Rao Ramesh (born 25 May 1968) is an Indian actor who works primarily in Telugu cinema, theatre, and television apart from some Tamil films.[1] He is the son of veteran actor Rao Gopal Rao.[2] Rao Ramesh initially appeared in Seema Simham (2002), Okkadunnadu (2007), before getting a breakthrough role in Krish's Gamyam (2008), portraying a reformed Naxalite, he received critical acclaim for his portrayal and the film went on to become one of the highest grossing Telugu films of the year.[3][4]

Rao Ramesh
Rao Ramesh at the success meet of Mukunda in December 2014
Born (1968-05-25) 25 May 1968 (age 56)
OccupationActor
ParentRao Gopal Rao (father)

His subsequent films, Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008), Avakai Biryani (2008) and S. S. Rajamouli's Magadheera (2009) were box office hits, while his role in the latter as a hunchbacked old Tantric won him further acclaim.[3] Throughout the early 2010s, Rao Ramesh became a popular supporting actor and described that by 2015, he was in the "best phase of his career".[5]

Early life

edit

Rao Ramesh was born on 25 May 1968 in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, to actor Rao Gopal Rao.[6][7] He was brought up in Chennai. His initial schooling was from Sri Ramakrishna Mission School in T. Nagar and later completed a degree in Communications before getting into Still-photography. He later joined K. S. Prakasa Rao, a cinematographer and father of K. Raghavendra Rao, as an assistant before going to Bangalore to learn industrial photography.[3]

Early career

edit

Rao began acting in a Television series directed by Ghantasala Ratna Kumar, but the production was shelved amidst schedules.[3] He subsequently moved back to Chennai and started acting in soap operas such as Pavithra Bandham and Kalavari Kodalu, and shot for over 1000 episodes in the space of four and half years.[3]

Filmography

edit

Telugu

edit
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Seema Simham Hema's brother
2005 Andhrudu Raghava Rao
2007 Okkadunnadu Man Searching for Bombay Blood Group
2008 Gamyam Naxalite
Kotha Bangaru Lokam Lecturer
Avakai Biryani Masterji
Dongala Bandi
2009 Fitting Master
Kick Naina's uncle
Magadheera Ghora
Villagelo Vinayakudu Colonel Lakshmipati
2010 Inkosaari Revanth
Leader Mavayya
Aakasa Ramanna Ali
Varudu Umesh Gupta
Maryada Ramanna Broker
Shambo Shiva Shambo Karna's friend
Sye Aata
Khaleja Tantrik
2011 Mirapakay College principal
Seema Tapakai Narsimha
Chattam Prakash
Badrinath
Amayakudu
Aakasame Haddu College Principal
Pilla Zamindar Military Rajanna
Solo Gautham's foster uncle
Friends Book
2012 Gabbar Singh Minister Pradeep Kumar
All the Best Babji
Julai ACP Raja Manikyam
Srimannarayana Marthand Rao
Bus Stop
2013 Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu Geetha’s father
3G Love Shanti's father
Shadow Sivaji
Sukumarudu SVR
Iddarammayilatho Central Minister
Balupu A. R. Naidu
Mallela Theeram Lo Sirimalle Puvvu Lakshmi's father
Om 3D Byrreddy
Mantra 2
Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha Anil's father
Attarintiki Daredi Shekhar TSRTV9 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
Doosukeltha Sarweshwar
Ramayya Vasthavayya CBI Officer Avinash
Kaalicharan
2014 Kshatriya
Legend Jaidev's uncle
Kotha Janta Ramesh
Amrutham Chandamamalo Chandu
Oohalu Gusagusalade Venky's uncle
Geethanjali Ramesh Rao
Race Gurram Sekhar Chandra
Nee Jathaga Nenundali Sravan
Karthikeya Prudhvi Raj
Rabhasa Raghava
Aagadu Police Commissioner Ramachandra Rao
Rowdy Fellow Asuragana Durga Prasad
Jump Jilani
Lakshmi Raave Maa Intiki Sarvesh Anand Rao
Saheba Subramanyam Police officer
Govindudu Andarivadele Rajendra
Poga
Mukunda Municipal Chairman Nominated–SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu
2015 Bandipotu Seshagiri
Rey
S/O Satyamurthy Pallavi's father
Dohchay Chandu's father
Pandaga Chesko Mr. Rai
Cinema Choopistha Mava Somnath Chatterjee
Bruce Lee: The Fighter Rama Chandra Rao
Mirchi Lanti Kurradu
Size Zero Sweety's father
Sher Raghuram
Bengal Tiger Home Minister Nagappa
Tripura Psychology professor
Shankaraabharanam Badrinath Thakur
Where Is Vidya Balan Doctor
2016 Abbayitho Ammayi Prardhana's father
Speedunnodu Ramachandrappa
Sardaar Gabbar Singh Ramesh Talwar
Brahmotsavam Peddabbai
Srirastu Subhamastu Jagannatham
A Aa Pallam Venkanna Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu
Om Sai Ram
Hyper Minister Rajappa
Jaguar Dr. Ramachandran
Naanna Nenu Naa Boyfriends Raghava Rao
2017 Nenu Local Bride's father
Om Namo Venkatesaya Govindarajulu
Gunturodu Krishna Rao
Katamarayudu Narsappa
Keshava Krishna Murthy
Duvvada Jagannadham Royyala Naidu Nominated–SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu
Yuddham Sharanam Murali Krishna
Raju Gari Gadhi 2 Parandhamaiah
2018 EGO Soundarajan
Agnyaathavaasi Varma
Chalte Chalte Santosh's Father
Howrah Bridge Rao Ramesh
Hyderabad Love Story Gopal Rao
Ammammagarillu P. K. Babu Rao
Chal Mohan Ranga Ramesh
Bharat Ane Nenu Head Constable Ramachandra [8]
Naa Peru Surya, Naa Illu India Surya's godfather
Raju Gadu Anji
RX100 Vishwanadham [9]
Saakshyam Tagore
Devadas Dr. Bharadwaj
Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava Krishna Reddy
Savyasachi Dr. Rajan
24 Kisses Murthy
2019 Manmadhudu 2 Attharu Pushparaju
Operation Gold Fish S.K. Sharma
Prashnista Raghupathi
Mr. Majnu Siva Prasad
Majili Rama Chandra Rao
Yatra K. V. P. Ramachandra Rao
Chitralahari Lawyer Purushottam
Jersey Lawyer
Maharshi Chandrasekhar
1st Rank Raju School Principal
Oh! Baby Nani / Shekar
Oorantha Anukuntunnaru Shivanaidu
90ML Kshunaakar Rao
Venky Mama MLA Pasupathi
Prati Roju Pandage Anand Rao
2020 Sarileru Neekevvaru Raghava
Solo Brathuke So Better Virat's uncle
2021 A1 Express Sports Minister Rao Ramesh
Sreekaram Kesavulu
Narappa Lawyer Varadarajulu
Tuck Jagadish Devudu Babu
Seetimaarr Kadiyam Brother
Maha Samudram Gooni Babji
Akhanda Raju
Pelli SandaD Vashishta's father
Pushpa: The Rise Bhoomireddy Siddappa Naidu
2022 Bangarraju Ramesh
Khiladi Raja Shekhar
Bheemla Nayak Nagaraju
Pakka Commercial Vivek
Swathi Muthyam Bala's father
Leharaayi Meghana’s father
HIT 2 DGP Nageswara Rao
Yashoda Central Minister Giridhar
Dhamaka Ramesh Reddy Nominated–SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu
2023 Das Ka Dhamki Sanjay's uncle
Ravanasura Home minister Mudi Reddy
Anni Manchi Sakunamule Diwakar
Peddha Kapu 1 Satya Rangaiah [10]
Extra Ordinary Man Somasekhar
2024 Guntur Kaaram Narayana
Geethanjali Malli Vachindi Ramesh Rao
Maruthi Nagar Subramanyam Subramanyam [11]
Pushpa 2: The Rule Bhoomireddy Siddappa Naidu
Bachchala Malli

