The Telugu industry is replete with numerous heroes. Offspring from illustrious star families and children of directors and producers have made their mark as heroes. Nonetheless, some individuals have ascended to stardom in Tollywood without any prior industry connections, winning over Telugu audiences through their exceptional acting prowess. These young heroes demonstrate that with dedication and persistence, anyone can climb the ladder of success in the industry. Who are these self-made heroes? How did they begin their cinematic journey? What films propelled them to stardom? Let’s delve into these questions in this special feature.
Nani
When you think of a self-made hero of this generation, Nani often stands out. He began his career behind the scenes as an assistant director and first gained attention as a leading man in “Ashta Chamma“. Nani’s captivating performances in films such as “Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu“, “Ala Modalaindi“, “Pilla Zamindar“, “Eega“, “Yeto Vellipoyindi Manasu“, “Bhale Bhale Magadivoy“, “Nenu Local“, “Jersey“, “Shyam Singha Roy“, and “Dasara” have solidified his status as a star. His latest film, “Hi Nanna“, Saripodhaa Sanivaaram is scheduled for release on August 29th.
Vijay Devarakonda
Young hero Vijay Devarakonda faced numerous challenges early in his career, often playing supporting roles while waiting for the right opportunities. He entered the industry with “Nuvvila” and appeared in minor roles in “Life is Beautiful” and “Yevade Subramanyam“. His career took a significant turn with Tharun Bhascker’s “Pelli Choopulu“, marking his establishment as a lead actor. Vijay then became an overnight sensation with Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s “Arjun Reddy“, quickly gaining a massive youth following. “Geetha Govindam” expanded his appeal to family audiences, and his recent film “Family Star” further solidified his status in Telugu cinema.
Siddhu Jonnalagadda
Born and raised in Hyderabad, young hero Siddhu Jonnalagadda entered the industry driven by his passion for acting. He started with small roles in films like “Josh“, “Orange”, and “Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu“, without gaining much recognition initially. However, his transition to a leading actor began with Praveen Sattaru’s “LBW“. “Guntur Talkies‘ ‘ later helped him gain more recognition as a lead actor. Despite intermittent successes, it wasn’t until the 2022 hit “DJ Tillu” that Siddhu’s career truly soared, establishing him as a star. The success of its sequel, “Tillu Square”, further cemented his status, with box office earnings exceeding 100 crores, leading to plans for “Tillu Cube”.
Naveen Polishetty
Naveen Polishetty, another self-made star, faced numerous challenges with minor roles at the beginning of his career. He was introduced to the industry in Shekar Kammula’s “Life is Beautiful“. Despite his involvement in films like “D for Dopidi” and “1: Nenokkadine“, widespread recognition was slow to come. His breakthrough came with the 2019 hit “Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya“, which propelled his name throughout the industry. His role in “Jathi Ratnalu” significantly boosted his popularity, and his recent film “Miss Shetty Mr. Polishetty” alongside star actress Anushka was also a success, solidifying Naveen as a dependable leading actor in Tollywood.
Teja Sajja
Young hero Teja Sajja, originally a beloved child actor, captivated Telugu audiences in films alongside stars such as Chiranjeevi, Mahesh Babu, Venkatesh, and Jr. NTR. He made his debut as a lead actor with the 2019 hit “Zombie Reddy“, which was a significant success. His following films, “Ishq” and “Adbhutham”, also received positive responses. Recently, Teja starred in the Pan-India film “Hanu man“, directed by Prashanth Varma, which garnered substantial attention, particularly in northern India, significantly boosting his popularity. He is currently working on “Super Yodha”, continuing his upward trajectory in the film industry.
Adivi Sesh
Star hero Adivi Sesh, without any industry background, first appeared as a hero in “Karma” and quickly garnered recognition. He played supporting roles in films like “Panja“, “Balupu“, “Run Raja Run“, “Baahubali“, and “Ami Thumi“. His career trajectory changed with the spy thriller “Goodachari“, which was a hit with Telugu audiences. He solidified his status with successful films such as “Evaru“, “Major“, and “HIT: The Second Case“, marking him as a star in the industry. Adivi Sesh is currently engaged in the sequel to “Goodachari”.
Priyadarshi
Actor Priyadarshi, who had a deep interest in films from a young age, tirelessly pursued opportunities without any industry connections. He achieved his breakthrough with the 2016 film “Terror,” where he played as a terrorist. That same year, “Pelli Choopulu” earned him significant recognition. Known for his humorous dialogue delivery, Priyadarshi gained further popularity with “Jathi Ratnalu.” His recent performances in lead roles in “Balagam” and “Mangalavaaram” have cemented his status as a star actor in the industry.
