Ravi Teja
Ravi Teja in 2017
Born
Bhupatiraju Ravi Shankar Raju[1]

(1968-01-26) 26 January 1968[2]
Jaggampeta, Andhra Pradesh, India[2]
Other namesMass Maharaja
Alma materSiddhartha Degree College, Vijayawada
Occupation(s)Actor, Producer
Years active1988–present
WorksFull list
Spouse
Kalyani
​
(m. 2002)​
Children2

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.[1] Known for his roles in action comedy films, he is popular by the moniker "Mass Maharaja".[3][4] One of the highest-paid Telugu film actors, Teja has won three state Nandi Awards and one Filmfare Award South.[5] He was featured by Forbes India in the list of top 100 Celebrities in 2012, 2013, and 2015.[6][3]

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). 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.

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.[7] He established himself as a leading actor with Itlu Sravani Subramanyam (2001), Avunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru! (2002), and Idiot (2002). 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) and Waltair Veerayya (2023). Ravi Teja is widely known for his comic timing.

Early life

Ravi Teja was born in Jaggampeta in the erstwhile East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.[8] 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.[9]

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.[6] He was fascinated with cinema right from his childhood. He idolized Amitabh Bachchan and would re-enact scenes from his films at home.[9] Later on he moved to Vijayawada along with his family. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Arts at Siddhartha Degree College, Vijayawada.[6] He is fluent in both Telugu and Hindi and can converse in English.

Personal life

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.[9][10]

Career

1988–1996: Early struggles

Half way through his graduation, he went to Madras in 1988 to pursue a career in films.[9] In his early years in Madras, YVS Chowdary and Gunasekhar were his roommates.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13]

1997–2000: Recognition

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.[14] The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.[15]

Ravi Teja followed up with roles in the films Seetha Rama Raju, Padutha Teeyaga, Manasichhi Choodu and Krishna Reddy's Premaku Velayara. 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.[16] 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.

2001–2005: Breakthrough as a lead actor

In 2001, Ravi Teja's association with Puri Jagannadh began when he cast Ravi Teja as the lead role in Itlu Sravani Subramanyam.[17] The film was a commercial hit and got Ravi Teja credibility as a solo lead actor. In 2002, his next film Avunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru!, directed by Vamsy and co-starring Kalyani was released. The film was a successful at the box office and won Ravi Teja acclaim.[18] The year also saw Ravi Teja in Idiot. Directed by Puri Jagannadh and co-starring Rakshita, it was a blockbuster hit and Ravi Teja's performance and dialogue delivery were praised by critics and movie-goers alike.[19][20]

The year also saw the release of Krishna Vamsi's Khadgam. The film was a huge success at the box office and won the Sarojini Devi Award for a Film on National Integration. Ravi Teja's portrayal of a young wannabe actor won him the Nandi Special Jury Award for the second time.[21] In 2003, Ravi Teja again worked with director Puri Jagannadh for Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi. The film co-starring Asin became a blockbuster hit and Jeevi of Idlebrain praised him: "Ravi Teja did well. His strength lies in his dialogue delivery and reckless body language".[22] The year also saw Ravi Teja working in commercially successful films such as Dongodu, co-starring Kalyani and directed by Srinivas Bheemineni and Veede, co-starring Aarthi Agarwal and directed by Ravi Raja Pinisetty. In the same year, Ravi Teja was also seen in films such as Ee Abbayee Chala Manchodu, Anveshana and Oka Raju Oka Rani, which failed to do well at the box office.[23][24][25]

In 2004, Ravi Teja starred in Venky, directed by Vaitla. Idlebrain wrote: "His comedy is very good in the first half. His antics with Siddanthi and the way he curses himself in front of the mirror is hilarious".[26] He appeared in Naa Autograph directed by cinematographer turned director S. Gopal Reddy. A critic from nowrunning.com wrote: "Ravi Teja delivers a stunning performance as a dejected lover".[27] Chanti was directed by Sobhan. In 2005, Ravi Teja's work included Bhadra, directed by Boyapati Srinu and Bhageeratha, directed by Rasool Ellore. He also worked in the crime film Shock, directed by Harish Shankar and produced by Ram Gopal Varma.

2006–2011: Commercial success

In 2006, Ravi Teja worked with the director S. S. Rajamouli for Vikramarkudu. The film which grossed over ₹25 crore proved to be his highest-grossing film until then.[28] Idlebrain praised his performance: "Vikramarkudu is the best film of Ravi Teja so far in histrionics aspect. He did both characters of Athali Sathi Babu and Vikram Rathod equally well, His mannerism of "jintata" is simply superb".[29] Consequently, Ravi Teja went on to play the lead in Khatarnak (2006) and Dubai Seenu (2007), his third collaboration with director Vaitla. In 2008, Ravi Teja acted in three films, V. V. Vinayak's Krishna, Baladur and Neninthe.[30][31][32] Neninthe marked his fourth collaboration with director Puri. Although the film was not successful at the box office, Ravi Teja's portrayal of an up-and-coming director in the film received acclaim and won him Nandi Award for Best Actor.[33][34]

In 2009, Ravi Teja worked with director Surender Reddy for action comedy Kick. The film was a huge commercial success grossing over ₹30 crore.[35] Later that year, he appeared in Anjaneyulu. In 2010, his films included Shambo Shiva Shambo and Gopichand Malineni-directed Don Seenu.

