Ravi Teja | |
|---|---|
 Ravi Teja in 2013 | |
| Born | Bhupathiraju Ravi Shankar Raju[1] (1968-01-26)26 January 1968 (age 57)[2] |
| Other names | Mass Maharaja |
| Alma mater | Siddhartha Degree College,Vijayawada |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Bhupatiraju Ravi Shankar Raju (born 26 January 1968), known professionally asRavi Teja, is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work inTelugu cinema.[1] Recognised for his roles inaction comedy films, he is popularly referred to as "Mass Maharaja".[3][4] Known for hiscomic timing, he is among the highest-paid actors in Telugu cinema and has received several accolades, including threeNandi Awards and aFilmfare Award South.[5] He was featured inForbes India's list of top 100 celebrities in 2012, 2013, and 2015.[6][3]
Teja began his career with an uncredited role inKarthavyam (1990) and went on to play minor roles in several films. He later appeared in supporting roles inSindhooram (1997),Manasichi Choodu (1998),Premaku Velayara (1999),Samudram (1999), andAnnayya (2000). During this period, he also worked as anassistant director. He made his debut as a lead actor withNee Kosam (1999), which was an average grosser at the box office but earned him theNandi Special Jury Award.[7]
Teja gained recognition withItlu Sravani Subramanyam (2001),Aunu Valliddaru Ishta Paddaru! (2002), andIdiot (2002), establishing himself as a leading actor. He further cemented his position with films such asKhadgam (2002),Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi (2003),Venky (2004),Naa Autograph (2004),Bhadra (2005), andVikramarkudu (2006). His subsequent notable films includeDubai Seenu (2007),Krishna (2008),Neninthe (2008),Kick (2009),Don Seenu (2010),Mirapakay (2011),Balupu (2013),Power (2014),Bengal Tiger (2015),Raja the Great (2017),Krack (2021),Dhamaka (2022), andWaltair Veerayya (2023).
Ravi Teja was born inJaggampeta in the erstwhile East Godavari district ofAndhra Pradesh.[8] His father, Bhupathiraju Rajagopal Raju was apharmacist and his mother, Bhupathiraju Rajya Lakshmi was ahomemaker. Ravi Teja is the eldest of three sons, the others beingBharath Raju and Raghu, who are also actors.[9][10]
He spent most of his childhood inNorthern India because of his father's work. His schooling was done inJaipur,Delhi,Mumbai, andBhopal.[6] He was fascinated with cinema right from his childhood. He idolizedAmitabh Bachchan and would re-enact scenes from his films at home.[9] Later on he moved toVijayawada along with his family. He completed hisBachelor's degree in Arts at Siddhartha Degree College, Vijayawada.[6] He is fluent in both Telugu and Hindi and can converse in English.[11]
Half way through his graduation, he went toMadras in 1988 to pursue a career in films.[9] In his early years in Madras,YVS Chowdary andGunasekhar were his roommates.[12] He played small roles in the filmsKarthavyam (1990),Abhimanyu (1990),Chaitanya (1991),Collector Gaari Alludu (1992), andAaj Ka Goonda Raj (1992). Ravi Teja became an assistant director, working in several Bollywood as well as Telugu projects includingPratibandh,Aaj Ka Goonda Raj, andCriminal.[13] He metKrishna Vamsi and worked as an assistant director under him for the 1996 hit filmNinne Pelladata. Vamsi also gave Ravi Teja the opportunity to act in a small role in that film. He continued to work as an assistant director for a few other films.[14]
In 1997, while still working as an assistant director, Ravi Teja got an opportunity to act in the filmSindhooram directed by Krishna Vamsi in a supporting role.[15] The film won theNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.[16]
Ravi Teja followed up with roles in the filmsSeetharama Raju,Padutha Teeyaga,Manasichi Choodu andS. V. Krishna Reddy'sPremaku Velayara. In 1999, he was cast in a leading role bySrinu Vaitla forNee Kosam. The film won theSilver Nandi for Best Film. Ravi Teja won theNandi Award for Best Actor Special Jury for his performance.[17] Following this, he started appearing in more significant roles such as Krishna Vamsi'sSamudram, Chiranjeevi'sAnnayya andBudget Padmanabham. He also appeared in lead roles in multi-starrer films such asKshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi,Tirumala Tirupati Venkatesa,Sakutumba Saparivaara Sametam andAmmayi Kosam.
