The Indian actor and film producer of the film industry, Nagarjuna Akkineni, was born on 29 August 1959 (66 years old) in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India.
He has worked mainly in Telugu films, and he has also acted in a few Hindi and Tamil films. Over the years, he became widely known for his work in Telugu cinema.
One of his best-known films is the Telugu musical biographical film Annamayya (1997), for which he won the National Film Award for Best Actor.
Quick Facts of Nagarjuna Akkineni
| Full Name | Akkineni Nagarjuna |
| Profession | Actor, film producer, entrepreneur |
| Age | 66 years old |
| Date of Birth | 29 August 1959 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Birthplace | Madras (present-day Chennai), Madras State, India |
| Current Address | Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad |
| Gender | Male |
Nagarjuna Akkineni Early Life and Education
Nagarjuna Akkineni was born at St. Isabel’s Hospital in Madras (now Chennai). Growing up in a prominent film family, he spent his early childhood in Chennai before relocating to Hyderabad.
His family roots are from Ramapuram in Krishna district (Andhra Pradesh). Though he became an established superstar in the 1980s, he made his first on-screen appearance as a child artist in his father’s 1967 Telugu film Sudigundalu, which was directed by Adurthi Subba Rao. He later made his debut as a leading man in the 1986 film Vikram.
Education
He did his schooling at Hyderabad Public School. He completed his intermediate education at Little Flower Junior College, Hyderabad.
He studied Mechanical Engineering and completed the first year at the College of Engineering, Guindy (Anna University) in Madras.
After that, he transferred to Eastern Michigan University in the United States and earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He completed an M.S. in Automobile Engineering from Eastern Michigan University.
| School | Hyderabad Public School |
| Alma Mater | Eastern Michigan University |
| Highest Qualification | Master’s degree in Automobile Engineering |
Nagarjuna Akkineni Personal Life
Nagarjuna Akkineni’s personal life is anchored by his prominent family legacy in Telugu cinema and a highly stable second marriage to former actress and philanthropist Amala Akkineni.
He is a devoted family man with two successful actor sons and a massive business footprint.
First Marriage
Nagarjuna Akkineni married Lakshmi Daggubati in February 1984. Lakshmi is the daughter of film producer D. Ramanaidu, and she is also the sister of actor Venkatesh and producer Suresh Babu.
They have one son, actor Naga Chaitanya (born 23 November 1986). The couple divorced in 1990.
After the divorce, Lakshmi later married Sharath Vijayaraghavan, a corporate executive at Sundaram Motors.
Second Marriage
Nagarjuna later married actress Amala on 11 June 1992. They have one son, actor Akhil Akkineni (born 8 April 1994). Amala is also the stepmother of Naga Chaitanya.
Nagarjuna and his wife, Amala, are the co-founders of Blue Cross of Hyderabad, a prominent non-governmental organisation that works for animal welfare and rights.
Children
Nagarjuna Akkineni has two sons, Naga Chaitanya and Akhil Akkineni. Both of them work as actors in Telugu cinema.
Naga Chaitanya
Naga Chaitanya was born on 23 November 1986. He is Nagarjuna’s elder son from his first marriage to Lakshmi Daggubati. He works as an actor in Telugu cinema.
He made his lead actor debut with Josh in 2009. For this film, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut, South. His film Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) became one of the key films of his career.
He has also acted in projects such as Dhootha and Custody.
Akhil Akkineni
Akhil Akkineni was born on 8 April 1994. He is Nagarjuna’s younger son from his second marriage to actress Amala Akkineni.
He first appeared as a child artist in Sisindri (1994). He later made his debut as a lead actor with Akhil in 2015.
He has also acted in films such as Hello (2017), Mr Majnu (2019), and Most Eligible Bachelor (2021).
Family
He comes from a prominent Telugu cinematic family; he is the youngest of five children.
Father
Akkineni Nageswara Rao (1923–2014) was one of the most iconic and highly respected figures in the history of Telugu cinema. He founded the prominent Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad.
Mother
Annapurna Akkineni was a homemaker. Nagarjuna later named his production company, Annapurna Studios, in her honour.
Siblings
Nagarjuna Akkineni has four siblings:
- Elder brother: Venkat Rathnam (a film producer).
- Three elder sisters: Satyavati (Dead), Naga Susheela (a film producer), and Saroja.