In 2011, Ravi Teja appeared in four films. His first release was Harish Shankar's Mirapakay. He later starred in Ram Gopal Varma's Dongala Mutha and made a cameo appearance as a body double of himself in Katha Screenplay Darshakatvam Appalaraju, also directed Varma.[36] His last release of the year was Veera. Later after this film, he went on to be called "Mass Maharaja" for his mass action scenes.

2012–present: Career slump and resurgence

In 2012, Ravi Teja starred in four films starring with Gunasekhar's Nippu and Siva's Daruvu. He collaborated for the fifth time with director Puri for the fantasy comedy Devudu Chesina Manushulu. He later appeared in Parasuram's Sarocharu Rediff.com wrote: "Ravi Teja is in a different avatar, a more subdued one. A change of image and role is necessary for an actor and Ravi Teja makes the transition fairly well".[37]

In 2013, Ravi Teja started in Malineni's action comedy Balupu. The Times of India wrote, "Ravi Teja has come up with an entertaining performance. His characterization and the flashback episode as Kancharapalem Shankar looked very powerful on the screen. He gets into the skin of the character and has done well."[38] The film turned one of the biggest commercial successes of the year.[39][40]

In 2014, he starred in Power with debutant director K. S. Ravindra along with a cameo appearance in Sairam Shankar's Romeo. In 2015, he collaborated with director Surender Reddy again for Kick's sequel. Kick 2, produced by Nandamuri Kalyan Ram.[41] Despite huge expectations, the film was a box office failure. He later played the lead in Bengal Tiger (2015), directed by Sampath Nandi.[42] This film which grossed over ₹40 crore, became one of the highest grossing Telugu films of that year.[43][44]

After taking a sabbatical for one year, he played a blind man in Anil Ravipudi-directed Raja the Great (2017). The film was Ravi Teja's first ₹50 crore grosser and one of his biggest hits.[45] In 2018, Ravi Teja starred in three films, Touch Chesi Chudu, Nela Ticket, and Amar Akbar Anthony, which were all huge critical and commercial failures.[46][47] His only film in 2020, Disco Raja, where he played a dual role, also bombed at the box office.[48]

In 2021, Krack marked his third collaboration with Gopichand Malineni, after Don Seenu and Balupu. It was highly successful at the box office and a big comeback for him.[49]

In 2022, his first two films, Khiladi and Ramarao on Duty, both ended up as huge box office disasters. However, his third release in the year, Dhamaka, was highly successful at the box office, eventually becoming the highest-grossing film of his career.

In 2023, he reunited with Chiranjeevi, after Annayya, for Waltair Veerayya. It was also his second collaboration with K. S. Ravindra, after Power.

Ravi Teja is set to star in the upcoming film "Eagle," directed by Karthik Ghattamaneni.The Movie has completed the Shooting and all set for Pongal release i.e January 12th 2024 but it got postponed to February 9th 2024 for the welfare of Telugu Cinema.[50]

Filmography

Discography

Year Film Song Composer Ref.
2013 Balupu "Kajalu Chellivaa" S. Thaman [51]
2014 Power "Notanki Notanki" [52]
2017 Raja the Great "Raja The Great" Sai Karthik [53]
2020 Disco Raja "Rum Pum Bum" S. Thaman [54]
2023 Ravanasura "Pyaar Lona Paagal" Harshavardhan Rameswar [55]

