Mahesh Babu (born Mahesh Babu Ghattamaneni on 9 August 1975) is an Indian film actor best known for his work in Telugu cinema. Born to actor Krishna, Mahesh Babu faced the camera at the age of four as a child artist in 1979's Needa. His first leading role was in the film Rajakumarudu, which was released in August 1999.
After playing the role of a young Kabaddi player in the 2003 blockbuster film Okkadu, Mahesh continued in this vein, gaining mass appeal and appearing in many successful films such as Murari (2001), Athadu (2005), Pokiri (2006), Dookudu (2011) and Business Man (2012). These accomplishments, have established him as one of the most sought after actors in Telugu Cinema. He was listed at 5th position among The Times Of India 50 Most Desirable Men for the year 2011 and at 12th place for 2010. He is considered as one of the most popular actor's in Telugu cinema and has over 4.5 lakh followers on Twitter.
Mahesh Babu has worked in nine films as a child artist and in seventeen films as a lead actor till date. He has won seven Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Awards, three CineMAA Awards and one South Indian International Movie Award. In addition to the films, he also endorses several brands such as Navratna Oil, Amrutanjan, Provogue in Andhra Pradesh and for Univercell, Idea Cellular, Jos Alukkas, Vivel, Mahindra Tractors, Santoor Soap and South India Shopping Mall in South India. He is also the national brand ambassador for Thums Up.
Contents
1 Early life
2 Personal life
3 Career
3.1 Early career (1979–1990)
3.2 1999–2004
3.3 2005–2010
3.4 2011–present
4 Filmography
5 Awards and nominations
6 References
7 External links
Early life
Mahesh Babu was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to prominent Telugu Cinema actor Ghatamaneni Siva Rama Krishna and Smt. Indira Devi on 9 August 1975.[16] He is the younger brother of actor turned producer Ramesh Babu Ghattamaneni.[17] He also has two elder sisters, Padmavathi and actress-producer Manjula Ghattamaneni and one younger sister Priyadarshini.[18] All siblings have the rare honour of having acted in films as child artistes. Mahesh’s childhood was spent mostly in Madras under the care of his paternal grandmother Smt. Durgamma and the rest of his family.[19] As his father had to spend considerable amount of time away from home working, his elder brother Ramesh Babu had a significant role in his upbringing and he enjoys a great relationship with him. Growing up in a big family, Mahesh shares an equally warm relationship with all his sisters and his grand mother. All of them in the family fondly call him "Naani".[20]
His father made sure all the children spent sufficient time with him on location and on his sets, especially during holidays. Mahesh many times said that this was where his interest for acting began.[21] The film sets were a second playground and he did not hesitate to face the camera when asked to do a small role in his brother Ramesh Babu‘s debut film, Needa at the age of four.[21] Mahesh studied at St. Bede‘s School in Chennai while continuing to attend his dad’s filming during holidays.[22] Few of his schoolmates at St.Bede's were Surya (Tamil film actor) and Vishnuvardhan (Tamil film director).[23] Mahesh obtained an Honours Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai.[24] Mahesh Babu acted in seven of his father's films as a child actor.
Personal life
Mahesh dated Bollywood actress and former Femina Miss India Namrata Shirodkar for five years.[25] She was his co-star in the movie Vamsi. They got married on 10 February 2005 in Mumbai.[26] They have two children, son Gautam Krishna (b. 31 August 2006) and daughter Sitara (b. 20 July 2012).[27][28]
Career
Early career (1979–1990)
He started his acting career by playing a small role in his brother Ramesh Babu‘s debut film, Needa under Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao's direction in 1979, at the age of 4.[29] In 1983, at the age of 8, director Kodi Ramakrishna requested him to play a role in the film Poratam since they were having difficulty casting for the role of Krishna’s sibling. This was his first full length feature film.[30] Producer and director Dhoondy, one of the early backers of Krishna in his struggling days, watched a preview of the movie and was stunned to find out he was Krishna’s own son and remarked that there was a spark in him and he would become an excellent artist.[31] True to that prognostication, Mahesh became successful as a child artist through varied roles. In Sankharavam (1987) he faced the cameras with his father directing him for the first time.[32] Veteran director A. Kodandarami Reddy directed him and his brother Ramesh for Bazaar Rowdy (1988), where he won accolades for his acting.[33] Mugguru Kodukulu (1988) saw him again team up with his brother and father, the father directing them all this time.[34] Gudachari 117 (1989) reunited Mahesh with his first film director Kodi Ramakrishna in a James Bond type of flick for which his dad, the lead in the movie, was famous.[35] Koduku Diddina Kapuram (1989), directed by Krishna again, had Mahesh in a dual role.[36] Balachandrudu and Anna Tammudu (1990) saw the teenaged Mahesh Babu completing his first innings on celluloid after which he concentrated on his studies and went out of the public eye while letting nature take its course through the awkward adolescent years.[37]
