“Jr. N.T.R: Acclaimed Telugu Actor from Cinematic Legacy, Excels with Awards and Iconic Performances in Indian Cinema.”
Born Name : Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao
Born : 20 May 1983 (age 40)
Place : Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (present-day Telangana), India
Other names : Tarak
Occupation : Actor
Years active : 1991-1997 (child artist) 2001–Present
Spouse : Lakshmi Pranathi (M. 2011)
Children : 02
Parents :
Father : Nandamuri Harikrishna
Mother : Shalini Bhaskar Rao
Relatives
Grand Father : N.T.Rama Rao
Uncle : Nandamuri Balakrishna
Brother : Nandamuri Kalyan Ram
Family : Nandamuri family
About
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr, also known as Jr. N.T.R. or Tarak, is a top Indian actor in Telugu cinema. He’s won awards like Filmfare, state Nandi, and CineMAA. Descended from Telugu cinema icon N. T. Rama Rao Sr., a former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Rama Rao debuted as a child actor in “Brahmarshi Viswamitra” (1991) and “Ramayanam” (1997), the latter winning a National Film Award. His lead debut was in “Ninnu Choodalani” (2001).
Jr. N.T.R gained fame with “Student No. 1” (2001) and “Aadi” (2002). His prominence grew with movies like “Simhadri” (2003), “Yamadonga” (2007), “Adhurs” (2010), “Brindavanam” (2010), “Baadshah” (2013), “Temper” (2015), “Nannaku Prematho” (2016), “Janatha Garage” (2016), “Jai Lava Kusa” (2017), “Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava” (2018), and “RRR” (2022), his top-grossing film. He won two Filmfare Awards for “Yamadonga” and “Nannaku Prematho”.
In 2017, he hosted the first season of the Telugu reality TV show “Bigg Boss” on Star Maa. He hosted the fifth season of “Evaru Meelo Koteeswarulu” in 2021 on Gemini TV.
Early life and family
Jr. N.T.R Born on May 20, 1983, Rama Rao’s lineage ties him to Nandamuri Harikrishna, a film actor and politician, and Shalini Bhaskar Rao. His father is from Nimmakuru, Andhra Pradesh, while his mother is Kannadiga from Kundapur, Karnataka. Grandson of the iconic N. T. Rama Rao, initially named Tarak, he was renamed N. T. Rama Rao at his grandfather’s suggestion.
Educated at Vidyaranya High School, Hyderabad, and St. Mary’s College, Hyderabad, he also studied in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district. A trained Kuchipudi dancer, Rama Rao is connected to actor-producer Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, former CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, actor Taraka Ratna, and politician Nara Lokesh as relatives.
Film career
1991–2006: Debut and initial career
Jr. N.T.R Rama Rao started as a child artist in “Brahmarshi Vishwamitra” (1991) at age seven, directed by his grandfather N. T. Rama Rao. He then portrayed Rama in “Ramayanam” (1997), earning acclaim and a National Film Award.
Recommended by K. Raghavendra Rao, Rama Rao debuted in “Student No. 1” (2001) by S. S. Rajamouli. However, delays led him to star in “Ninnu Choodalani” as a lead at just 17. “Student No. 1” succeeded while “Subbu” didn’t.
In “Aadi” (2002), directed by V. V. Vinayak, he sought revenge for his parents’ death, marking a successful film. “Simhadri” (2003), with Rajamouli again, became a blockbuster, reshaping his image as the “Young Tiger” in faction dramas.
Despite hype, “Andhrawala” (2004) disappointed at the box office. Subsequent films like “Samba” (2004), “Naa Alludu” (2005), “Narasimhudu” (2005), and “Ashok” didn’t fare well commercially. His role in “Rakhi” (2006) is hailed as exceptional by critics.
2007–2012: Breakthrough and career fluctuations
Jr. N.T.R Rama Rao reunited with director Rajamouli for “Yamadonga,” shedding over 20 kg to play Raja, earning praise and a Filmfare Award. He then starred in “Kantri” and took a hiatus in 2009 for political campaigning.
In “Adhurs,” he portrayed dual roles, marking a successful film. “Brindavanam” (2011) saw his return to romantic comedy after years. He ventured into “Shakti” and “Oosaravelli” with different directors, and “Dammu” (2012) had an average performance.
2013–present: Commercial successes and RRR
In “Baadshah,” Rama Rao transformed his appearance for a don’s role, and the film became a sleeper hit, grossing over ₹480 million in 50 days. Following this success, his subsequent releases faced a downturn until “Temper” (2015), which revived his standing, garnering acclaim for his portrayal of a corrupt cop turned righteous.
Jr. N.T.R Continuing this streak, “Nannaku Prematho” (2016) earned praise for Rama Rao’s performance and emerged as his highest-grossing film at ₹82.7 crore worldwide. “Janatha Garage” (2016) marked another triumph, becoming the year’s top Telugu grosser.
The triple role in “Jai Lava Kusa” (2017) further showcased Rama Rao’s versatility, amassing ₹130.90 crore globally and receiving acclaim from critics. In 2018, “Aravinda Sametha,” directed by Trivikram Srinivas, solidified his success, ranking among the year’s top-grossing Telugu films.
Jr. N.T.R Rama rao- his pivotal role as Komaram Bheem in S.S. Rajamouli’s “RRR” was highly lauded, showcasing a range of emotions seamlessly. Rajamouli himself praised Rama Rao’s ability to convey complex emotions in a single frame, highlighting his exceptional talent.
