Rana Daggubati
Ramanaidu "Rana" Daggubati (born 14 December 1984) is an Indian actor, producer, television personality, visual effects co-ordinator, and an entrepreneur known primarily for his work in Telugu language films, in addition to Hindi and Tamil languages.[5][6][7]
Rana Daggubati | |
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![]() Daggubati in 2015 | |
Born | Ramanaidu Daggubati[1] 14 December 1984[2][3] |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2005–present |
Spouse(s) | Miheeka Bajaj (m. 2020) |
Parent(s) |
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Family | See Daggubati–Akkineni family |
He made his acting debut with the Telugu film Leader, for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South.[8] He later starred in the Hindi film Dum Maaro Dum (2011), alongside Bipasha Basu, where he received positive reviews for his performance and won again Zee Cine Award for Best Male Debut. In 2012, Rana gained prominence by starring in hit Telugu film Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum. In 2015, he played a notable supporting role in the successful Hindi film Baby (2015). He later starred as Bhallaladeva, the main antagonist in Telugu–Tamil bilingual film Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), which recorded the second highest gross opening for an Indian film. He then featured in a supporting role in Tamil film Bangalore Naatkal (2016). In 2017, Rana later reprised his role as Bhallaldeva in Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which became the highest grossing Indian film of all time.[9][10][11] He has also simultaneously starred in the successful films such as Rudramadevi (2015), Ghazi (2017), and Nene Raju Nene Mantri (2017).
As a Visual Effects producer, Rana won the State Nandi Award for Best Special Effects in 2006 for the Telugu film Sainikudu.[12] In 2006, he received the National Film Award for co-producing Bommalata – A Bellyful of Dreams.[13]
Rana is also an established television personality, hosting the award shows such as the 2nd IIFA Utsavam, the 2nd South Indian International Movie Awards. He also hosts his own celebrity talk show, No. 1 Yaari.
Rana has established himself as one of the leading actors in Telugu cinema, as well as being described as one of the few actors in India who were able to achieve pan-Indian appeal, having taken up a variety of roles, from leading roles to supporting characters, in different languages.
Alongside building a career in cinema, Rana is invested in businesses ranging from a business accelerator programme for technology startups, to an entertainment agency and a comic book company.[14]
Early life
Rana was born in Madras, Tamil Nadu (present-day Chennai) to Telugu film producer D. Suresh Babu[15][16] and is part of the Daggubati-Akkineni Family. His paternal grandfather was Telugu film producer D. Ramanaidu. His paternal uncle Venkatesh and his cousin Naga Chaitanya are also actors in the film industry. Rana revealed in 2016 that he is blind in his right eye, and his left eye is a transplanted one. The surgery was done in L. V. Prasad Hospital, Hyderabad. Another surgery was done on his right eye when he was 14, but was unsuccessful.[17][18][19] He did his schooling in Chennai and Hyderabad from Chettinad Vidyashram and Hyderabad Public School respectively. He later studied at St. Mary's College, Hyderabad.[20] He lives with his family in Hyderabad.
Career
Rana began his stint in the film industry began with him working as a visual effects coordinator in around 70 films.[21] And before he turned actor, he started his own production company, Spirit Media.[22] He produced a National Award-winning film and then forayed into acting in 2010.[23]
Rana's debut film was Leader, in Telugu, directed by Shekhar Kammula, which is one of his biggest successes. Rana made his Bollywood debut with the film Dum Maaro Dum, which released on 22 April 2011. The Times of India called it a "dashing debut".[24] He was voted "The Most Promising Newcomer of 2011" in the Times Of India poll.[25] He was listed at number 20 on the Times of India's Most Desirable Men for the year 2011.[26][27] In 2012, he was voted as the 10th most desirable man in India, in the poll conducted by The Times of India.
