Actor, producer and entrepreneur, Rana Daggubati has earned a very unique fandom from across the world. Perhaps best known as the vicious antagonist ‘Bhallaladeva’ from the record-breaking Indian franchise, Baahubali, Daggubati, however, ventured into a mainstream film career as the producer of the National Award-winning children’s film Bommalata (2004).
In 2005, the multifaceted star founded Spirit Media, a company that specialised in VFX and animation and thus, went on to work on over 70 films as a VFX co-coordinator.
In 2010, he marked his acting debut with Leader, which cemented his position as a bankable actor in the Telugu film industry. He then forayed into Hindi cinema with Dum Maaro Dum, which made him a household name in Bollywood. Daggubati subsequently acted in several Telugu and Hindi films, before his role as the lead antagonist in the 2015 film, Baahubali: The Beginning, catapulted him to new heights of stardom.
The sequel, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, went on to become the first Indian film to hit the 1000-crore mark in box office collections. The phenomenal success of the film not only raked in never-seen-before BO numbers, but also grew into a universe much larger than cinema, with games, manga comics, merchandising and more, which are still in high demand.
After achieving phenomenal success with the Baahubali franchise, the actor made India’s first underwater film, The Ghazi Attack, which was a commercial blockbuster and won him another prestigious National Award.
Known for his off-beat approach to storytelling, Daggubati’s repertoire is an interesting mix of roles, ranging from playing an upright Naval officer to fantastical villain. Also a dubbing artiste, the South star is the voice behind the super villain Thanos in the official Telugu version of Avengers.
Hailing from a family of filmmakers and storytellers, Daggubati also oversees the operations of one of South India’s leading production houses, Suresh Productions, and works on business interests spread across the spectrum of media and entertainment.
Rana Daggubati Movies
Daggubati recently completed 12 years in the Telugu Film Industry, and his journey is definitely worth appreciating and taking inspiration from. He will be next seen facing off with real-life uncle and reel-life ex-con father, Venkatesh Daggubati, as a Mumbai fixer in an Indian adaptation of the American crime drama, Ray Donovan, on Netflix.
Leader (2010)
Sekhar Kammula’s Leader was Rana’s debut film as an actor. Co-starring Priya Anand, Richa Gangopadhyay, Suhasini, Subbaraju, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Rao Ramesh and Ahuti Prasad, the masala film was a super hit among the audiences. The movie follows Daggubati’s Arjun, who becomes the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh after the assassination of his father by bribing the MLAs. However, he aims to rid the political system of corruption and fulfil his father’s wish. While the film impressed audiences and critics alike with its exciting screenplay and story, it also extracted the best out of Rana in an out-and-out macho avatar.
Baahubali: The Beginning & Baahubali: The Conclusion (2015-2017)
Starring in SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali was a turning point in Daggubati’s career and he never looked back from there. The action-packed movie was a breath of fresh air for movie-goers during a time when Tollywood was dominated by family and romantic comedy entertainers. These films were epic action-dramas that captured the imagination of the entire nation.
Both Daggubati and his co-star Prabhas‘ ferocious fighting sequences earned a huge fan base across the world. Above all, a nation that only saw action heroes being celebrated, got a new villain to crush on. Baahubali, which also featured Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sathyaraj, Nassar, and Ramya Krishnan, allowed the actor to explore his badass side and it worked like magic on screen.
Nene Raju Nene Mantri (2017)
Directed by Teja, Nene Raju Nene Mantri established Daggubati as a quintessential hero in the South film industry. It was one of Rana’s best films and managed to earn excellent profits at the box office. In the movie, the actor portrays the role of a loan provider, Jogendra, who decides to become a politician after Radha (Kajal Aggarwal), his wife, is insulted by the sarpanch’s wife. However, over time, his blind ambition gets him entangled in a web of dirty politics and bloodshed.
Co-starring Catherine Tresa, Navdeep, Ashutosh Rana and Shivaji Raja, apart from the lead couple, the film investigates the flawed and corrupt political system in India through the riveting story.
The Ghazi Attack (2017)
One of the biggest hits of 2017, The Ghazi Attack deserves to be celebrated for the remarkable performances of the ensemble cast comprising Daggubati, Atul Kulkarni, Kay Kay Menon, Taapsee Pannu, Rahul Singh and Satyadev Kancharana. The movie, which was directed by Sankalp Reddy, follows the naval forces of India and Pakistan, which are on the verge of declaring war. Amid this deadly duel, a Pakistani stealth submarine, PNS Ghazi, embarks on a secret mission.
Rudramadevi (2015)
Daggubati teamed up with Anushka Shetty for Gunasekhar’s Rudramadevi; a story based on the life of Kakatiya dynasty’s ruler Rani Rudrama Devi. The film boasts superb music by Ilaiyaraaja and memorable performances by other South superstars including Allu Arjun, Prakash Raj, Suman, Nithya Menen, Catherine Tresa, Adithya Menon, and Hamsa Nandini. Among the many hit films directed by Gunasekhar, this flick won numerous coveted awards.
