Mahesh Babu (born Mahesh Babu Ghattamaneni on 9 Aug 1975) is an Indian film actor best known for his work in Telugu cinema. Born to actor Krishna, Mahesh Babu experienced the photographic camera at the age of four as a kid specialist in 1979's Needa. His first leading role was in the film Rajakumarudu, which was released in August 1999.

After playing the role of a young Kabaddi player in the 2003 blockbuster film Okkadu, Mahesh ongoing in this line of thinking, getting huge attraction and showing in many effective movies such as Murari (2001), Athadu (2005), Pokiri (2006), Dookudu (2011), Business Man (2012) and Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2013). This season, he has won the CNN-IBN actor of the Year Award

Mahesh Babu has worked in nine movies as a child artist and in 17 movies as a lead actor until date He has won seven Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Awards, three CineMAA Awards and one South Indian International Movie Award. In addition to the movies, he also promotes several manufacturers in Andhra Pradesh and South India. He is also the national brand ambassador for Thums Up. He was listed #31 in Forbes India top 100 Celebrities for the year 2012. He was voted as the second most desirable man in the Times Most Desirable Men 2012 online polls conducted by the Indiatimes Group.

Early life

Mahesh Babu was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to prominent Telugu Cinema actor Ghatamaneni Siva Rama Krishna and Smt. Indira Devi on 9 August 1975. He is the younger brother of actor turned producer Ramesh Babu Ghattamaneni. He also has two elder sisters, Padmavathi and actress-producer Manjula Ghattamaneni and one young sis Priyadarshini. All siblings have the rare honour of having acted in films as child artistes. Mahesh’s childhood was spent mostly in Madras under the care of his paternal grandmother Smt. Durgamma and the rest of his family. As his father had to spend considerable amount of time away from home working, his elder brother Ramesh Babu had a significant role in his upbringing and he enjoys a great relationship with him. Growing up in a big family, Mahesh shares an equally warm relationship with all his sisters and his grand mother. All of them in the family fondly call him "Naani".

His father made sure all the children spent sufficient time with him on location and on his sets, especially during holidays. Mahesh many times said that this was where his interest for acting began. The film sets were a second playground and he did not hesitate to face the camera when asked to do a small role in his brother Ramesh Babu‘s debut film, Needa at the age of four. Mahesh studied at St. Bede‘s School in Chennai while continuing to attend his dad’s filming during holidays. Few of his schoolmates at St.Bede's were Surya (Tamil film actor) and Vishnuvardhan (Tamil film director). Mahesh obtained an Honours Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai. Mahesh Babu acted in seven of his father's films as a child actor.

Personal life

Mahesh dated Bollywood actress and former Femina Miss India Namrata for five years. She was his co-star in the movie Vamsi. They got married on 10 February 2005 in Mumbai. They have two children, son Gautam Krishna (b. 31 August 2006) and daughter Sitara (b. 20 July 2012).

Popularity

Mahesh Babu is considered as one of the most popular stars in Telugu cinema. He was listed 5th in the Times 50 Most Desirable Men in India for the year 2011, becoming the only South Indian to have been done so. Further he made it to the 2nd position in the Periods 50 Most Suitable men in Native indian for 2012, defeating the likes of Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan and Sharukh Khan. In Jan 2013, Mahesh was rated Thirty first on business journal Forbes India's Superstar 100 list. Based on documented income between Sept 2011 to Oct 2012, Forbes detailed Mahesh at Fifteenth among India's maximum making superstars. With income of over INR42.25 crore (US$7.7 million), he was the highest earning South Indian celebrity in 2012.

Brand endorsements

In 2007, Mahesh Babu signed a five year endorsement deal with the cola company, Thums Up to replace Chiranjeevi as its brand ambassador in Andhra Pradesh. He endorses brands such as Navratna Oil, Amrutanjan, Provogue in Andhra Pradesh and for Univercell, Idea Cellular, Jos Alukkas, Vivel, Mahindra Tractors, Santoor Soap and South India Shopping Mall in South India. In 2012, he replaced Akshay Kumar as the national brand ambassador for Thums Up

Awards

Nandi Awards

• Best Male Debut Rajakumarudu
• Special Jury Award Murari
• Special Jury Award Takkari Donga
• Best Actor Nijam
• Special Jury Award Arjun
• Best Actor Athadu
• Best Actor Dukudu
• Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Okkadu

CineMAA Awards

• Best Actor - Okkadu
• Best Actor - Pokiri
• Best Actor - Dookudu

Santosham Film Awards

• Best Actor Award Pokiri
• Best Young Performers Award Okkadu
• Vamsee Film Awards Best Actor – N T R Swarna Kankanam - Pokiri
• Vamsee Film Awards Best Actor – N T R Swarna Kankanam - Athidi
• The Hyderabad Times Film Award For Dookudu