Jr NTR Biography: Age, Wife, Children, Movies and Latest News
Jr NTR (born Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao on 20 May 1983) is an Indian actor who works mainly in Telugu cinema. The grandson of legendary actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao, he became a global name with S. S. Rajamouli’s RRR, whose song “Naatu Naatu” won an Oscar. His next film is Dragon with director Prashanth Neel, set for 11 June 2027.
Jr NTR Latest News (October 2026)
- 11 June 2027: Dragon, his first film with KGF and Salaar director Prashanth Neel, was moved from its earlier June 2026 window. The makers planned the first glimpse for 20 May 2026, his birthday. Mythri Movie Makers and NTR Arts are producing.
- 14 August 2025: He made his Hindi film debut in Ayan Mukerji’s War 2 opposite Hrithik Roshan. His performance was well received, but the film underperformed at the box office.
- Upcoming: Devara: Part 2 with Koratala Siva and an untitled film with director Nelson are also on his slate.
Jr NTR Profile, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao |
| Nicknames | Tarak, NTR Jr, Young Tiger, Man of Masses |
| Profession | Actor, playback singer |
| Known for | Simhadri, Yamadonga, Temper, Janatha Garage, RRR, Devara: Part 1 |
| Career | |
| Child artist debut | Brahmarshi Viswamitra (1991) |
| Lead debut | Ninnu Choodalani (2001) |
| Breakthrough | Student No: 1 (2001) |
| Hindi debut | War 2 (2025) |
| Major awards | 3 Filmfare Awards South; 2 Nandi Awards; Academy (Oscars) member since 2023 |
| Next film | Dragon, 11 June 2027 |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of birth | 20 May 1983 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 43 years |
| Birthplace | Hyderabad, India |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Nationality | Indian |
| School | Vidyaranya High School, Hyderabad |
| College | St. Mary’s College, Hyderabad |
| Training | Kuchipudi dance |
| Relationships and Family | |
| Marital status | Married |
| Wife | Lakshmi Pranathi, married 5 May 2011 in Hyderabad |
| Children | Two sons (Abhay Ram and Bhargava Ram)
|
| Father | Nandamuri Harikrishna (actor and politician; died 2018)
|
| Mother | Shalini Bhaskar Rao
|
| Half-brother | Nandamuri Kalyan Ram (actor and producer)
|
| Grandfather | N. T. Rama Rao (actor and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh) |
Jr NTR Early Life, Family and Education
Jr NTR was born on 20 May 1983 in Hyderabad to actor-politician Nandamuri Harikrishna and Shalini Bhaskar Rao. He was named after his grandfather, N. T. Rama Rao, one of the greatest stars in Telugu film history and the founder of the Telugu Desam Party. His half-brother, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, is an actor and runs the production house NTR Arts. His father died in a road accident in August 2018.
He studied at Vidyaranya High School and St. Mary’s College in Hyderabad. As a child he trained in Kuchipudi, which shaped the dancing skills he is now famous for. He first faced the camera in his grandfather’s Brahmarshi Viswamitra (1991) and played Lord Rama in Gunasekhar’s children’s film Ramayanam (1997), which won a National Film Award.
Jr NTR Career
Debut and early stardom (2001–2006)
Jr NTR made his debut as a lead actor at 18 in Ninnu Choodalani (2001). Later that year, S. S. Rajamouli’s first film, Student No: 1, gave him his first big hit. V. V. Vinayak’s action drama Aadi (2002) built his mass image, and Rajamouli’s Simhadri (2003) became one of the biggest Telugu hits of its time, winning him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu. A string of disappointments followed in the next few years.
Yamadonga and versatile roles (2007–2014)
He returned to form with Rajamouli’s fantasy comedy Yamadonga (2007), which won him his second Filmfare award. Films such as Adhurs (2010), Brindavanam (2010) and Baadshah (2013) were commercial successes, though critics felt he was stuck in formula roles.
Comeback and critical acclaim (2015–2019)
Puri Jagannadh’s Temper (2015), in which he played a corrupt cop who changes, is widely seen as the turning point of his career. Sukumar’s Nannaku Prematho (2016) won him a third Filmfare Best Actor award, and Koratala Siva’s Janatha Garage (2016) was one of the year’s biggest hits. He played triple roles in Jai Lava Kusa (2017) and starred in Trivikram’s factional drama Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava (2018).
RRR and global fame (2020–2023)
In Rajamouli’s RRR (2022), Jr NTR played Komaram Bheem alongside Ram Charan. The film became one of India’s highest-grossing films ever and a worldwide hit, especially in the United States and Japan. Its song “Naatu Naatu,” featuring the two stars’ energetic dance, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2023, and Jr NTR was invited to join the Academy’s actors’ branch.
