Ravi Teja

Bhupatiraju Ravi Shankar Raju (born 26 January 1968), known professionally as Ravi Teja, is an Indian actor and film producer who mainly works in Telugu cinema.

Known for his roles in action comedy films, he is popular by the moniker "Mass Maharaja".

One of the highest-paid Telugu film actors, Teja has won three state Nandi Awards and one Filmfare Award South.

Half way through his graduation, he went to Madras in 1988 to pursue a career in films.

In his early years in Madras, YVS Chowdary and Gunasekhar were his roommates.

Teja started his film career with an uncredited role in Karthavyam (1990) and then played similar minor parts in films such as Allari Priyudu (1993), Ninne Pelladata (1996).

He played small roles in the films Karthavyam (1990), Abhimanyu (1990), Chaitanya (1991), Collector Gaari Alludu (1992), and Aaj Ka Goonda Raj (1992).

Ravi Teja became an assistant director, working in several Bollywood as well as Telugu projects including Prathihnbandh, Aaj Ka Goonda Raj, and Criminal.

He met Krishna Vamsi and worked as an assistant director under him for the 1996 hit film Ninne 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.

Then he essayed meatier supporting roles in Sindhooram (1997), Manasichi Choodu (1998), Premaku Velayara (1999), Samudram (1999), Annayya (2000) among others and also worked as an assistant director for several films.

In 1997, while still working as an assistant director, Ravi Teja got an opportunity to act in the film Sindhooram directed by Krishna Vamsi in a supporting role.

The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.

Ravi Teja followed up with roles in the films Seetha Rama Raju, Padutha Teeyaga, Manasichhi Choodu and Krishna Reddy's Premaku Velayara.

Teja's first lead role came with Nee Kosam (1999), which was an average grosser at the box office but won him the Nandi Special Jury Award.

In 1999, he was cast in a leading role by Srinu Vaitla for Nee Kosam.

The film won the Silver Nandi for Best Film.

Ravi Teja won the Nandi Award for Best Actor Special Jury for his performance.

Following this, he started appearing in more significant roles such as Krishna Vamsi's Samudram, Chiranjeevi's Annayya and Budget Padmanabham.

He also appeared in lead roles in multi-starrer films such as Kshemanga Velli Labanga Randi, Tirumala Tirupathi Venkatesa, Sakuntumba Sapari Vare Sametham and Ammayi Kosam.

He established himself as a leading actor with Itlu Sravani Subramanyam (2001), Avunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru! (2002), and Idiot (2002).

In 2001, Ravi Teja's association with Puri Jagannadh began when he cast Ravi Teja as the lead role in Itlu Sravani Subramanyam.

The film was a commercial hit and got Ravi Teja credibility as a solo lead actor.

Teja then went on to star in notable films like Khadgam (2002), Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi (2003), Venky (2004), Naa Autograph (2004), Bhadra (2005), Vikramarkudu (2006), Dubai Seenu (2007), Krishna (2008), Neninthe (2008), Kick (2009), Sambho Siva Sambho (2010), Don Seenu (2010), Mirapakay (2011), Balupu (2013), Power (2014), Bengal Tiger (2015), Raja the Great (2017), Krack (2021), Dhamaka (2022), Waltair Veerayya (2023), Tiger Nageswara Rao (2023) and Eagle (2024).

Ravi Teja is widely known for his comic timing.

Ravi Teja was born in Jaggampeta in the erstwhile East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

His father, Bhoopatiraju Rajagopal Raju was a pharmacist and his mother, Bhoopatiraju Rajya Lakshmi was a homemaker.

Ravi Teja is the eldest of three sons, the others being Bharath and Raghu, who are also actors.

He spent most of his childhood in Northern India because of his father's work.

His schooling was done in Jaipur, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bhopal.

He was fascinated with cinema right from his childhood.

He idolized Amitabh Bachchan and would re-enact scenes from his films at home.

Later on he moved to Vijayawada along with his family.

He completed his Bachelor's degree in Arts at Siddhartha Degree College, Vijayawada.

He is fluent in both Telugu and Hindi and can converse in English.

On May 26, 2002 Ravi Teja married Kalyani who hails from Ganapavaram, West Godavari District.

The couple has a daughter, Mokshadha and a son, Mahadhan.

In 2002, his next film Avunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru!, directed by Vamsy and co-starring Kalyani was released.

He was featured by Forbes India in the list of top 100 Celebrities in 2012, 2013, and 2015.