu
2005 Narasimhudu
2006 Ashok
2006 Rakhi
2007 Yamadonga Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu
2008 Kanthri Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu
2008 Chintakayala Ravi Special appearance
2010 Adhurs Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu
2010 Brindaavanam Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu
2011 Shakti
2011 Oosaravelli
2012 Dammu
2013 Baadshah filming
2013 Untitled Harish Sankar Movie Pre-Production
As singer
Year Song Film
2007 "Olammi Thimmiri ekkinda" Yamadonga
2008 "123 Nenoka Kantri" Kanthri
2010 "Chary" Adhurs
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Film Result
1996 Yuvakalavahini Award Yuvakalavahini Award – Best Child Actor Ramayanam Won
1996 Bharathmuni Arts Academy Award Bharathmuni Arts Academy Award – Best Child Actor Ramayanam Won
1996 AP Cinegoer's Association Awards AP Cinegoer's Association Awards – Best Child Actor Ramayanam Won
1996 Nandi Awards Nandi Special Jury Award Ramayanam Won
2001 AP Cinegoer's Association Awards AP Cinegoer's Association Awards – Best New Hero Student No.1 Won
2002 Nandi Awards Nandi Special Jury Award Aadi Won
2002 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Awards – Critic's Best Actor Aadi Won
2003 Santosham Film Awards Santosham Best Young Performers Award Simhadri Won
2003 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Actor - Male Simhadri Won
2006 FNCC Telugu Cinema Awards FNCC Telugu Cinema Awards – Best Actor Rakhi Won
2006 AP Cinegoer's Association Awards AP Cinegoer's Association Awards – Best Actor Rakhi Won
2007 Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu Yamadonga Won
2007 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Actor - Male Yamadonga Won
2007 FNCC Telugu Cinema Awards FNCC Telugu Cinema Awards – Best Actor Yamadonga Won
2007 Gemini TV Awards 2007 Gemini TV 2007 – Best Actor] Yamadonga Won
2008 Sitara Awards Sitara Best Actor Award -Telugu Kanthri Won
2008 South Scope Awards South Scope Award – Best Stylish Actor (Male) Kanthri Won
2008 Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu Kanthri Nominated
2010 Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu Adhurs Nominated
2010 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Actor - Male Adhurs Won
2010 Santosham Film Awards Santosham Best Actor Award Adhurs Nominated
2010 Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu Brindaavanam Won
2010 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Actor - Male Brindaavanam Won
2010 Santosham Film Awards Santosham Best Actor Award Brindaavanam Won
2011 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Actor - Male Oosaravelli Won