Awards and nominations

Year Film Award Result Ref.
1999 Nee Kosam Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu Nominated
Nandi Special Jury Award Won [16]
2002 Khadgam Won [16][56]
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu Nominated
2008 Krishna Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu Nominated
2009 Kick Nominated
2010 Neninthe Nandi Award for Best Actor Won [34]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 AuthorTelanganaToday. "Ravi Teja to appear before SIT on Friday". Telangana Today. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Ravi Teja: Movies, Photos, Videos, News & Biography". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Forbes India 2013 Celebrity 100: Ravi Teja". Forbes India. 13 October 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "20 Heroic Years of Ravi Teja: The Disco Raja actor completes two decades in the industry". The Times of India. 3 December 2019. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  5. ↑ K., Janani (25 April 2018). "Mahesh Babu, Prabhas, Allu Arjun: How much do Tollywood's highest-paid actors earn?". India Today. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Forbes India 2012 Celebrity 100: Ravi Teja". Forbes India. 13 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "Ravi Teja completes 19 years in Telugu cinema". The Times of India. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ravi Teja Profile". Andhra Reporter. Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Ravi Teja Biography". One India. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Ravi Teja Family Photos: రవితేజ భార్య, పిల్లలను చూసారా.. మాస్ రాజా కుటుంబం గురించి ఆసక్తికరమైన నిజాలు." News18 Telugu. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "YVS, Gunasekhar & Ravi were rommates". The Times of India. 29 May 2011. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "Ravi Teja profile". total tollywood. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  13. ↑ "ravi teja films". telugu colors. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  14. ↑ "Ravi Teja was an assistant director". The Times of India. 28 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  15. ↑ "45th National Film Festival" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 "Ravi Teja on his relationship with actor Sunil - Interesting and unknown facts about Ravi Teja". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  17. ↑ "Telugu Cinema – Review – Itlu Sravani Subramanyam". Idlebrain.com. 14 September 2001. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  18. ↑ "Telugu Cinema – Review – Avunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru". Idlebrain.com. 2 August 2002. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  19. ↑ "Idiot review: Idiot (Telugu) Movie Review - fullhyd.com". Movies.fullhyderabad.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  20. ↑ "Telugu Cinema – Review – Idiot". Idlebrain.com. 22 August 2002. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  21. ↑ "Telugu Cinema – Review – Khadgam". Idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  22. ↑ "Telugu Cinema – Review – Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammai". Idlebrain.com. 19 April 2003. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  23. ↑ "Telugu Cinema – Review – Anveshana". Idlebrain.com. 27 December 2002. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  24. ↑ "Telugu cinema review – Oka Raju Oka Rani". Idlebrain.com. 19 June 2003. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  25. ↑ "Telugu Cinema – Review – Ee Abbai Chala Manchodu". Idlebrain.com. 14 January 2003. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  26. ↑ "Telugu cinema Review – Venky". Idlebrain.com. 26 March 2004. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  27. ↑ "Naa Autograph Review – Telugu Movie Review by B. Anuradha". Nowrunning.com. 12 August 2004. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  28. ↑ "భళి భళి భళిరా భళి రాజమౌళి". Sakshi (in Telugu). 5 May 2017. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  29. ↑ "Vikramarkudu – Telugu cinema Review". Idlebrain.com. 23 June 2006. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  30. ↑ "'Krishna' it is, for Ravi Teja". IndiaGlitz. 19 December 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  31. ↑ "'Baladoor' for release on August 14". IndiaGlitz. 13 August 2008. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  32. ↑ "Puri to direct Raviteja for 'Neninthe'". IndiaGlitz. 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  33. ↑ "Neninthe review – Telugu cinema Review". Idlebrain.com. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  34. 1 2 "Nandi Award for Ravi Teja, Swati". The Hindu. 17 March 2010. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  35. ↑ "రవితేజ కిక్‌కు 11 ఏళ్లు.. రిజెక్ట్ చేసిన ఆ ఇద్దరు స్టార్స్." [11 years for Ravi Tejs's Kick..then rejected by two stars]. News18 Telugu (in Telugu). 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  36. ↑ "Raviteja appears as a "Yedava" in KSD Appalaraju - Telugu News". IndiaGlitz.com. 6 October 2010. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  37. ↑ Review: Ravi Teja's different image in Sarocharu – Rediff.com Movies Archived 31 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Rediff.com (21 December 2012). Retrieved on 26 July 2016.
  38. ↑ "Balupu Telugu movie review highlights". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  39. ↑ "'Balupu' Box Office Collection: Ravi Teja Film Declared Smash Hit in US, Earns ₹2 Crore". IBTimes. 9 July 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "'Balupu' Box Office Collection: Ravi Teja Film Earns ₹1.76 Crore Overseas, Beats 'Kick', 'Don Seenu' and 'Mirapakai'". IBTimes. 2 July 2013. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "Kick2 release date" Archived 30 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Indiaglitz.com (27 March 2015). Retrieved on 26 July 2016.
  42. ↑ "Ravi Teja's Bengal Tiger" Archived 5 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved on 26 July 2016.
  43. ↑ H. Hooli, Shekhar (5 January 2016). "Baahubali to Kumari 21F: Top 20 highest-grossing Telugu/Tollywood movies of 2015". International Business Times India. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  44. ↑ "Ravi Teja Upcoming Movies". theplaybook.co. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  45. ↑ "Raja The Great box-office collections: Ravi Teja movie becomes highest grosser of his career". The Times of India. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  46. ↑ K., Janani (4 July 2018). "Telugu mid-year report 2018: Officer to Agnyaathavaasi, worst flops so far". India Today. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  47. ↑ "Ravi Teja Takes A Pay Cut After Consecutive Flops". Sakshi Post. 26 December 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  48. ↑ "'Disco Raja'; 4 reasons why the Ravi Teja starrer bombed at the box office". Deccan Herald. 2 February 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  49. ↑ "Ravi Teja and Shruti Haasan's Krack is a big hit". filmfare.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  50. ↑ "Ravi Teja's 'Eagle' officially drops from the Sankranti race; new release date announced!". The Times of India. 5 January 2024.
  51. ↑ "Ravi Teja croons again for Thaman in Balupu". India TV. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  52. ↑ "Ravi Teja's Power:Notanki Notanki song". The Hans India. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  53. ↑ "Raja The Great title song impresses". Tupaki.com. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  54. ↑ "Ravi Teja turns singer for 'Disco Raja'". The News Minute. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  55. ↑ "Ravanasura: Ravi Teja turns a singer for a breakup number Pyaar Lona Paagal". OTTPlay. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  56. ↑ "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2002". APFTVTDC. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
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