1999–2004
In 1999, Mahesh was re-introduced as a full-fledged hero with the movie Raja Kumarudu (The Prince).[38] Directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and co-starring Priety Zinta, this movie was a debonair start for his career earning him Nandi Award for Best Male Debutant.[39] After the movie was released, both fans and the media started fondly calling him "Prince Mahesh".[40] His next release Yuvaraju followed in the year 2000.[41] Directed by Y.V.S Chowdary, the movie did moderately well at the box office completing 100 days in 19 centres all over AP.[42] In the same year, another movie Vamsi under the direction of B. Gopal was released and this movie had Namrata Shirodkar co-starring for the first time with Mahesh.[43] During the movie, the on screen couple Mahesh and Namrata started seeing each other in real life and this relationship later resulted in their marriage.[44]
In 2001, his successful movie Murari, directed by Krishna Vamsi and co-starring Sonali Bendre, was released[45] and earned Mahesh plaudits from all sections of audience and from critics.[46] He bagged a Nandi Special Jury Award for his performance in the film.[47] Takkari Donga, produced and directed by Jayanth C. Paranjee was released in 2002, where Mahesh essayed the role of a cowboy.[48] The role and the movie were meant to honour the legacy of Krishna as the first ever Indian cowboy and also the first Indian cowboy movie Mosagallaku Mosagadu.[49] His untiring effort in the movie led to another Nandi Special Jury Award.[50] His next film Bobby was released in the same year. Mahesh was paired along Aarthi Agarwal in this movie which was directed by Sobhan.[51]
Mahesh was next seen in Okkadu directed by Gunasekhar and co-starring Bhumika Chawla, the movie was produced by M.S. Raju.[52] This movie was released in 2003 and it remains as a landmark film in Mahesh Babu's career. He won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) for this movie.[53] His next movie Nijam co-starring Rakshita was directed by Teja.[54] Mahesh‘s performance acquired him the prestigious Nandi Award for Best Actor.[55] In 2004, he worked with director S. J. Suryaah and had paired with Amisha Patel for the movie Naani.[56] This movie was produced by his sister Manjula Ghattamaneni.[57] The same year also had Mahesh again collaborating with Gunasekhar for his next movie Arjun which was produced by his brother G. Ramesh Babu.[58] He received a Nandi Special Jury Award for his emotional performance in the film.[59]
2005–2010
In 2005, Mahesh married Namrata Shirodkar after being in a relationship with her for almost 5 years.[60] The year also saw the first release after his marriage and Trivikram Srinivas’s second directorial venture, Athadu.[61] He was paired alongside with Trisha Krishnan. Mahesh once again achieved critical acclaim for his performance in the movie and also earned himself the Nandi Award for Best Actor for the second time.[62] Pokiri, produced jointly by his sister Manjula Ghattamaneni and Vaishno Academy and directed by Puri Jagannadh was the highest-grossing Telugu film of the year.[63] The movie saw him paired alongside with Ileana D'Cruz. Pokiri was a success in AP as well as other states and overseas. The film completed 100 days in as many as 200 centres in Andhra Pradesh and completed silver jubilee in a record 63 centres.[64] Mahesh earned his second Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) for this movie.[65]
The year also saw Mahesh working again with Director Gunasekhar and actress Trisha Krishnan for the movie Sainikudu.[66] In 2007, for his next venture Mahesh embraced corporate film making in Telugu Film Industry.[67] He collaborated with UTV and with young director Surender Reddy for Athidi which made him the first corporate hero in Telugu Film Industry.[68] He was paired along side Amrita Rao.[69] After Athidi, Mahesh devoted more time to family matters with a new toddler to spend time with, supporting and helping Namrata cope with her father’s illness and then his death, followed by Namrata’s mother’s bout with cancer and her death.[70] In 2008, Mahesh lent his voice for the film Jalsa, directed by his friend Trivikram Srinivas.[71] In 2009 Mahesh started working on a movie with Trivikram Srinivas as director.[72]
In 2010, after a 3-year long hiatus Mahesh returned to the silver screen with the movie Khaaleja.[73] Directed by his friend Trivikram Srinivas, the movie languished in development hell due to production problems[74] and the telangana agitations.[75] Upon release, the movie received mixed reviews and also became one of the highest grossing Telugu films overseas.[76] The year also saw Mahesh embracing social networking site Twitter to interact with his fans.[77]
2011–present