Devara, War 2 and Dragon (2024–present)
Koratala Siva’s Devara: Part 1 (2024), co-starring Janhvi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, opened to mixed reviews but grossed over ₹500 crore worldwide. In August 2025 he made his Hindi debut opposite Hrithik Roshan in Yash Raj Films’ War 2, part of the YRF Spy Universe. His next release is Prashanth Neel’s period action film Dragon, set for 11 June 2027.
Jr NTR Movies List
| Year | Film | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Ramayanam | Child artist (Lord Rama) |
| 2001 | Ninnu Choodalani | Lead debut |
| 2001 | Student No: 1 | First film with Rajamouli |
| 2002 | Aadi | |
| 2003 | Simhadri | Filmfare Best Actor |
| 2007 | Yamadonga | Filmfare Best Actor |
| 2010 | Brindavanam | |
| 2013 | Baadshah | |
| 2015 | Temper | Comeback |
| 2016 | Nannaku Prematho | Filmfare Best Actor |
| 2016 | Janatha Garage | |
| 2017 | Jai Lava Kusa | Triple role |
| 2018 | Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava | |
| 2022 | RRR | Oscar-winning “Naatu Naatu” |
| 2024 | Devara: Part 1 | Over ₹500 crore |
| 2025 | War 2 | Hindi debut |
| 2027 | Dragon | Releases 11 June 2027 |
Jr NTR Awards and Honours
- Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu – Simhadri, Yamadonga, Nannaku Prematho
- Nandi Awards – two
- SIIMA, IIFA and CineMAA Awards
- Nominated for Best Actor in an Action Movie at the Critics’ Choice Super Awards for RRR
- Invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (2023)
- Listed in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 since 2012
Jr NTR Wife and Personal Life
Jr NTR married Lakshmi Pranathi, daughter of businessman Narne Srinivasa Rao, on 5 May 2011 in Hyderabad in an arranged marriage. The couple have two sons, Abhay Ram, born in 2014, and Bhargava Ram, born in 2018. He is known to keep his family away from the media.
He campaigned for the Telugu Desam Party, founded by his grandfather, during the 2009 elections, but he has since stayed away from active politics and focused on films.
Jr NTR’s Dance, Voice and Screen Presence
Jr NTR is widely considered one of the finest dancers in Indian cinema, a skill rooted in his childhood Kuchipudi training. Songs from his films regularly go viral, and the “Naatu Naatu” hook step he performed with Ram Charan was copied by fans around the world, including at the Oscars ceremony where the song won.
He is also known for his powerful dialogue delivery, especially in long, emotional monologues, a trait often compared to his grandfather’s. He has sung songs in several of his own films, including in Yamadonga, Rabhasa and Nannaku Prematho, and has dubbed his own lines in multiple languages for pan-India releases. On television, he hosted the first season of Bigg Boss Telugu (2017) and the quiz show Evaru Meelo Koteeswarulu (2021), both of which were ratings successes.
Jr NTR Upcoming Movies
- Dragon (11 June 2027): A period action film directed by Prashanth Neel (KGF, Salaar), produced by Mythri Movie Makers and NTR Arts, with music by Ravi Basrur. The release was moved from June 2026 to allow more time for production.
- Devara: Part 2: The sequel to the 2024 hit, again directed by Koratala Siva. No release date has been announced.
- Untitled film with Nelson: A project with the Jailer director, produced by Sithara Entertainments.
Together, these films keep Jr NTR busy until at least 2028 and continue his move into pan-India projects that began with RRR.
Lesser-Known Facts About Jr NTR
- He played Lord Rama as a child in Ramayanam (1997), which won a National Film Award.
- Rajamouli made his directing debut with Jr NTR’s Student No: 1, and they have made four films together.
- He hosted the first season of Bigg Boss Telugu in 2017.
- He played three roles in Jai Lava Kusa (2017).
- Fans call him “Young Tiger” and “Man of Masses.”
Related Biographies
- Ram Charan Biography – his RRR co-star
- Mahesh Babu Biography
- Allu Arjun Biography
- Prabhas Biography
- Samantha Biography – co-star in Brindavanam and Janatha Garage
- More stars: Tollywood biographies
Jr NTR FAQs
How old is Jr NTR?
Jr NTR was born on 20 May 1983, so he is 43 years old in 2026.
What is Jr NTR’s real name?
His real name is Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao. He is called Jr NTR because he shares his grandfather’s name.
Who is Jr NTR’s wife?
He is married to Lakshmi Pranathi. They married on 5 May 2011 in Hyderabad.
How many children does Jr NTR have?
He has two sons, Abhay Ram and Bhargava Ram.
What is Jr NTR’s next movie?
His next film is Dragon, directed by Prashanth Neel, scheduled for 11 June 2027.
Did Jr NTR win an Oscar?
No. The song “Naatu Naatu” from his film RRR won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2023. The award went to composer M. M. Keeravani and lyricist Chandrabose.
Is Jr NTR related to N. T. Rama Rao?
Yes. He is the grandson of N. T. Rama Rao, the legendary actor and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.