Telugu actor and leader Nandamuri Balakrishna will be honored with Padma Bhushan--India's third-highest civilian honour-- for his contributions to the field of Telugu cinema.
In his illustrious career spanning five decades, Balayya, as he's fondly called by his admirers, has featured in over 100 films, playing a wide variety of roles.
Entering the industry at a tender age of 14 as the successor to the legendary NTR, Balayya has made a mark very early in his career as an actor with pedigree, essaying challenging parts in films like Daana Veera Soora Karna, Akbar Salim Anarkali and Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam among others in 1970s. Interestingly most of his films as a teenager were directed by his iconic father.
He debuted in an adult role with the film Sahasame Jeevitham (1984) and there was no looking back. He went on to collaborate with leading Telugu directors at that time like K Viswanath, Kodi Ramakrishna, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, Raghavendra Rao and Kodandarami Reddy. In the early '90s, he was known for his roles in his films like Bhairava Dweepam and Aditya 369 which displayed another side of him. The 1999 release Samarasimha Reddy, directed by B Gopal, was one of the first faction-based films featuring a mainstream hero. It went on to be an industry hit. In 2001, he delivered another industry hit, Narasimha Naidu with B Gopal.
Some of his other popular films in the last 20 years include Simha, Legend, Akhanda, Veerasimha Reddy and Bhagavanth Kesari.
A multiple-time MLA from Hindupur constituency, he is also the chairman of Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad.
Reacting to his Padma honour, congratulations poured in for him from not just his fans but also from his industry colleagues and family members who took to X to laud the latest feather in his cap.
The Padma awards are given by the President of India during ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhawan each year, around March-April.
