Nandamuri Balakrishna

Biography:

Nandamuri Balakrishna, commonly known as Balakrishna or Balayya, is a prominent Indian actor, producer, and politician. He has made a significant impact on Telugu cinema over his four-decade-long career, featuring in more than 100 Telugu films. As the sixth son of legendary Telugu actor and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. T. Rama Rao, Balakrishna began his journey in the film industry as a child artist at the age of 14 with the film “Tatamma Kala.” Over the years, he has played diverse roles and achieved commercial success in films like “Sahasame Jeevitham,” “Narasimha Naidu,” “Simha,” “Legend,” and “Akhanda.”

Balakrishna’s repertoire includes a wide range of roles, including historical and biographical characters. He portrayed figures like poet Vemulawada Bheemakavi, Abhimanyu, Jahangir, Narada, and Krishnadevaraya in various films. His landmark 100th film was “Gautamiputra Satakarni,” where he played the role of the second-century ruler of the Satavahana dynasty. Balakrishna has received multiple accolades for his acting, including three Nandi Awards and a South Indian International Movie Award.

Outside of his film career, Balakrishna is an elected member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Hindupuram constituency since 2014. He is actively involved in politics and has been associated with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a political party founded by his father. Furthermore, he serves as the Chairman of the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute.

Balakrishna’s journey in the film industry began with his debut as a child actor in films like “Daana Veera Soora Karna” and “Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam.” He transitioned to adult roles with “Sahasame Jeevitham” in 1984 and steadily built his reputation as a leading actor with successful films like “Muddula Mavayya,” “Nari Nari Naduma Murari,” and “Samarasimha Reddy.”

In the 2000s, Balakrishna continued his career with films like “Narasimha Naidu,” “Lakshmi Narasimha,” and “Simha.” He received critical acclaim and commercial success for his roles in these films. Additionally, he ventured into politics, actively campaigning for the TDP, and in 2014, he won the Hindupur Assembly Constituency seat.

Balakrishna’s contributions to the film industry, his political involvement, and his philanthropic work have made him a well-respected and influential figure in Indian cinema and politics.