RK Naidu (Sagar) Biography: Mogali Rekulu, Movies, Wife & Career

Sagar, popularly known as RK Naidu and credited in recent films as RK Sagar, is a Telugu actor who became one of the biggest stars of Telugu television as ACP RK Naidu in Gemini TV’s Mogali Rekulu (2008–2013). The role won him the Nandi Award for Best Television Actor in 2009. He later moved to films, made his lead debut with Siddhartha (2016), and starred in Shaadi Mubarak (2021) and the action thriller The 100 (2025), in which he played a probationary IPS officer.

RK Naidu Latest News (October 2026)

• The 100 on OTT: His 2025 action crime thriller The 100, which released in theatres on 11 July 2025, is streaming on Lionsgate Play and Amazon Prime Video after the platforms acquired its rights on 29 August 2025.
• Strong reviews for his cop role: Critics singled out his performance as Vikrant, an IPS officer who opposes encounter killings. OTTplay gave the film 3 out of 5 and The Hans India called it a riveting thriller with heart.
• RK Naidu still trending: More than a decade after Mogali Rekulu ended, clips of RK Naidu remain popular on YouTube and Instagram, and fans still greet him by his character’s name at events.

RK Naidu Profile, Age and Wiki

RK Naidu Early Career

Sagar began his acting career in Telugu television in the early 2000s. His first screen appearance was a guest role in the hit sitcom Amrutham in 2003, and he had an uncredited part as a speaker in the 2001 film Manasantha Nuvve. His first major television role came in the family drama Chakravakam (2006–2008), in which he played Jagan. The show was a success, and it led director Manjula Naidu to cast him in her next serial.

Mogali Rekulu and the RK Naidu Phenomenon

Mogali Rekulu premiered on Gemini TV on 18 February 2008. Directed by Manjula Naidu, who co-wrote it with Bindu Naidu, the serial cast Sagar as RK Naidu, an honest police officer who rises from ACP to become DGP in Mumbai. Later in the story he also played the roles of Munna and Mahidhar Naidu. The serial co-starred Indraneil Varma as Dharma and ran until 24 May 2013, more than five years.

The show became one of the most-watched serials of its time in the Telugu states. RK Naidu’s honesty, intensity and style made him a hero for family audiences, and the name “RK Naidu” became more famous than Sagar’s own. Many viewers still refer to him only by the character’s name. In 2009, his performance won him the Nandi Award for Best Television Actor, and the serial won Best Primetime Serial at the Ugadi Gemini TV Awards.

The serial’s success and his Nandi Award made him one of the best-known Telugu television actors of that era, and the character’s name stayed with him long after the show ended.

Move to Films

Sagar had a small role as Shiva in the Prabhas-starrer Mr. Perfect (2011) while Mogali Rekulu was still on air. After the serial ended, he decided to focus on cinema. In 2014 reports said he would make his film debut alongside actor Siddharth, but his lead debut finally came with Siddhartha (2016), in which he played Surya / Siddhartha. The film earned him a nomination for Best Male Debut – Telugu at the 2017 South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA).

He followed it with Man of the Match (2018), playing Abhi. In 2021 he starred as Madhav Sunnipenta in the romantic comedy Shaadi Mubarak, produced by Dil Raju. The film, about a young man who goes to meet prospective brides, was praised for its light family humour and gave him his best-reviewed film role until then.

The 100 (2025)

In 2025 Sagar, credited as RK Sagar, returned to a police role in The 100, an action crime thriller written and directed by Raghav Omkar Sasidhar. He played Vikrant, an IPS officer on probation who is against police encounters and is assigned a series of robberies and murders on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The case begins with a young woman’s suicide and gradually uncovers a hidden conspiracy.

The film co-starred Misha Narang and Dhanya Balakrishna, with Kalyani Natarajan and anchor Vishnu Priya in supporting roles. It released in theatres on 11 July 2025. OTTplay rated it 3 out of 5 and called it an emotional cop drama that exceeds expectations, The Hans India described it as a riveting thriller with heart and heft, and the Telugu daily Eenadu praised his performance. Lionsgate Play and Amazon Prime Video bought its streaming rights in August 2025. Former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also praised the film’s concept and execution.

RK Naidu Movies List

RK Naidu TV Serials

Awards and Nominations

• Nandi Award 2009: Best Television Actor – Mogali Rekulu (won)
• SIIMA 2017: Best Male Debut – Telugu – Siddhartha (nominated)
• Ugadi Gemini TV Awards: Best Primetime Serial – Mogali Rekulu (won, for the show)

RK Naidu Personal Life

Sagar married Soundarya in 2017, and the couple have a son and a daughter. He keeps his family life private and rarely shares personal details in interviews, preferring to talk about his work.

RK Naidu Career Timeline

• 2003: Guest role in Amrutham.
• 2006: Plays Jagan in Chakravakam.
• 2008: Begins playing RK Naidu in Mogali Rekulu.
• 2009: Wins the Nandi Award for Best Television Actor.
• 2011: Appears in Mr. Perfect with Prabhas.
• 2013: Mogali Rekulu ends after five years.
• 2016: Lead film debut in Siddhartha.
• 2017: Marries Soundarya.
• 2021: Stars in Shaadi Mubarak.
• 2025: Plays IPS officer Vikrant in The 100.

Why RK Naidu Stands Out

Very few Telugu television characters have outlived their shows the way RK Naidu has. Sagar turned a police officer in a family serial into a cultural icon, to the point that his character’s name became his own identity. His move to films was slower than many fans hoped, but with Shaadi Mubarak and The 100 he showed that he could carry both a light romantic comedy and a serious crime thriller. For more stars who moved from small screen to big screen, see our Tollywood biographies.

Lesser-Known Facts

• Fans still call him RK Naidu, the name of his Mogali Rekulu character.
• He won a Nandi Award for television acting in 2009.
• He appeared in Prabhas’s Mr. Perfect (2011) while his serial was still on air.
• He had an uncredited role in Manasantha Nuvve (2001).
• His 2025 film The 100 was praised by former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

Related Biographies

• Prabhas – co-star in Mr. Perfect
• Vishnu Priya – co-star in The 100
• Premi Viswanath – Telugu TV star
• Nagarjuna

RK Naidu FAQs

What is RK Naidu’s real name?

RK Naidu’s real name is Sagar. RK Naidu is the character he played in Mogali Rekulu, and he is credited as RK Sagar in recent films.

Which serial made RK Naidu famous?

He became famous as ACP RK Naidu in Gemini TV’s Mogali Rekulu, which aired from 2008 to 2013.

Did RK Naidu win a Nandi Award?

Yes. He won the Nandi Award for Best Television Actor in 2009 for Mogali Rekulu.

Who is RK Naidu’s wife?

Sagar married Soundarya in 2017. They have a son and a daughter.

What was RK Naidu’s first movie as hero?

His lead debut was Siddhartha (2016), which earned him a SIIMA nomination for Best Male Debut – Telugu.

What is RK Sagar’s latest movie?

His latest film is The 100 (2025), in which he plays IPS officer Vikrant. It streams on Lionsgate Play and Amazon Prime Video.

Where can I watch The 100?

The 100 is available on Lionsgate Play and Amazon Prime Video.

Who directed Mogali Rekulu?

Mogali Rekulu was directed by Manjula Naidu, who co-wrote it with Bindu Naidu.

Sources

• Sagar (actor) – Wikipedia
• Mogali Rekulu – Wikipedia
• The 100 (film) – Wikipedia
• Venkaiah Naidu commends The 100 – Deccan Chronicle