Numerous Telugu cinema stars have ascended to fame by dedicating themselves to the art form. Early in their careers, several actors faced challenges in finding roles but managed to create a significant impact with their debut performances. Their portrayals have made a lasting impression on Telugu cinema fans. Remarkably, some chose to incorporate the title of their debut film into their names, while others embraced the names of their characters as their professional identities. Let’s explore these celebrities and the films that launched their careers.
Battala Satti
One of Tollywood’s esteemed actors, Mallikarjuna Rao, also known as Battala Satti, made his debut in the 1972 film ‘Tulasi.’ Despite acting in films like ‘Manchu Pallaki’ and ‘Anveshana,’ he didn’t gain much recognition until the Rajendra Prasad-starrer ‘Ladies Tailor,’ which turned his career around. His role as ‘Battala Satti’ in this film was highly acclaimed, making ‘Battala Satti’ his nickname in the industry.
Subhalekha Sudhakar
The distinctive actor Subhalekha Sudhakar, originally named Suravajhula Sudhakar, earned his industry name from his debut film Subhalekha (1982). The household name Suravajhula faded away, replaced by Subhalekha, becoming his new identity. Sudhakar married SP Balasubrahmanyam’s sister, singer SP Sailaja.
‘Spot Nana’ Rami Reddy
While some actors gained fame from their debut films, actor Rami Reddy caught everyone’s attention with just a dialogue. Debuting in the industry with the film ‘Ankusham’ starring Rajasekhar, his repeated line “Spot Pedatha” made him famous. Since then, his industry peers teased him with “Spot Pettava,” making it a popular catchphrase.
Sutti Veerabhadra Rao
Suthi Veerabhadra Rao, born Mamidipalli Veerabhadra Rao, established himself in the film industry with the movie ‘Nalugu Sthambalata’ directed by Jandhyala. Playing the role of ‘Suthi’ in the film, he became famously known by this due to his significant presence in the comedy scenes alongside the lead.
Suthivelu
Among the classic comedians, Suthivelu, originally Kurumaddali Lakshmi Narasimha Rao, made a name for himself in the industry. His thin frame in childhood earned him the nickname ‘Velu’ from relatives. His role in Nalugu Sthambalata as ‘Suthi’ garnered industry-wide attention, and henceforth, he was known as Suthivelu.
Sowcar Janaki
Shankaramanchi Janaki, famously known as Sowcar Janaki, acted in over 370 films across Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada languages, including more than 200 films as the lead heroine. Her debut film ‘Shavukaru’ became so synonymous with her identity that it turned into her household name. Films like ‘Shavukaru,’ ‘Doctor Chakravarthy,’ ‘Manchi Manasulu,’ and ‘Rojulu Marayi’ brought her significant recognition in Telugu cinema.
Sakshi Ranga Rao
The veteran actor Sakshi Ranga Rao, originally Rangavajhula Ranga Rao, made his screen debut in the 1967 film ‘Sakshi’ directed by Bapu-Ramana, which became his new household name. Sakshi Ranga Rao featured in nearly 800 films, predominantly under the direction of Bapu, K. Viswanath, and Vamsy.
Allari Naresh
Entering the industry as the son of renowned director EVV Satyanarayana, Naresh became famous with his debut film ‘Allari,’ earning him the nickname Allari Naresh. With a career spanning comedy-centric and versatile roles, he has been recognized as this generation’s ‘Rajendra Prasad’.
Vandemataram Srinivas
Vandemataram Srinivas, a legendary singer and music director in Tollywood, changed his name after entering the industry. His original name is Kanneboyina Srinivas. He made his debut as a playback singer with the song “Vandemataram Geetham Varasa Maruthunnadi” from the movie ‘Vandemataram,’ directed by T. Krishna. The song’s success added “Vandemataram” to his name.
Sirivennela Sitaramasastri
Sirivennela Sitaramasastri, a renowned lyricist in Tollywood, entered the industry with the movie ‘Sirivennela.’ He wrote all the songs for this film, which captivated music lovers. Since then, he has been known as Sirivennela Sitaramasastri. He passed away on November 30, 2021, due to illness.