He played a professional killer in the film Nenu Naa Rakshasi, under Puri Jagannadh's direction,[28] which was a box office bomb.[29][30] His first release in 2012 was Naa Ishtam, which was followed by his second Hindi film Department. He next starred in Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum, directed by Krish, which became a box office success.[31][32] He made his debut in Tamil through Ajith Kumar's Aarambam.[33] Rana did a cameo role in Ayan Mukerji's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.[34]
In 2013, he joined two big-budget projects, Gunasekhar's Rudhramadevi[35] and S. S. Rajamouli's Baahubali, in which he is the lead antagonist.[36] Rana played Bhallaladeva, the cousin of Baahubali, who had negative shades and received unprecedented appreciation from critics. Baahubali: The Beginning was released worldwide in July 2015 and was the highest-grossing film in India at the time of its release. The concluding film of the series Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, became the first Indian film to cross 1000 crore and is currently the second highest grossing Indian film. In 2017, he did India's first underwater film, The Ghazi Attack. It opened to very positive reviews.
After Baahubali 2's release, he further did a Telugu political Thriller movie Nene Raju Nene Mantri in which he plays a Politician with grey shades, alongside Kajal Aggarwal. This film too received positive reviews for Rana's acting and screen presence. Along with the movies, he also starred in a web series called Social. Further, Rana is the host of Telugu Television talk-show, No. 1 Yaari. which brought celebrities such as Vijay Deverakonda, S.S. Rajamouli, Nani, Kajal Aggarwal, Naga Chaitanya, Tamannaah, Rakul Preet Singh, Ram Pothineni, Navdeep, Nikhil Siddharth, and others.[37] He also dubbed for the character Thanos in the Telugu dubbed version of Avengers: Infinity War.[38]
In 2019, he was signed for a mythological film 'Hiranyakashyapa' directed by Gunasekhar. In the film, Rana will be playing the titular role of Hiranyakashipu.[39][40]
Personal life
Rana got engaged to his girlfriend, Mihika Bajaj, founder of Dew Drop Design Studio, on 21 May 2020 and the marriage took place on 8 August 2020 at Ramanaidu Studios.[41][42][43]
Filmography
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Denotes films that have not yet been released |
As actor
Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Leader | Arjun Prasad | Telugu | |
2011 | Dum Maaro Dum | Joki Fernandes | Hindi | |
Nenu Naa Rakshasi | Abhimanyu | Telugu | ||
2012 | Naa Ishtam | Ganesh | Telugu | |
Department | Shiv Narayan | Hindi | ||
Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum | BTech Babu | Telugu | ||
2013 | Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | Vikram Sahai | Hindi | Cameo appearance |
Something Something | Himself | Telugu | Cameo appearance | |
Arrambam | Sanjay | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
2015 | Baby | Jai Singh Rathore | Hindi | |
Dongaata | Himself | Telugu | Cameo appearance | |
Baahubali: The Beginning | Bhallaladeva | Telugu | ||
Palvaalthevan | Tamil | |||
Rudramadevi | Chalukya Veerabhadra | Telugu | ||
Size Zero | Himself | Telugu | Cameo appearance | |
Inji Iduppazhagi | Tamil | |||
2016 | Bangalore Naatkal | Shiva Prasad | Tamil | |
2017 | Ghazi | Arjun Verma | Telugu | |
The Ghazi Attack | Hindi | |||
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Bhallaladeva | Telugu | ||
Palvaalthevan | Tamil | |||
Nene Raju Nene Mantri | Radha Jogendra | Telugu | ||
2018 | Welcome to New York | Rana Daggubati | Hindi | Cameo appearance |
2019 | N.T.R: Kathanayakudu | N. Chandrababu Naidu | Telugu | Cameo appearance |
N.T.R: Mahanayukudu | Telugu | |||
Housefull 4 | Raja Gama / Pappu Rangeela | Hindi | ||
Enai Noki Paayum Thota | Director | Tamil | Cameo appearance | |
2021 | Kaadan / Aranya / Haathi Mere Saathi ![]() |
Bandev |
|
Trilingual film; Post-production |
Madai Thiranthu / 1945 ![]() |
TBA |
| Filming | |
Virata Parvam![]() |
Comrade Ravanna | Telugu | Filming[44] | |
Untitled remake of Ayyappanum Koshiyum ![]() |
TBA | Telugu | Filming[45] |
Other crew positions
Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Bommalata | Co-producer | Telugu | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu |
2006 | Sainikudu | Visual effects coordinator | Telugu | Nandi Award for Best Special Effects |
2006 | Thirupathi | Visual effects coordinator | Tamil | |
2017 | Winner | Narrator | Telugu | |
2017 | No. 1 Yaari with me Rana S1 | Host | Telugu Television Talk-show | |
