Prabhas
Photo Gallery
Who is Prabhas?
Uppalapati Venkata Suryanarayana Prabhas Raju, professionally known as Prabhas, is a leading Indian actor primarily working in Telugu cinema. Recognized as one of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema, he has been a regular feature in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list since 2015. Widely referred to as the “Rebel Star,” Prabhas has appeared in over 20 films and has earned multiple accolades, including seven Filmfare Award nominations, a Nandi Award, and a SIIMA Award.
Prabhas made his acting debut with Eeswar (2002) but gained prominence with the action romance Varsham (2004). He then starred in commercially successful films such as Chatrapathi (2005), Bujjigadu (2008), Billa (2009), Darling (2010), Mr. Perfect (2011), and Mirchi (2013), winning the Nandi Award for Best Actor for his performance in the latter. His career reached new heights with the Baahubali franchise, where he played a dual role in Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017). The latter became the highest-grossing Indian film of its time, cementing Prabhas as India’s first pan-Indian star.
Following a brief career slump, he made a strong comeback with Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire (2023) and the highly anticipated sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD (2024). Prabhas holds the distinction of being the only Indian actor with six films achieving a worldwide gross opening of over ₹100 crore. He is also the first South Indian actor with six films surpassing the ₹100 crore nett mark in the Hindi market. Furthermore, he is the first South Indian actor to have a wax statue at Madame Tussauds.
Quick Details
| Full Name | Uppalapati Venkata Suryanarayana Prabhas Raju |
| Date of Birth | 23 October 1979 |
| Birthplace | Madras, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Current Residence | Madras, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Country | India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Gender | Male |
| Birthday | 23 October |
| Age | 45 |
| Height | 6’1″ |
| Weight | 86kg (approx) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eyes Color | Brown |
| Education | Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai DNR High School, Bhimavaram Nalanda College, Hyderabad Satyanand Film Institute, Visakhapatnam |
| Parents | Uppalapati Surya Narayana Raju (father) Siva Kumari (mother) |
| Relatives | Krishnam Raju (uncle) |
| Profession | Actor |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Debut film | Eeswar (2002) |
| Social media | Facebook, Instagram |
Early Life & Education
Prabhas was born on 23 October 1979 into a Telugu family in Madras (now Chennai) to film producer Uppalapati Surya Narayana Raju and Siva Kumari. He is the youngest of three siblings, with an elder brother, Prabodh, and an elder sister, Pragathi. He is also the nephew of renowned Telugu actor Krishnam Raju. His family originates from Mogalthur, near Bhimavaram in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
He completed his schooling at Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai and DNR High School in Bhimavaram. Prabhas then pursued his intermediate education at Nalanda College, Hyderabad, followed by a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree from Sri Chaitanya College, Hyderabad. Additionally, he trained in acting at the Satyanand Film Institute in Visakhapatnam.
Career
Prabhas made his acting debut with Eeswar (2002) and followed it up with Raghavendra (2003), which received mixed reviews but highlighted his potential as a future star. His breakthrough came with the action romance Varsham (2004), a blockbuster and one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of the year, earning him his first Filmfare nomination for Best Actor – Telugu. However, his next release, Adavi Raamudu (2004), received negative feedback. In 2005, Chakram garnered mixed reviews but won two Nandi Awards, while Chatrapathi, directed by S. S. Rajamouli, became a major success, running for 100 days in 54 centers and earning Prabhas his second Filmfare nomination.
From 2006 to 2009, Prabhas starred in a mix of films with varying success. Pournami (2006) received mixed reviews, while Yogi and Munna (2007) had lukewarm responses. Bujjigadu (2008), directed by Puri Jagannadh, marked his box office comeback with critical acclaim for his performance. He then played a dual role in Billa (2009), a blockbuster, followed by Ek Niranjan (2009), which had a mixed reception but earned him another Filmfare nomination.
The 2010s saw Prabhas solidify his star status. Darling (2010) and Mr. Perfect (2011) were both box office hits, with Mr. Perfect being praised as a “timeless classic” and earning him another Filmfare nomination. The film was re-released in Japan in 2024, receiving overwhelming positive responses. Rebel (2012) had mixed reviews, praised for its action but criticized for its screenplay. He also voiced a cameo in Denikaina Ready (2012).
In 2013, Mirchi became one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of the year, securing Prabhas his fifth Filmfare nomination. While critics found its narrative lacking originality, its commercial appeal made it a success. In 2014, he made his Bollywood debut with a special dance number, “Punjabi Mast,” in Action Jackson.
Prabhas gained nationwide recognition with Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), where he played a dual role as Shivudu/Mahendra Baahubali and Amarendra Baahubali. With a budget of ₹180 crore ($28 million), it was the most expensive Indian film at the time and became a record-breaking success, grossing over ₹600 crore (US$69 million) worldwide. Its success sparked the rise of pan-Indian films.
