Nandamuri Balakrishna

Nandamuri Balakrishna (born 10 June 1960), widely known as Balakrishna and Balayya is an Indian actor, producer and politician known for his works in Telugu cinema.

Nandamuri Balakrishna was born on 10 June 1960 in Madras (present-day Chennai, Tamil Nadu) to Telugu actor and three-time Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. T. Rama Rao and his wife Basavatarakam.

As the Telugu film industry was based in Madras at that time, he spent his entire childhood in Madras.

During his adolescence, he moved to Hyderabad following the shift of the Telugu film industry to that city.

He earned a bachelor's degree in commerce from Nizam College, Hyderabad.

The sixth son of Legendary actor and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. T. Rama Rao, Balakrishna made his debut as a child artist at the age of 14 with the film Tatamma Kala (1974).

Balakrishna is a recipient of three state Nandi Awards and one South Indian International Movie Award.

At the age of 16, he acted in a movie titled Annadammula Anubandham (1975), a remake of Dharmendra's Hindi movie Yaadon Ki Baaraat, and played a brother to his real life father, Rama Rao.

Balakrishna appeared as son to his real life brother Nandamuri Harikrishna in the movie Dana Veera Sura Karna.

He played poet Vemulawada Bheemakavi in Vemulawada Bheemakavi (1976); Abhimanyu in Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977); Jahangir in Akbar Salim Anarkali (1979); Narada in Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam (1979); Sidda in Srimadvirat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra (1984); Krishnadevaraya in Aditya 369 (1991); Satya Harischandra and Dushyanta in Brahmarshi Vishwamitra (1991); Lord Krishna and Arjuna in Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam (1996); Pundarika in Pandurangadu (2008); N. T. Rama Rao in NTR: Mahanayakudu (2019) and NTR: Kathanayakudu (2019); and Lord Rama in Sri Rama Rajyam (2011) featured at the 42nd IFFI.

He acted in several films, many of which were directed by his father, including Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977), Sri Madvirata Parvam (1979), Akbar Salim Anarkali (1979) and Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam (1979).

In 1982, at the age of 22, Balakrishna married Vasundhara Devi, and they have three children.

Balakrishna made his acting debut as a child artiste in Tatamma Kala, which was directed by N. T. Rama Rao, his father.

He achieved commercial success, with works such as Sahasame Jeevitham (1984), Janani Janmabhoomi (1984), Mangammagari Manavadu (1984), Apoorva Sahodarulu (1986), Muvva Gopaludu (1987), Muddula Mavayya (1989), Nari Nari Naduma Murari (1990), Lorry Driver (1990), Aditya 369 (1991), Rowdy Inspector (1992), Bangaru Bullodu (1993), Bhairava Dweepam (1994), Peddannayya (1997), Samarasimha Reddy (1999), Narasimha Naidu (2001), Lakshmi Narasimha (2004), Simha (2010), Legend (2014), Akhanda (2021) and Bhagavanth Kesari (2023).

Balakrishna experimented with biographical, historical and hagiographical films.

In 1984, he debuted in an adult role with Sahasame Jeevitham.

He then starred in the drama film Mangammagari Manavadu the same year, alongside Bhanumathi and Suhasini, directed by Kodi Ramakrishna.

In the same year, he acted in Kathanayakudu and in the biographical film Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra.

He also appeared in Janani Janmabhoomi in 1984, directed by K. Viswanath.

In 1985, he acted with Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the film Bharyabhartala Bandham, alongside Rajani.

In 1986, he acted in movies such as Muddula Krishnaiah, Seetharama Kalyanam, Anasuyamma Gari Alludu and Deshoddharakudu, which gradually increased his potential at the box office.

In 1987, Balakrishna acted in a dual role in the film Apoorva Sahodarulu, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao.

In the same year, he starred in President Gari Abbai, directed by T. Rama Rao and Muvva Gopaludu, by Kodi Ramakrishna.

His other films like Inspector Pratap, Bharatamlo Bala Chandrudu, Tiragabadda Telugubidda, Raktabhishekam were also successful at the box office.

In 1989, he paired with Vijayashanti in Muddula Mavayya directed by Kodi Ramakrishna.

In 1990, he acted in Nari Nari Naduma Murari, directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy, alongside Shobana and Nirosha.

In the same year, he appeared in B. Gopal's Lorry Driver, opposite Vijayashanti.

In 1991, he acted in science fiction film Aditya 369, directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao.

This was the only science fiction film in Telugu cinema during that period of time.

He then had two releases in 1992, Dharma Kshetram with Divya Bharathi and Rowdy Inspector, directed by B. Gopal.

In 1993, he had two releases on the same day, which are Nippu Ravva, alongside Shobana and Vijayashanti, directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy; Bangaru Bullodu, alongside Raveena Tandon and Ramya Krishna, directed by Ravi Raja Pinisetty.

His next appearance was a role in Bhairava Dweepam in 1994, directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao.

In Brahmarshi Viswamitra, directed by NTR, he played as Satya Harischandra and Dushyanta.

Between 1994 and 1999, he acted in movies such as Bobbili Simham, Vamsanikokkadu, Peddannayya and moderate successes such as Top Hero, Muddula Mogudu, Maato Pettukoku, Raana and Pavitra Prema.

Balakrishna has received three state Nandi Awards for Best Actor for his works in Narasimha Naidu (2001), Simha (2010), and Legend (2014).

In 2012, Balakrishna was the chief guest at the 43rd IFFI.

Currently He serves as the Chairman of Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Center in Hyderabad.

Known for his dancing skills, Balakrishna starred in more than hundred feature films in a variety of roles.

Balakrishna is an elected member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Hindupuram constituency since 2014.

In his 100th film, he played Gautamiputra Satakarni, second-century ruler of the Satavahana dynasty in the epic war film Gautamiputra Satakarni (2017) featured at the first "Edinburgh Festival of Indian Films and Documentaries".