In 2001, Ravi Teja's association withPuri Jagannadh began when he cast Ravi Teja as the lead role inItlu Sravani Subramanyam.[18] The film was a commercial hit and got Ravi Teja credibility as a solo lead actor. In 2002, his next filmAvunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru!, directed byVamsy and co-starringKalyani was released. The film was a successful at the box office and won Ravi Teja acclaim.[19] The year also saw Ravi Teja inIdiot, directed by Puri Jagannadh and co-starringRakshita, it was a blockbuster hit and Ravi Teja's performance and dialogue delivery were praised by critics and movie-goers alike.[20][21]
The year also saw the release of Krishna Vamsi'sKhadgam. The film was a huge success at the box office and won the Sarojini Devi Award for a Film on National Integration. Ravi Teja's portrayal of a young wannabe actor won him theNandi Special Jury Award for the second time.[22] In 2003, Ravi Teja worked again with director Puri Jagannadh forAmma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi. The film co-starringAsin became a blockbuster hit and Jeevi of Idlebrain praised him: "Ravi Teja did well. His strength lies in his dialogue delivery and reckless body language".[23] The year also saw Ravi Teja working in commercially successful films such asDongodu, co-starring Kalyani and directed by Srinivas Bheemineni andVeede, co-starringAarthi Agarwal and directed by Ravi Raja Pinisetty. In the same year, Ravi Teja was also seen in films such asEe Abbai Chala Manchodu,Anveshana andOka Raju Oka Rani, which failed to do well at the box office.[24][25][26]
In 2004, Ravi Teja starred inVenky, directed by Vaitla. Idlebrain wrote: "His comedy is very good in the first half. His antics with Siddanthi and the way he curses himself in front of the mirror is hilarious".[27] He appeared inNaa Autograph directed by cinematographer turned directorS. Gopal Reddy. A critic from nowrunning.com wrote: "Ravi Teja delivers a stunning performance as a dejected lover".[28]Chanti was directed bySobhan. In 2005, Ravi Teja's work includedBhadra, directed byBoyapati Srinu andBhageeratha, directed byRasool Ellor. He also worked in the crime filmShock, directed byHarish Shankar and produced by Ram Gopal Varma.
In 2006, Ravi Teja worked with the directorS. S. Rajamouli forVikramarkudu. The film which grossed over₹25crore proved to be his highest-grossing film until then.[29]Idlebrain praised his performance: "Vikramarkudu is the best film of Ravi Teja so far in histrionics aspect. He did both characters of Athali Sathi Babu and Vikram Rathod equally well, His mannerism of "jintata" is simply superb".[30] Consequently, Ravi Teja went on to play the lead inKhatarnak (2006) andDubai Seenu (2007), his third collaboration with director Vaitla. In 2008, Ravi Teja acted in three films,V. V. Vinayak'sKrishna,Baladur andNeninthe.[31][32][33]Neninthe marked his fourth collaboration with director Puri. Although the film was not successful at the box office, Ravi Teja's portrayal of an up-and-coming director in the film received acclaim and won himNandi Award for Best Actor.[34][35]
In 2009, Ravi Teja worked with directorSurender Reddy foraction comedyKick. The film was a huge commercial success grossing over₹30 crore.[36] Later that year, he appeared inAnjaneyulu. In 2010, his films includedShambo Shiva Shambo andGopichand Malineni-directedDon Seenu.
