March 14, 2026

Mahesh Babu Biography: Tollywood Superstar & Prince of Telugu Cinema

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
Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu

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
Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu

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
Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu

Filmography

YearMovie NameRole NameLanguage
1979NeedaChild ArtistTelugu
1983PoratamChild ArtistTelugu
1987SankharavamChild ArtistTelugu
1988Bazaar RowdyChild ArtistTelugu
1989Koduku Diddina KapuramChild ArtistTelugu
1990BalachandruduChild ArtistTelugu
1999Raja KumaruduRajaTelugu
2000YuvarajuSrinivasa “Srinivas”Telugu
2000VamsiVamsiTelugu
2001MurariMurariTelugu
2002Takkari DongaManoj “Donga”Telugu
2002BobbyBobbyTelugu
2003OkkaduAjay VarmaTelugu
2004NijamG. SeetaramTelugu
2004NaaniNaani / VijayTelugu
2005ArjunArjunTelugu
2006AthaduNanda Gopal (Nandu)Telugu
2006PokiriPandu / Krishna ManoharTelugu
2007SainikuduSiddharthTelugu
2010KhalejaRajuTelugu
2011DookuduG. Ajay KumarTelugu
2012BusinessmanVijay SuryaTelugu
2013Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle ChettuChinnodu (Achyuta Rao’s son) / Seetha’s brotherTelugu
20141: NenokkadineGauthamTelugu
2014AagaduEncounter ShankarTelugu
2015SrimanthuduHarsha VardhanTelugu
2016BrahmotsavamBabuTelugu
2017SpyderShivaTelugu
2018Bharat Ane NenuBharat RamTelugu
2019MaharshiRishi KumarTelugu
2020Sarileru NeekevvaruMajor Ajay KrishnaTelugu
2022Sarkaru Vaari PaataMahiTelugu
2024Guntur KaaramRamana (Guntur Karam)Telugu
2025SSMB29 (Upcoming, Rajamouli)TBATelugu

Awards

YearAward NameMovie NameCategory
2000Nandi AwardRajakumaruduBest Male Debut
2001Nandi Special Jury AwardMurariSpecial Jury
2003Nandi Special Jury AwardTakkari DongaSpecial Jury
2003Nandi AwardNijamBest Actor
2004CineMAA AwardOkkaduBest Actor
2004Filmfare Award SouthOkkaduBest Actor
2006Nandi AwardAthaduBest Actor
2007Filmfare Award SouthPokiriBest Actor
2007Santosham Film AwardPokiriBest Actor
2011CineMAA AwardDookuduBest Actor
2011Filmfare Award SouthDookuduBest Actor
2011Nandi AwardDookuduBest Actor
2013SIIMA AwardSeethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle ChettuBest Actor
2014Filmfare Award South1: NenokkadineBest Actor
2014SIIMA Award1: NenokkadineBest Actor
2015IIFA UtsavamSrimanthuduBest Actor
2015Filmfare Award SouthSrimanthuduBest Actor
2015SIIMA AwardSrimanthuduBest Actor
2016Santosham AwardBrahmotsavamSpecial Jury – Acting Excellence
2018Zee Cine Awards TeluguBharat Ane NenuBest Actor
2019IIFA UtsavamMaharshiBest Actor
2019SIIMA AwardMaharshiBest Actor
2019Santosham AwardMaharshiBest Actor
2020Urban AwardsSarileru NeekevvaruBest Actor
2020Lokmat Most StylishMost Stylish Icon
2022SIIMA AwardSarkaru Vaari PaataBest Actor
2022Sakshi Excellence AwardSarkaru Vaari PaataBest Actor
Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu

Social Media & Official Links