Wiki/Biography
Nani aka Ghanta Naveen Babu was born on Friday, 24 February 1984 (age 38 years; as of 2022).
He was born and brought up in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana). He did his schooling from St. Alphonsus, Hyderabad and intermediate in Narayana, SR Nagar. He graduated from Wesley’s. It was during his undergraduate days, he got addicted to movies. There is a lot of Maniratnam’s influence on him. It is said that he watched the film Dalapathy an innumerable number of times.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 10″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family Background
Parents & Siblings
His father, Rambabu Ghanta, is a businessman, and his mother, Vijayalakshmi Ghanta, is a pharmacist. His elder sister, Deepthi Ghanta, is a film producer.
Wife & Children
While Nani was working as an RJ, he met a girl named Anjana Yelavarthy, who is a software engineer and blogger. Initially, they became friends and soon, fell in love with each other. After dating for almost five years, the couple tied the knot on 27 October 2012 at Rushikonda Resorts in Vishakapatnam. In 2017, the couple was blessed with a baby boy named Arjun Ghanta.
Radio Jockey
Later, the Indian film director B. V. Nandini Reddy asked him to work as an RJ for a week. Nani accepted the offer and started working at the radio station ‘World Space Satellite’ in Visakhapatnam. He liked the work and continued working there for almost a year. He used to host a radio show named ‘Nonstop Nani.’ He gained immense popularity as an RJ, and later, he won the RJ of the year award.
Actor Career
The Indian director Mohan Krishna Indraganti noticed Nani in his first TV commercial and asked Nani to make his debut as an actor with the Telugu film ‘Ashta Chamma’ (2008). This marked the debut of Nani in the Telugu film industry, and his role as Rambabu/Mahesh in the film was appreciated by the audience.
He then appeared in a few more Telugu films such as ‘Ride’ (2009), ‘Snehituda…’ (2009), and ‘Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu’ (2010).
In 2011, he made his Tamil debut with the film ‘Veppam’ in which he played the role of Karthik.
In 2012, he appeared in the Telugu-Tamil film ‘Eega’ directed by the famous Indian director S. S. Rajamouli. Later, the film was dubbed in Hindi as ‘Makkhi’ and in Malayalam as ‘Eecha.’
Nani then appeared in various Telugu and Tamil films including ‘Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu’ (2012), ‘Bhale Bhale Magadivoy’ (2015), ‘Gentleman’ (2016), ‘Ninnu Kori’ (2017), and ‘Middle Class Abbayi’ (2017)
The year 2019 turned out to be one of the best years for his career. He worked in the Telugu film ‘Jersey’ (2019) as Arjun, and his performance in the film was appreciated by the audience and critics. Later, the Hindi remake of the film was released with the same title in 2022. The role of Nani was played by the Indian actor Shahid Kapoor in the remake. He has acted in some more Telugu films like ‘V’ (2020), ‘Truck Jagadish’ (2021), and ‘Ante Sundaraniki’ (2022).
Producer
Nani debuted as a co-producer with the Telugu film ‘D for Dopidi’ in 2013.
Some of his other films as a co-producer and producer are ‘Awe’ (co-producer; 2018), ‘HIT: The First Case’ (producer; 2020), ‘HIT: The Second Case’ (producer; 2022), and ‘Meet Cute’ (2022).
Television
Nani has appeared as a guest contestant in a few Telugu TV shows such as ‘Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu Season 2’ (2015) and ‘Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu Season 4’ (2018). He has also hosted 2nd IIFA Utsavam in 2017 and Bigg Boss Telugu Season 2 in 2018.
Other Work
Nani dubbed the Telugu version of the popular animated film ‘The Lion King’ as Simba in 2019.
Awards
Vijay Awards
- 2011: Best Debut Actor for Tamil film Veppam
- South Indian International Movie Awards
- 2012: Rising Male Hero for Telugu-Tamil film Eega
- 2015: Best Actor for Telugu film Bhale Bhale Magadivoy
Toronto After Dark
- 2012: Best Hero for Telugu-Tamil film Eega
- Nandi Awards
- 2013: Best Actor for Telugu film Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu
- 2016: Special Jury Award for Telugu film Gentleman
Zee Cinemalu Awards
2017: Boy Next Door for Telugu film Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha
2017: Golden Star of the Year for Telugu film Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha
Filmfare Awards South
2016: Critics Award for Best Actor for Telugu film Bhale Bhale Magadivoy
- TSR-TV9 National Film Awards
- 2017: Special Jury Award for Telugu film Gentleman
- Zee Cine Awards Telugu
- 2020: Favorite Actor of the Year– Male for Telugu film Jersey
- Critics Choice Film Awards
- 2020: Best Actor- Male for Telugu film Jersey
- South Indian International Movie Awards
- 2021: Best Actor (Critics) for Telugu film Jersey
- 2021: Entertainer of the Year for Telugu films Jersey & Gang Leader
Favourites
- Film Director(s): Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan
- Food: Idli Sambar, Khichdi
- Actor(s): Chiranjeevi, Prabhas, Ravi Teja
- Actress(es): Sridevi, Keerthy Suresh
- Film(s): The Hangover (2009), Life of Pi (2012), Galipatam (2014)
- Song: “Bhale Bhale Magadivoy” from the film ‘Maro Charitra’ (1978)
- Music Director: Ilaiyaraaja
- Sport: Cricket
- Colour: White
- Fashion Brand: Zara
- Travel Destination(s): Tirumala in India, Australia
- Salary/Income
- As of 2021, he charges Rs 14 crore per film.
Facts/Trivia
When he started working in Telugu films, he adopted Nani as his screen name. [8]The Times of India
He is also known as the Natural Star of Tollywood.
Nani is an avid animal lover and has a pet dog named Subbu.
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