Maharshi Raghava
Actor Raghava became known as Maharshi Raghava after his successful debut in the movie ‘Maharshi,’ directed by Vamsi. He has acted in over 170 films and currently entertains TV audiences with serial roles.
Dil Raju
Currently a star producer in Tollywood, Dil Raju started his career as a distributor before making his production debut with the movie ‘Dil’ in 2003. The film’s success led him to add ‘Dil’ to his name, continuing as Dil Raju in the industry.
Vennela Kishore
Actor Vennela Kishore, currently a star comedian in Tollywood, was a software engineer in the USA before entering the industry with the movie ‘Vennela.’ The success of the film prompted him to adopt the movie title as his name. His directorial debut, ‘Vennela 1 1/2,’ was notable.
Satyam Rajesh
Actor Satyam Rajesh, originally Rajesh Babu, adopted his first film ‘Satyam’ as part of his name. After a decade of comedic roles, he surprised audiences with a serious police officer role in ‘Kshanam.’ He also played the lead in ‘Nayaki’ alongside Trisha, marking a significant turn in his career.
Chitram Srinu
Chitram Srinu, whose real name is Moroti, added ‘Chitram’ to his name after debuting in the industry with the movie ‘Chitram.’ He has acted in approximately 260 films, gaining recognition for his roles in movies like ‘Chitram,’ ‘Anandam,’ ‘Venky,’ ‘Dubai Seenu,’ ‘Bommarillu,’ ‘Mantra,’ and ‘100% Love’.
Bommarillu Bhaskar
Director Bhaskar became famous with his debut film ‘Bommarillu,’ adding the movie title to his name. His next film ‘Parugu’ was a blockbuster in Telugu cinema. However, his attempt for a hat-trick with ‘Orange’ ended in disappointment, despite featuring Ram Charan as the hero and music by Harris Jayaraj, produced by Mega Brother Nagababu.
Ahuti Prasad
Actor Ahuti Prasad‘s real name is Adusumilli Janardhana Vara Prasad. His debut film Ahuti (1987) was a huge success. His role as Shambhu Prasad earned him significant recognition among the audience, leading to his industry name being Ahuti Prasad. He acted in 136 films before passing away on January 4, 2015, due to cancer.
JD Chakravarthy
Born into a Telugu Brahmin family in Hyderabad, JD Chakravarthy was originally named Nagulapati Srinivasa Chakravarthy by his parents. He made his industry debut with the film ‘Shiva,’ directed by Ram Gopal Varma, where he played the antagonist student JD, earning widespread acclaim. Since then, he has been known as JD Chakravarthy.
Bommali Ravi Shankar
Bommali Ravi Shankar, a well-known dubbing artist in Telugu cinema and brother of actor Sai Kumar, started his career as a dubbing artist with the movie Premakatha (1999). His recognition soared with the movie ‘Arundhati’ (2008), where his voiceover for Sonu Sood, especially the dialogue “Amma Bommali,” became extremely popular. Since then, he has been known as Bommali Ravi Shankar.
Devi Sri Prasad
Tollywood’s rockstar, Devi Sri Prasad, made a grand entry into the industry with the movie ‘Devi’ (1999). The success of all the songs in the movie earned him the rockstar status. Since his debut, he has been known as Devi Sri Prasad.
Bahubali Prabhakar
Actor Prabhakar, who debuted with the film ‘Right Right,’ became famous with the movie ‘Maryada Ramanna.’ However, it was his role as Kalakeya in ‘Bahubali’ that stunned everyone, earning him the moniker Bahubali Prabhakar.
Prabhas Srinu
Unlike other actors whose names changed based on their films or roles, actor Prabhas Srinu’s name change came about due to his friendship. He is close friends with Rebel Star Prabhas, leading him to incorporate his friend’s name into his own, becoming known as Prabhas Srinu in the industry. He won the SIIMA Award for Best Comedian for his role in ‘Gabbar Singh’ (2012).
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