N. T. Rama Rao Jr. is an Indian actor, producer, and television presenter who primarily works in Telugu cinema. Rao first appeared as a child artist in the film Brahmarshi Viswamitra, written, directed and starred by his grandfather N. T. Rama Rao in 1991. He went on to play the titular role as Rama in the 1997 mythological film Ramayanam. Rao made his debut as a lead actor in 2001 with the film Ninnu Choodalani, which was a box office failure. He tasted his first success in the same year with the S. S. Rajamouli's directorial debut, coming-of-age action film Student No: 1.
Though Subbu which released in the same year could not impress the audience, his 2002 action film Aadi was a massive success. For the film, Rao received Nandi Special Jury Award presented by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The two next films Allari Ramudu and Naaga were back-to-back failures. His second collaboration with the director S. S. Rajamouli was the 2003 action film Simhadri, which ended up as one of the biggest blockbusters of that year. In the film, Rao is seen as a kind-hearted man, Simhadri who has a violent past. In 2004, Rao played a dual role for the first time film Andhrawala directed by Puri Jagannadh. The film could not reach the high expectations and bombed at the box office. Samba which released in the same year had a decent response but his subsequent films Naa Alludu, Narasimhudu and Ashok were a string of failures.
In 2007, Rao made his third collaboration with the director S. S. Rajamouli for the socio-fantasy film, Yamadonga. For this film, the actor made a complete body transformation and shed extra kilos. The film was praised for its unique story and performances and became one of the biggest hits of that year. Rao has won his first Filmfare Award as Best Actor – Telugu for the film. For RRR, Rao’s performance earned him several nominations including Best Actor in an Action Movie at the Critics' Choice Super Awards.
Major Associations
Critics' Choice Super Awards YearCategoryNominated workResult 2023Best Actor in a Leading RoleRRR
Indiana Film Journalists Association, US YearCategoryNominated workResult 2023Best Lead PerformanceRRR
Nandi Awards YearCategoryNominated workResult 2002Special Jury AwardAadi 2016Best ActorNannaku Prematho and Janatha Garage
Filmfare Awards YearCategoryNominated workResult 2003Best Actor – TeluguAadi 2004Simhadri 2007Rakhi 2008Yamadonga 2009Kantri 2011Adhurs 2016Temper 2017Nannaku Prematho 2018Jai Lava Kusa 2019Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava 2023RRR 2026Devara: Part 1
South Indian International Movie Awards YearCategoryNominated workResult 2017Best Actor – TeluguJanatha Garage Best Male Playback Singer – Kannada"Geleya Geleya" (from Chakravyuha) 2018Best Actor – TeluguJai Lava Kusa 2019Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava 2023RRR 2025Devara: Part 1
Miscellaneous Awards Award Year Category Work Result Bollywood Life Awards2023Best Actor SouthRRRBangkok Movie Awards2024Best ActorDevara: Part 1 CineMAA Awards2003Best ActorAadi2004Simhadri2008Yamadonga2011AdhursBrindavanam2012Oosaravelli2013Dammu2016TemperFNCC Awards2004Best ActorSimhadriGemini TV Awards2008Best ActorYamadongaGold List Award2023Best Performance in a Leading RoleRRR IIFA Utsavam2016Best Actor – TeluguTemper2017Janatha GarageMirchi Music Awards South2016Star As A Singing Sensation – Telugu"Follow Follow" (from Nannaku Prematho (Follow Follow))Star As A Singing Sensation – Kannada"Geleya Geleya" (from Chakravyuha)Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards India2023Favorite Movie Actor (South)RRRSantosham Film Awards2004Best Young PerformerSimhadri2016Best ActorTemper 2017Janatha Garage 2023RRR South Scope Awards2009Stylish Male Actor – TeluguKantriTSR– TV9 National Film Awards2011Best ActorAdhurs and Brindavanam 2014Baadshah 2016Temper 2017Janatha Garage Zee Cine Awards Telugu2017King of Box OfficeJanatha Garage2018Best ActorJai Lava Kusa Zee Cine Awards2026Best Actor in a Negative RoleWar 2
See also N. T. Rama Rao Jr filmography
References
External links N. T. Rama Rao Jr. awards at IMDb