In 2011, Mahesh's film Dookudu co–starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu was released. Directed by Srinu Vaitla and was produced by 14 Reels Entertainment, it broke many records in the Telugu film industry upon release by taking the largest worldwide opening, earning INR21.2 crores in 3 days,[78] and becoming the highest grossing Telugu film overseas[79] by earning 1.5 million dollars in the first weekend.[80] The film set a box office record for the Telugu film industry by collecting a gross of more than INR1 billion[81] and completed a successful run in 312 centres after 50 days.[82] CNN-IBN for the year 2011, declared him as the Actor of the Year and Dookudu as the Hit of the Year in a survey conducted for Telugu films.[83] He also won his third Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) for his performance in the movie.[84] He then co–starred with Kajal Aggarwal in the movie Business Man. The film was directed by Puri Jagannadh and produced by RR Movie Makers, releasing worldwide on 13 January 2012.[85] Similar to his previous release, it took the largest worldwide opening[86] by collecting INR18.73 crores on the first day[87] and INR62.94 crores worldwide in the first week.[88] For the first time in his career, Mahesh along with the director Puri Jagannadh lent his vocals for a song in the project.[89] According to certain reports, Mahesh emerged as the highest paid actor in South India after Rajnikanth.[90] He was listed 5th in the Times survey of the 50 Most Desirable Men in India, becoming the only South Indian to have been done so.[91]
His next venture is a multi–starrer film Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu under the direction of Srikanth Addala.[92] Being produced by Dil Raju, the film also stars Daggubati Venkatesh in a leading role. The film was officially launched on 6 October 2011 and the filming began on 18 January 2012.[93] This film casts Samantha opposite him, for the second time. He has also signed up for a role in a film under the direction of Sukumar. The film produced by 14 Reels Entertainment has debutant Kriti Sanon acting opposite him and the film was launched on 12 February 2012.[94][95] He also hired Hollywood trainer Mike Ryan as his personal trainer.[96]
Filmography
Year Title Role(s) Notes
1979 Needa Child Artist
1983 Poratam Child Artist
1987 Sankharavam Child Artist
1988 Bazaar Rowdy Mahesh Child Artist
1988 Mugguru Kodukulu Surendhra Child Artist
1989 Gudachari 117 Chinna Child Artist
1989 Koduku Diddina Kapuram Vinod / Pramod Child Artist (Dual Role)
1990 Anna Thammudu Murali Child Artist
1990 Bala Chandrudu Chandu Child Artist
1999 Raja Kumarudu Raja Nandi Award for Best Male Debut
2000 Yuvaraju Srinivas
2000 Vamsi Vamsi
2001 Murari Murari Nandi Special Jury Award
2002 Takkari Donga Raju Nandi Special Jury Award
2002 Bobby Bobby
2003 Okkadu Ajay Varma Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu)
2003 Nijam G.Seetaram Nandi Award for Best Actor
2004 Naani Naani
2004 Arjun Arjun Nandi Special Jury Award
2005 Athadu Nanda Gopal/Parthu Nandi Award for Best Actor
2006 Pokiri Pandu (Krishna Manohar) Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu)
2006 Sainikudu Siddhartha
2007 Athidhi Athidhi
2008 Jalsa Narrator Voice Over
2010 Khaleja Seetharama Raju
2011 Dookudu G. Ajay Kumar Nandi Award for Best Actor
Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu)
2012 Business Man Surya Bhai
2012 Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu Filming
2013 Sukumar's Untitled Project Filming
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Film Result
1999 Nandi Awards Nandi Award for Best Male Debut Raja Kumarudu Won
2001 Nandi Awards Nandi Special Jury Award Murari Won
2002 Nandi Awards Nandi Special Jury Award Takkari Donga Won
2003 Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu Okkadu Won
2003 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Actor – Male Okkadu Won
2003 Santosham Film Awards Santosham Best Young Performers Award Okkadu Won
2003 AP Cinegoer's Association Awards Best Actor[97] Okkadu Won
2003 Nandi Awards Nandi Award for Best Actor Nijam Won
2004 Nandi Awards Nandi Special Jury Award Arjun Won
2005 Nandi Awards Nandi Award for Best Actor Athadu Won
2005 Vamsee Film Awards Best Actor – N T R Swarna Kankanam[98] Athadu Won
2006 Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu Pokiri Won
2006 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Actor – Male Pokiri Won
2006 Santosham Film Awards Santosham Best Actor Award Pokiri Won
2006 Vamsee Film Awards Best Actor – N T R Swarna Kankanam[98] Pokiri Won
2007 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Actor – Male Athidi Nominated
2007 Santosham Film Awards Santosham Best Actor Award Athidi Nominated
2007 Vamsee Film Awards Best Actor – N T R Swarna Kankanam[98] Athidi Won
2011 Nandi Awards Nandi Award for Best Actor Dookudu Won
2011 Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu[99] Dookudu Won
2011 CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Actor – Male Dookudu Won
2011 The Hyderabad Times Film Awards Best Actor – Male[100][101] Dookudu Won
2011 South Indian International Movie Awards Best Actor – Telugu[102] Dookudu Won
