Ravi Shankar Raju Bhupatiraju (born 26 January 1968), better known by the stage name Ravi Teja, is an Indian film actor who predominantly works in Telugu cinema. Known for his roles in action comedy films, Teja has appeared in over fifty films and is one of the highest paid actors in Telugu film industry. He won the Nandi Special Jury Award in 1999 and 2002 for his performance in the films Nee Kosam (1999) and Khadgam (2002) and also won the Nandi Award for Best Actor for Neninthe in 2008. He is known for his collaborations with director Puri Jagannadh which turned out to major breakthroughs in his career.
He first appeared in the Telugu film Karthavyam (1990), and subsequently played supporting roles in films such as Allari Priyudu (1993), Ninne Pelladata (1996) and Sindhooram (1997) among others. Teja has also worked as an assistant director for several films.
Teja began his professional career as a lead actor with Nee Kosam in 1999 went on be starred in films such as Itlu Sravani Subramanyam (2001), Avunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru! (2002), Idiot (2002), 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), Shambo Shiva Shambo (2010), Don Seenu (2010), Mirapakay (2011), Balupu (2013), Power (2014), Bengal Tiger (2015), Raja the Great (2017), and Krack (2021).
In 2012, he was listed as 50th in the Forbes India list of top 100 Celebrities with an annual income of ₹15.5 crore (US$2.2 million). In 2013 he was in 68th position with earnings of ₹13 crore (US$1.8 million). In 2015 he was in 74th position with earnings of ₹12.5 crore (US$1.8 million).
Early life
Ravi Teja was born to Raj Gopal Raju and Rajya Lakshmi Bhupatiraju in Jaggampeta, Andhra Pradesh, India. His father was a pharmacist and his mother was a homemaker. He is the eldest of three sons, the others being Bharath and Raghu, who are also actors. Teja spent most of his childhood in Northern India because of his father’s work. His schooling was in Jaipur, Delhi, Mumbai and Bhopal. He is fluent in both Hindi and Telugu. Teja completed his schooling at N.S.M. Public School, Vijayawada. Later on he completed his Bachelors in Arts at Siddhartha Degree College, Vijayawada. In 1988 he went to Chennai to start his career in films.
Teja is married to Kalyani, and the couple have a daughter and a son.
Film career
1990–1996: Early struggles
In his early years working in Chennai, YVS Chowdary and Gunasekhar were his roommates. He had small roles in the films Karthavyam (1990), Chaitanya (1991) and Aaj Ka Goonda Raj (1992). Teja became an assistant director, working in both television and film. As an assistant director, he worked 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 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.
1997–2000: Recognition
In 1997, while still working as an assistant director, 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.
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. 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.
2001–2005: Breakthrough as a lead actor
In 2001, Teja’s association with Puri Jagannadh began when he cast Teja as the lead role in Itlu Sravani Subramanyam. The film was a commercial hit and got 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 Teja acclaim. The year also saw Teja in Idiot. Directed by Puri Jagannadh and co-starring Rakshita, it was a blockbuster hit and Teja’s performance and dialogue delivery were praised by critics and movie-goers alike.
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. Teja’s portrayal of a young wannabe actor won him the Nandi Special Jury Award for the second time. In 2003, 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”. The year also saw 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, 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.
In 2004, 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”. 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”. Chanti was directed by Sobhan. In 2005, 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, Teja worked with director S. S. Rajamouli for Vikramarkudu. The film which grossed over ₹25 crore proved to be his highest-grossing film until then. Idlebrain praised his performance: “Vikramarkudu is the best film of 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”. Consequently, Teja went on to play the lead in Khatarnak (2006) and Dubai Seenu (2007), his third collaboration with director Vaitla. In 2008, Teja acted in three films, V. V. Vinayak’s Krishna, Baladur and Neninthe. Neninthe marked his fourth collaboration with director Puri. Although the film was not successful at the box office, Teja’s portrayal of an up-and-coming director in the film received acclaim and won him Nandi Award for Best Actor.
In 2009, Teja worked with director Surender Reddy for action comedy Kick. The film was a huge commercial success grossing over ₹30 crore. Later that year, he appeared in Anjaneyulu. In 2010, his films included Shambo Shiva Shambo and Gopichand Malineni-directed Don Seenu,
In 2011, 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. 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 stagnation
In 2012, 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”.
In 2013, 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.” The film turned one of the biggest commercial successes of the year.
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. Despite huge expectations, the film was a box office failure. He later played the lead in Bengal Tiger (2015), directed by Sampath Nandi. This film which grossed over ₹40 crore, became one of the highest grossing Telugu films of that year.
After taking a sabbatical for one year, he played a blind man in Anil Ravipudi-directed Raja the Great (2017). The film was Teja’s first ₹50 crore grosser and his career’s highest grossing film. In 2018, Teja starred in three films, Touch Chesi Chudu, Nela Ticket and Amar Akbar Anthony, all three of them were critical and commercial failures. His 2020 film, Disco Raja, where Teja played a dual role, also bombed at the box office.
Teja’s 2021 film Krack marked his third collaboration with director Malineni, and was successful at the box office.
Brand endorsement
Teja was signed in as brand ambassador for Lunar – footwear and sandals in two states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He later endorsed the liquor brand Lord & Master.
Filmography
Awards and nominations
| Year | Film | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Nee Kosam | Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Nee Kosam | Nandi Special Jury Award | Won | |
| 2002 | Khadgam | Won | ||
| 2002 | Khadgam | Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Krishna | Nominated | ||
| 2009 | Kick | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Neninthe | Nandi Award for Best Actor | Won |