2018 | No. 1 Yaari with me Rana S2 | |||
2018 | Rajaratham | Rajaratham | Narrator for Telugu version | |
2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Dubbing artist | Dubbed for the character Thanos | |
2018 | C/o Kancharapalem | Presenter | ||
2018 | Subrahmanyapuram | Narrator | ||
2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Dubbing artist | Dubbed for the character Thanos | |
2019 | Action | Playback singer | Rapped for "Lights, Camera, Action" (Telugu version) | |
2020 | Krishna and His Leela | Presenter |
Awards and nominations
- National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu – Co-producer (Spirit Media) – A Bellyful of Dreams (2006)
- Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South – Leader (2010)
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu – Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2018)
- Nandi Award for Best Special Effects (Spirit Media) – Sainikudu (2006)
- Nandi Award for Best Villain – Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), Baahubali 2: The Conclusion(2017)
- SIIMA Award Youth Icon of South Indian Cinema (2011)
- SIIMA Award for Best Actor (Critics) – Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012)
- SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role (Telugu) – Baahubali: The Beginning (2016)
- SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role (Telugu) – Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2018)
- Entertainer of the Year :Rana Daggubati - Baahubali 2: The Conclusion / Ghazi / Nene Raju Nene Mantri
- IIFA Award for Best Actor (Negative role) – Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)
- AsiaVison Movie Award for Best Actor (From south) – Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)
- Sri Kala Sudha Telugu Association's 20th Ugadi Awards 2018
- Sri Kala Sudha 2018, Best Actor – Nene Raju Nene Mantri (2018)
Business career
The actor, who sits at the head of the Daggubati family's Ramanaidu Studios, one of India's largest integrated production houses, offering production, distribution, exhibition and studio infrastructure for cinema, TV and digital platforms,[14] not only manages the studio business as well as the production house,[46] Suresh Productions, alongside his father and well-known producer Daggubati Suresh Babu, but is also invested in many businesses.
Five years before turning into an actor,[47] in 2005, Rana entered the visual effects business with Spirit Media P. Limited.[48] The company that specialised in animation and VFX,[49] produced special effects for over 70 films.
In 2018, he entered into a Joint Venture with Kwan Entertainment and Marketing Solutions.[50] Set up as a studio style agency, Kwan South's divisions include talent management casting, live performances and appearances, film packaging, production support- TV and Commercials, brand associations- endorsements, digital and film partnerships.[51] In 2018, Kwan expanded with an office in Chennai.[51]
In 2018, he also tied up with Anthill Ventures, an investment and scaling platform for early growth stage start-ups, to launch Anthill Studio.[52] Anthill Studio is a business accelerator program focused on technology startups in Media & Entertainment.[53] The studio supports and mentors disruptive startups in leading-edge technologies such as AI, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Blockchain, Visual Effects (VFX), Cloud Rendering, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data and Analytics.[54]
In 2019, Rana bought a stake in the one of India's leading comic book companies, Amar Chitra Katha and turned director to the company that is backed by Future Group.[55] In March 2019, he a learning centre for art and design, life skills, performing arts and vedic science and ethics in Hyderabad.[56]
References
- "What Caused Bhallaladeva, Aka Rana Daggubati, To Go Blind In One Eye?". Outlook India. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
- "Happy Birthday Rana Daggubati: From Leader to Baahubali, Rana's blockbuster journey". The Indian Express. 14 December 2016.
- Vamsi, Krishna. (16 December 2016) Baahubali 2: Rana Daggubati’s first look as Bhallaladeva is out and he looks vicious, see pic. The Indian Express. Retrieved on 12 August 2018.
- Rajamani, Radhika (24 November 2009). "An entrepreneur who acts too". Rediff. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- "From 'Baahubali' to 'Ghazi', Rana Daggubati has come a long way – Times of India". Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- "Content is king for Rana Daggubati as Ghazi, Baahubali 2 win National Awards". 13 April 2018.