Tamil

edit
Tamil film performances
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Kadhalna Summa Illai Naxalite
2010 Easan Neethirajan
2015 Inji Iduppazhagi Sweety's father
2016 Saagasam Commissioner Rajamanikam
2021 Jai Bhim Attorney General Ram Mohan
2022 Naai Sekar Returns Max aka Meganathan
2023 Chandramukhi 2 Guruji
2024 Vettaiyan DGP D. Shrinivas
Brother Sivagurunathan IAS

Kannada

edit
Kannada film performances
Year Title Role Notes
2016 Jaguar Dr. Ramachandran
2022 K.G.F: Chapter 2 Kanneganti Raghavan

Television

edit
Year Title Role Network Language Notes
2005 Nilavai Pudippom Chidambaram Raj TV Tamil [12]
2007 Chellamadi Nee Enakku Siva's father Sun TV [13]

References

edit
  1. ^ Srivathsan Nadadhur (20 December 2015). "Ramesh Varma plays true to the script". The Hindu.
  2. ^ kavirayani, suresh (17 June 2017). "Rao Ramesh lives up to his father's name". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Rao Ramesh – Telugu Cinema interview – Telugu film actor".
  4. ^ "Rao Ramesh makes a mark". The Times of India. 15 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Rao Ramesh's 'best phase'". Deccan Chronicle.
  6. ^ Kavirayani, Suresh (17 June 2017). "Rao Ramesh lives up to his father's name". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Makers of 'KGF 2' release new birthday poster for actor Rao Ramesh". The News Minute. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  8. ^ Jayakrishnan (14 March 2018). "Mahesh Babu and Kiara Advani shooting a romantic number for 'Bharat Ane Nenu'". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  9. ^ "'RX 100' pre-look poster: Karthikeya starrer promises to be an incredible love story". Times of India. 2 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Peddha Kapu: Part 1 film". Times of India. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  11. ^ Sistu, Suhas (23 March 2024). "Rao Ramesh's 'Maruthinagar Subramanyam' 1st song is an instant chartbuster". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Nilavai Pidippom - episode 55". Raj TV.
  13. ^ "Chellamadi Nee Enakku - episode 229". Abinaya TV.
edit