He reprised his role in Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), which surpassed all records, becoming the first Indian film to gross over ₹1,000 crore (US$120 million) worldwide within ten days. It eventually earned over ₹1,810 crore (US$210 million), making it one of the highest-grossing Indian films. Prabhas dedicated five years to the franchise, undergoing intense physical transformation, and won the SIIMA Award for Best Actor – Telugu, along with two Filmfare nominations. The Baahubali series cemented his status as India’s first true pan-Indian star.
In 2019, he starred in Saaho, which had a strong opening, grossing ₹130 crore on its first day, but received mixed reviews. While the Telugu version underperformed, the Hindi version was a hit, with the film grossing ₹419 crore (US$48 million) globally. However, his next two films, Radhe Shyam (2022) and Adipurush (2023), failed critically and commercially.
Prabhas made a strong comeback with Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire (2023), which opened to positive reviews and grossed ₹705 crore (US$81 million) worldwide. In 2024, he starred in Kalki 2898 AD, India’s most expensive film, made on a ₹600 crore (US$69 million) budget. The film grossed ₹1,100 crore (US$130 million) worldwide, becoming his second film to cross ₹1,000 crore. Kalki 2898 AD’s massive success reaffirmed Prabhas as one of the biggest Indian movie stars of his generation.
Prabhas has an exciting lineup of upcoming films across various genres. In April 2025, he will make a cameo in the mythological drama Kannappa and play the lead in The Raja Saab, a romantic horror-comedy centered around an ancestral property dispute.
In 2026, he will star in Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryaanga Parvam, the sequel to Salaar, followed by Spirit, an anti-hero grindhouse drama directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. In 2027, he will reprise his dual roles as Bhairava and Karna in Kalki 2898 AD – Part 2 and lead Fauji, a patriotic historical action drama.
Additionally, Prabhas has signed a three-film deal with Hombale Films, starting with Salaar: Part 2 in 2026, with two more untitled films scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
Humanitarian and social causes
Prabhas has been an active philanthropist, supporting various social causes. He has endorsed the Swachh Bharat Mission and participated in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachhata Hi Seva campaign.
In 2020, he donated ₹4 crore (US$460,000) towards COVID-19 relief, allocating ₹3 crore to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and ₹50 lakh each to the Chief Minister Relief Funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. That same year, he adopted 1,650 acres of Khazipally Reserve Forest near Hyderabad, contributing ₹2 crore (US$230,000) to develop an eco-park in his late father’s name. He also donated ₹8 lakh (US$9,200) to the Lions Club of Hyderabad Sadhuram Eye Hospital.
In 2021, he contributed ₹1 crore (US$120,000) to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for flood victims. His 2023 donations included ₹10 lakh (US$12,000) for the Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Devathanam temple at Bhadrachalam.
In 2024, he donated ₹35 lakh (US$40,000) to the Telugu Film Directors Association (TFDA) for cinema workers’ welfare, ₹2 crore (US$230,000) to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for Wayanad landslide victims, and another ₹2 crore (US$230,000) towards flood relief in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, splitting ₹1 crore for each state.
Media image and other work
Prabhas is recognized as the first Indian actor to be referred to as a Pan-India star, a title acknowledged by film analysts like Baradwaj Rangan and Vishal Menon. He is credited with pioneering the Pan-India film trend in the country.
Nicknamed Rebel Star and Darling by fans, Prabhas was ranked second in Times’ Most Desirable Men (2017) and twelfth in 2018 before being added to Hyderabad Times’ Forever Desirable list in 2019. He was the most searched actor on Google in Karnataka in 2019 and the only South Indian actor featured in Eastern Eye’s 10 Sexiest Asian Men list that year. In 2017, GQ recognized him among the most influential young Indians.
Prabhas rarely endorses brands or appears in advertisements. However, in 2015, he became the brand ambassador for Mahindra TUV300. In 2020, he reportedly declined brand endorsement deals worth ₹150 crore (US$17 million).
Personal Life
Prabhas and his Baahubali co-star Anushka Shetty have been the subject of dating rumors for years. However, both have consistently denied these claims, stating they are just close friends. Prabhas addressed the rumors on Koffee With Karan, explaining that working together for years naturally sparks speculation, but he was not dating Anushka. He also humorously pointed out that she played both his wife and mother in Baahubali. Anushka also denied any romantic involvement, emphasizing their strong friendship.
In recent years, Prabhas was linked to Kriti Sanon, his Adipurush co-star, especially after Varun Dhawan hinted at their relationship on a reality show. Kriti later dismissed the rumors, stating they were baseless and that even Prabhas was confused by the speculation. Prabhas himself has not directly addressed these rumors.
At the Adipurush trailer launch in Tirupati (June 2023), Prabhas responded to fan questions about his marriage, stating he plans to get married in Tirupati but gave no definite timeline. He has previously maintained that his marriage is a private matter and will be disclosed at the right time. In May 2024, he posted a cryptic message on Instagram about “someone very special” entering his life, sparking fresh speculation about an upcoming wedding announcement.