They are the children of the legendary Telugu actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Annapurna.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Amala Akkineni |
| Children | Son: Naga Chaitanya, Akhil Akkineni |
| Parents | Father: Akkineni Nageswara Rao Mother: Annapurna |
| Siblings | Brother: Venkat Rathnam Sister: Sathyavathi, Susheeila, Saroja |
Nagarjuna Akkineni Career
Nagarjuna Akkineni began acting as a child artist in the 1960s and later became one of the leading faces of Telugu cinema.
Over time, he worked across romance, action, drama, devotion-based films, and multi-starrer projects.
He also worked in Hindi and Tamil films, and later became a steady TV host with Bigg Boss Telugu.
Early screen work (1961 to 1968)
He appeared as a child artist in Velugu Needalu (1961), Thooya Ullam (1961), and Sudigundalu (1968).
Lead-actor debut and early films (1986 to 1988)
He started as a lead actor in 1986 with Vikram, followed by films such as Captain Nagarjun and Aranyakanda.
In the next two years, he continued with titles such as Majnu (1987) and Janaki Ramudu (1988), building his place as a lead actor in Telugu cinema.
Breakthrough phase (1989 to 1990)
In 1989, he gained major attention with Mani Ratnam’s romantic drama Geethanjali, where he worked with Girija Shettar.
In the same year, he starred in Ram Gopal Varma’s action film Siva, with Amala and Raghuvaran in key roles.
The film became a major hit and is often described as a turning point in Telugu cinema.
In 1990, he acted in the Hindi remake of Shiva, which became his Bollywood debut.
Strong run in the 1990s, including Hindi and Tamil work (1991 to 1999)
During the 1990s, he continued as a leading actor in Telugu cinema and also acted in Hindi and Tamil films. His Hindi films in this period include Khuda Gawah (1992).
In 1996, he acted in Ninne Pelladata opposite Tabu. The film later received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (as producer).
In 1997, he played the lead in the historical devotional film Annamayya. He is credited with a National Film Award Special Mention for this performance.
He also worked in Tamil cinema with Ratchagan (1997).
Popular 2000s films and frequent lead roles (2000 to 2009)
In the 2000s, he continued with many commercial films and family dramas.
Some of the better-known titles from this period include Santosham (2002), Manmadhudu (2002), Sivamani (2003), Mass (2004), Sri Ramadasu (2006), Don (2007), and King (2008).
2010s to early 2020s, including multi-language releases (2010 to 2022)
From 2010 onward, he continued with a mix of roles in films such as Rajanna (2011), Shirdi Sai (2012), Soggade Chinni Nayana (2016), Oopiri (2016) and its Tamil version Thozha (2016), Raju Gari Gadhi 2 (2017), Devadas (2018), and Wild Dog (2021).
In 2022, he appeared in films such as Bangarraju and also acted in the Hindi film Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva.
Latest films (2024 to 2025)
His recent release includes Naa Saami Ranga (2024).
In 2025, he acted in Kuberaa, directed by Sekhar Kammula, starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jim Sarbh.
In the same year, he also appeared in the Tamil action thriller Coolie, written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.
The film was led by Rajinikanth and also featured Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and Rachita Ram, with Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde in special appearances. Coolie was released worldwide on 14 August 2025.
Television and series (2009 to present)
He became a TV producer in 2009 with the soap opera Yuva.
He hosted Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu (Telugu version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?) in 2014 and 2015.
He has been the host of Bigg Boss Telugu from Season 3 onward. He also hosted Bigg Boss Non-Stop (Season 1) in 2022.
Upcoming projects (announced)
Nagarjuna announced his 100th film, titled #King100, which is listed for 2027. The film is directed by Ra Karthik and stars Nagarjuna Akkineni with Tabu, Sushmitha Bhat, and Aishwarya Rajesh. The film is currently marked as filming.
His other upcoming project is Airport, which is listed as being in pre-production. The film is directed by Yusuf Jalal.
Nagarjuna Akkineni Awards and Achievement
Nagarjuna Akkineni has received major awards as an actor and producer in Telugu cinema.
His awards list includes a National Film Award Special Mention, Filmfare Awards South wins, and several state Nandi Awards.
His major wins
- National Film Awards (44th National Film Awards, presented in 1997): Won Best Feature Film in Telugu (as producer) for Ninne Pelladata (1996).