- Jha, Lata (4 February 2019). "Rana Daggubati: The entrepreneur". Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- Prakasan, Chethana (14 December 2016). "Happy birthday Rana Daggubati: 8 times the Baahubali actor inspired us to workout". India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- Mike McCahill (12 July 2015). "Baahubali: The Beginning review – fantastic bang for your buck in most expensive Indian movie ever made". The Guardian.
- Sangeetha Devi Dundoo (10 July 2015). "Baahubali review: A little more, a little less". The Hindu.
- Nanisetti, Serish (12 July 2015). "Baahubali Smashes Box Office Records, Rakes in Rs 68 Crore". The New Indian Express.
- The multifaceted ‘leader'. The Hindu (12 February 2012). Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- "53rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 93–94. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
- "The Double Life Of Rana Daggubati". 5 January 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- "The new entrants in Times 50 Most Desirable Men 2011". The Times of India. 4 February 2012.
- "Rana Daggubati's a family man". The Times of India. 19 June 2011.
- "Daggubati admitted -is-blind-in-one-eye-bahubali-2-villain-bhallala-deva-admits-of-getting-a-donated-eye-in-viral-video-2085164/". Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- Baahubali 2: The Conclusion actor Rana Daggubati makes stunning revelation, says he is blind in one eye. The Financial Express (30 April 2017). Retrieved on 12 August 2018.
- Bahubali – Bhallala Deva Rana Inaugurated Dr.Agarwal Eye Hospital- Hybiz.tv – YouTube. M.youtube.com (24 June 2015). Retrieved on 12 August 2018.
- "Alumni". www.stmaryscollege.in.
- "Kamal Haasan and Sridevi fan - Rana Daggubati birthday special: Interesting facts about the 'Baahubali' star". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
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- "Times Most Desirable Men of 2011: Rana Daggubati – No. 20 – Video". The Times of India.
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- "'Leader' to 'Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum': Why hasn't Rana Daggubati found a foothold yet?|South Cinema Photos". CNN IBN. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- Kanth, K. Rajani (3 December 2012). "Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum heads towards Rs 45-cr collections". Business Standard. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- Shekhar (3 December 2012). "Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum strikes gold at Box Office". OneIndia. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- P Sangeetha, TNN 17 August 2012, 10.53AM IST (17 August 2012). "Rana shoots with Ajith". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- "Rana's cameo in Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani | Hindi Movies News". BollywoodHungama.com. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- "Rana as Chalukya in Anushka's Rudrama Devi". The Times of India. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- "Director Rajamouli in location hunt for Bahubali". The Times of India. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- "No. 1 Yaari with Rana season 3 to premiere on March 15 - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- "Avengers: Infinity War Telugu dubbed version to feature Rana Daggubati's voice as supervillain Thanos - Entertainment News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- Venkat (1 June 2019). "Official: Rana is Hiranyakashyapa". greatandhra.com. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- Ravi, Murali (1 June 2019). "It's Official: Gunasekhar next with Rana Daggubati". Tollywood. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- "Baahubali actor Rana Daggubati gets engaged to entrepreneur Miheeka Bajaj". www.businesstoday.in. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
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- Nyayapati, Neeshita (17 January 2020). "Rana Daggubati and Sai Pallavi's 'Virata Parvam' shooting in Kerala forest". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- "Pawan Kalyan-Rana Daggubati's film: Makers unveil BTS video". The Times of India. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- "About Us". Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- Daggubati, Rana (14 May 2011). "Spirit media P. Limited was the company I owned and worked for 5yrs before being an actor". @ranadaggubati. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- "Acting came naturally to me: Rana". Deccan Herald. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- "AWN's Animation Industry Database". www.aidb.com. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
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- Bureau, Adgully. "Kwan South aims to herald a new era for Entertainment". www.adgully.com. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- Rode, Alan K. (17 November 2017), "A Stirred-up Anthill", Michael Curtiz, University Press of Kentucky, doi:10.5810/kentucky/9780813173917.003.0005, ISBN 9780813173917
- "Accelerator Program for Media and Entertainment Startups". Retrieved 27 July 2019.
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- Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (30 March 2019). "ACK Alive: Space for all things creative". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 July 2019.