In 2011, Ravi Teja appeared in four films. His first release wasHarish Shankar'sMirapakay. He later starred inRam Gopal Varma'sDongala Mutha and made a cameo appearance as abody double of himself inKatha Screenplay Darshakatvam Appalaraju, also directed Varma.[37] His last release of the year wasVeera. Later after this film, he went on to be called "'Mass Maharaja'" for his mass action scenes.[citation needed]
In 2012, Ravi Teja starred in four films starring withGunasekhar'sNippu andSiva'sDaruvu. He collaborated for the fifth time with director Puri for thefantasy comedyDevudu Chesina Manushulu. He later appeared inParasuram'sSarocharu Rediff.com wrote: "Ravi Teja is in a different avatar, a more subdued one. A change of image and role is necessary for an actor and Ravi Teja makes the transition fairly well".[38]
In 2013, Ravi Teja started in Malineni's action comedyBalupu. The Times of India wrote, "Ravi Teja has come up with an entertaining performance. His characterization and the flashback episode as Kancharapalem Shankar looked very powerful on the screen. He gets into the skin of the character and has done well."[39] The film turned one of the biggest commercial successes of the year.[40][41]
In 2014, he starred inPower with debutant directorK. S. Ravindra along with a cameo appearance in Sairam Shankar'sRomeo. In 2015, he collaborated with directorSurender Reddy again forKick's sequel.Kick 2, produced byNandamuri Kalyan Ram.[42] Despite huge expectations, the film was a box office failure. He later played the lead inBengal Tiger (2015), directed bySampath Nandi.[43] This film which grossed over₹40 crore, became one of thehighest grossing Telugu films of that year.[44][45]
After taking a sabbatical for one year, he played a blind man inAnil Ravipudi-directedRaja the Great (2017). The film was Ravi Teja's first₹50 crore grosser and one of his biggest hits.[46] In 2018, Ravi Teja starred in three films,Touch Chesi Chudu,Nela Ticket, andAmar Akbar Anthony, which were all huge critical and commercial failures.[47][48] His only film in 2020,Disco Raja, where he played a dual role, also bombed at the box office.[49]
In 2021,Krack marked his third collaboration withGopichand Malineni, afterDon Seenu andBalupu. It was highly successful at the box office and a big comeback for him.[50]
In 2022, his first two films,Khiladi andRamarao on Duty, both ended up as huge box office disasters. However, his third release in the year,Dhamaka, was highly successful at the box office, eventually becoming the highest-grossing film of his career.
In 2023, he reunited with Chiranjeevi, afterAnnayya, forWaltair Veerayya. It was also his second collaboration withK. S. Ravindra, afterPower. In 2024, he starred inEagle directed by Karthik Ghattamaneni.[51]
On 26 May 2002 Ravi Teja married Kalyani who hails fromGanapavaram, West Godavari District. The couple have a daughter, Mokshadha and a son, Mahadhan.[9][52] His brother Bharath Raju died in a car accident in Hyderabad in 2017.[53]
| Year | Film | Song | Composer | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Balupu | "Kajalu Chellivaa" | S. Thaman | [54] |
| 2014 | Power | "Notanki Notanki" | [55] | |
| 2017 | Raja the Great | "Raja The Great" | Sai Karthik | [56] |
| 2020 | Disco Raja | "Rum Pum Bum" | S. Thaman | [57] |
| 2023 | Ravanasura | "Pyaar Lona Paagal" | Harshavardhan Rameswar | [58] |
| Year | Film | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Nee Kosam | Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu | Nominated | |
| Nandi Special Jury Award | Won | [17] | ||
| 2002 | Khadgam | Won | [17][59] | |
| Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | Nominated | |||
| 2008 | Krishna | Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Kick | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Neninthe | Nandi Award for Best Actor | Won | [35] |
| 2023 | Waltair Veerayya | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | Won | [60][61] |
| 1977–1980 |
|
|---|---|
| 1981–1990 |
|
| 1991–2000 |
|
| 2001–2010 |
|
| 2011–present |
|
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
