Mahesh Ghattamaneni, professionally known as Mahesh Babu, is one of the most prominent and influential actors in Telugu cinema, earning the affectionate titles "Prince of Telugu Cinema," "Super Star Mahesh," and "Navataram Superstar." Born on August 9, 1975, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Mahesh comes from a prestigious film family with deep roots in the Telugu entertainment industry. He is the son of Krishna Ghattamaneni, a legendary Telugu actor who passed away on November 15, 2022, and Indira Devi, who passed away on September 28, 2022, at age 70.
Mahesh was brought up by his maternal grandmother in Chennai, where he spent his childhood. His elder brother Ramesh Babu is also a successful actor and producer in Telugu cinema. He has two elder sisters—Padmavathi and Manjula (who is a renowned film director and producer), and one younger sister, Priyadarshini, whose husband Sudheer Babu was inducted into the film industry by the Babu family. His father Krishna had a second wife, Vijaya Nirmala, a renowned Telugu actress, and together they had a son, Naresh, who is also a Telugu actor and Mahesh's step-brother.
Mahesh completed his schooling at St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai and later earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Loyola College, Chennai. His early exposure to cinema came during childhood when he visited film sets with his father. In 1979, he was offered a child artist role by renowned director Dasari Narayana Rao in the film "Needa," and he began his career as a child artist at just four years of age.
Mahesh's professional acting career took off in 1999 with "Raja Kumarudu," for which he won the Nandi Award for Best Male Debut. His breakout success came with the 2003 blockbuster "Okkadu," directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy, for which he won the prestigious Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Telugu. Subsequent successes include "Pokiri" (2006) with director Puri Jagannadh, which earned him another Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Telugu and established him as a box office powerhouse. "Dookudu" (2012) became one of his biggest hits, earning him the Nandi Award and another Filmfare Award.
Throughout his career spanning over two decades, Mahesh has delivered numerous blockbuster performances in films like "Murari" (2003), "Takkari Donga" (2003), "Athadu" (2005), "Arjun" (2004), "Businessman" (2012), "Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu" (2012), "Srimanthudu" (2015), "Bharat Ane Nenu" (2018), and "Maharshi" (2019). He has consistently featured in TIME magazine's Most Desirable Men in India list, ranking twelfth in 2010, fifth in 2011, and second in 2012. He has won multiple SIIMA Awards and other prestigious accolades recognizing his exceptional contributions to Telugu cinema.
Mahesh married actress Namrata Shirodkar on February 10, 2005, at the Marriott Hotel in Mumbai. The couple had been in a relationship for four years before marriage, which took place during the picturization of "Athadu." They have two children: a son, Gautam Krishna (born August 31, 2006), and a daughter, Sitara Ghattamaneni (born July 20, 2012), who is a popular internet personality with a significant social media following. The family practices stem cell banking, having preserved their stem cells before Namrata's second delivery for enhanced future immunity.
Physically, Mahesh stands 6'2" (188 cm) tall with an athletic and well-maintained physique developed through consistent gym routines. He has brown eyes and black hair. His zodiac sign is Leo, and he is Hindu by faith. He resides in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, with his family. His hobbies include reading, jogging, and playing video games. He is a passionate supporter of Tamil Nadu culture and Telugu pride. His favorite foods are biryani and coffee, and his favorite actors are his father Krishna Ghattamaneni, Sridevi, and Trisha. His admired filmmaker is Mani Ratnam. He is also an accomplished automobile enthusiast, owning an impressive collection of luxury vehicles including a Range Rover, Lamborghini, Audi A8, Toyota Land Cruiser V8, Mercedes-Benz E Class, and BMW.
Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu Wiki
| Full Name: | Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu |
| Nick Name: | Prince, Naani, Superstar Mahesh |
| Age: | 50 |
| Profession: | Actor, Producer |
Physical Stats
| Height: | 6'2" (188 cm) |
| Weight: | 82 kg |
| Body Measurements: | N/A |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Hair Color: | Black |
Personal Life
| Date of Birth: | August 9, 1975 |
| Birth Place: | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Home Town: | Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Zodiac Sign: | Leo |
| Religion: | Hinduism |
| School: | St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai |
| College: | Loyola College, Chennai |
| Educational Qualification: | Bachelor of Commerce |
| Hobbies: | Reading, Jogging, Playing Video Games |
Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu Family
| Mother: | Indira Devi (Deceased) |
| Father: | Krishna Ghattamaneni (Deceased) |
| Brother: | Ramesh Babu (Elder), Naresh (Step-brother) |
| Sister: | Padmavathi (Elder), Manjula (Elder), Priyadarshini (Younger) |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Husband: | N/A |
| Engagement Date: | N/A |
| Wedding Date: | February 10, 2005 |
| Marriage Place: | Marriott Hotel, Mumbai |
| Children: | Two - Son: Gautam Krishna, Daughter: Sitara Ghattamaneni |
| Affairs/Boyfriends: | N/A |
Favorite Things
| Favorite Actors: | Krishna Ghattamaneni, Rajinikanth |
| Favorite Actresses: | Sridevi, Trisha |
| Favorite Movies: | N/A |
| Favorite Sport: | Cricket |
| Favorite Colors: | Black, White |
| Favorite Food: | Biryani, Coffee |
| Holiday Destination: | Not Disclosed |
Filmography
| Year | Movie Name | Role Name | Language |
|---|
| 1979 | Needa | Child Artist | Telugu |
| 1983 | Poratam | Child Artist | Telugu |
| 1987 | Sankharavam | Child Artist | Telugu |
| 1988 | Bazaar Rowdy | Child Artist | Telugu |
| 1989 | Koduku Diddina Kapuram | Child Artist | Telugu |
| 1990 | Balachandrudu | Child Artist | Telugu |
| 1999 | Raja Kumarudu | Raja | Telugu |
| 2000 | Yuvaraju | Srinivasa “Srinivas” | Telugu |
| 2000 | Vamsi | Vamsi | Telugu |
| 2001 | Murari | Murari | Telugu |
| 2002 | Takkari Donga | Manoj “Donga” | Telugu |
| 2002 | Bobby | Bobby | Telugu |
| 2003 | Okkadu | Ajay Varma | Telugu |
| 2004 | Nijam | G. Seetaram | Telugu |
| 2004 | Naani | Naani / Vijay | Telugu |
| 2005 | Arjun | Arjun | Telugu |
| 2006 | Athadu | Nanda Gopal (Nandu) | Telugu |
| 2006 | Pokiri | Pandu / Krishna Manohar | Telugu |
| 2007 | Sainikudu | Siddharth | Telugu |
| 2010 | Khaleja | Raju | Telugu |
| 2011 | Dookudu | G. Ajay Kumar | Telugu |
| 2012 | Businessman | Vijay Surya | Telugu |
| 2013 | Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu | Chinnodu (Achyuta Rao’s son) / Seetha’s brother | Telugu |
| 2014 | 1: Nenokkadine | Gautham | Telugu |
| 2014 | Aagadu | Encounter Shankar | Telugu |
| 2015 | Srimanthudu | Harsha Vardhan | Telugu |
| 2016 | Brahmotsavam | Babu | Telugu |
| 2017 | Spyder | Shiva | Telugu |
| 2018 | Bharat Ane Nenu | Bharat Ram | Telugu |
| 2019 | Maharshi | Rishi Kumar | Telugu |
| 2020 | Sarileru Neekevvaru | Major Ajay Krishna | Telugu |
| 2022 | Sarkaru Vaari Paata | Mahi | Telugu |
| 2024 | Guntur Kaaram | Ramana (Guntur Karam) | Telugu |
| 2025 | SSMB29 (Upcoming, Rajamouli) | TBA | Telugu |
Awards
| Year | Award Name | Movie Name | Category |
|---|
| 2000 | Nandi Award | Rajakumarudu | Best Male Debut |
| 2001 | Nandi Special Jury Award | Murari | Special Jury |
| 2003 | Nandi Special Jury Award | Takkari Donga | Special Jury |
| 2003 | Nandi Award | Nijam | Best Actor |
| 2004 | CineMAA Award | Okkadu | Best Actor |
| 2004 | Filmfare Award South | Okkadu | Best Actor |
| 2006 | Nandi Award | Athadu | Best Actor |
| 2007 | Filmfare Award South | Pokiri | Best Actor |
| 2007 | Santosham Film Award | Pokiri | Best Actor |
| 2011 | CineMAA Award | Dookudu | Best Actor |
| 2011 | Filmfare Award South | Dookudu | Best Actor |
| 2011 | Nandi Award | Dookudu | Best Actor |
| 2013 | SIIMA Award | Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu | Best Actor |
| 2014 | Filmfare Award South | 1: Nenokkadine | Best Actor |
| 2014 | SIIMA Award | 1: Nenokkadine | Best Actor |
| 2015 | IIFA Utsavam | Srimanthudu | Best Actor |
| 2015 | Filmfare Award South | Srimanthudu | Best Actor |
| 2015 | SIIMA Award | Srimanthudu | Best Actor |
| 2016 | Santosham Award | Brahmotsavam | Special Jury – Acting Excellence |
| 2018 | Zee Cine Awards Telugu | Bharat Ane Nenu | Best Actor |
| 2019 | IIFA Utsavam | Maharshi | Best Actor |
| 2019 | SIIMA Award | Maharshi | Best Actor |
| 2019 | Santosham Award | Maharshi | Best Actor |
| 2020 | Urban Awards | Sarileru Neekevvaru | Best Actor |
| 2020 | Lokmat Most Stylish | — | Most Stylish Icon |
| 2022 | SIIMA Award | Sarkaru Vaari Paata | Best Actor |
| 2022 | Sakshi Excellence Award | Sarkaru Vaari Paata | Best Actor |

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