- National Film Awards (45th National Film Awards, presented in 1998): Won Special Mention (Actor) for Annamayya (1997)
- Filmfare Awards South (1996): Won Best Film, Telugu (as producer) for Ninne Pelladata (1996).
- Filmfare Awards South (1997): Won Best Actor, Telugu for Annamayya (1997).
- Filmfare Awards South (2014): Won Best Film, Telugu (as producer) for Manam (2014).
- Nandi Awards (1997): Won Best Actor for Annamayya (1997)
- Nandi Awards (2002): Won Best Actor for Santosham (2002).
- Nandi Awards (2006): Won Best Actor for Sri Ramadasu (2006).
His key nominations
- Filmfare Awards South (1987): Nominated Best Actor, Telugu for Majnu (1987).
- Filmfare Awards South (2011): Nominated Best Actor, Telugu for Rajanna (2011).
- Filmfare Awards South (2016): Nominated Best Actor, Telugu for Oopiri (2016).
Nagarjuna Akkineni Controversies
Nagarjuna Akkineni has faced a few public controversies, mostly linked to legal matters, a security incident, and disputes reported in the media.
- June 2024 (Airport incident video and apology): A video showed a bodyguard pushing a specially-abled fan at an airport. Reports say Nagarjuna later apologised publicly and said it should not have happened.
- August 2024 (N-Convention Centre demolition): State authorities demolished the N-Convention Centre in Hyderabad, with reports saying officials claimed it fell within the Full Tank Level area and buffer zone of Thammidikunta Lake.
- October 2024 (Police complaint linked to land claims): Reports said an NGO activist filed a police complaint connected to alleged encroachment and law violations linked to the same N-Convention land issue.
- November 2025 (Defamation case and withdrawal after apology): Reports say Nagarjuna filed a criminal defamation case against Telangana minister Konda Surekha over remarks about his family, and later withdrew the case after a public apology.
- September 2025 (Personality rights case in Delhi High Court): Reports say he approached the Delhi High Court to stop unauthorised use of his name, image, and voice, including AI-made content and other misuse online.
Nagarjuna Akkineni Net Worth
Nagarjuna Akkineni’s net worth is approximately ₹3,500 crore-₹5,000 crore ($420 million-$600 million), and his salary is yet to be updated.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | ₹3,500-₹5,000 crore ($420-$600 million) |
| Salary (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
Nagarjuna Akkineni Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
The following are the physical appearances of Nagarjuna Akkineni.
| Height | In centimetres: 179 cm In meters: 1.79 m In feet & inches: 5′ 10½ inches |
| Weight | In kg: 78 Kg In lbs: 172 lbs |
| Body Measurements | 40-34-14 inches |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Interesting Facts about Nagarjuna Akkineni
- He is one of the co-owners of the Kerala Blasters football team.
- He is connected with the restaurant business in Hyderabad.
- He has also been linked with TV production work.
- He co-founded Blue Cross of Hyderabad with Amala Akkineni.
- He has supported animal welfare through Blue Cross of Hyderabad.
- He has been associated with several brand endorsements.
- He is known by fans as “King” Nagarjuna.
- He has been part of both mainstream films and devotional films.
- He has hosted quiz shows and reality shows on Telugu television.
- He comes from one of Telugu cinema’s most well-known film families.
Nagarjuna Akkineni X, Facebook
| X |  @iamnagarjuna |
 @IamNagarjuna |
FAQs
Who is Nagarjuna Akkineni?
Nagarjuna Akkineni is an Indian actor and film producer who works mainly in Telugu cinema.
How old is Nagarjuna Akkineni?
Nagarjuna Akkineni is 66 years old. He was born on 29 August 1959 in Madras (now Chennai), India.
Who is Nagarjuna Akkineni’s wife?
Nagarjuna Akkineni is married to actress Amala Akkineni.
How many children does Nagarjuna Akkineni have?
Nagarjuna Akkineni has two sons, Naga Chaitanya and Akhil Akkineni.
What was Nagarjuna Akkineni’s debut film as a lead actor?
Nagarjuna Akkineni’s lead-actor debut film was Vikram (1986).
Where are Nagarjuna Akkineni’s parents from?
His parents are from a Telugu-speaking family that hails from Ramapuram in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh.
What does Nagarjuna Akkineni do for a living?
He works as an actor, film producer, and entrepreneur.
