Top 10 Best Telugu Actors of All Time

Telugu cinema is a treasure trove of stories that have been told for over a hundred years. From the silent era to the present day, Telugu movies have enthralled audiences with their gripping narratives, memorable characters, and melodious songs. But the magic of these movies is not just in the stories; it's in the stars who bring them to life.

Telugu cinema has given us some of the finest and most versatile actors in Indian cinema. From the charming and elegant to the intense and passionate, these actors have carved a niche for themselves in the hearts and minds of movie lovers.

From N.T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao to Mahesh Babu and Prabhas, there are many legends who have lit up the Telugu screen. But who are the best of the best? That's for you to decide.
The Top Ten
1 Pawan Kalyan

He's just an amazing actor, very different from other actors. He follows his own way, independent of others.

I like Pawan Kalyan because of his attitude and personality, along with his acting style. He is very simple, kind-hearted, sincere, independent, involved in social service, and respectful towards people, society, and the nation, among other things. As an actor, he has a unique style and sets trends. He is a role model and an inspiration for his followers and many others. I don't like comparing him to others because he is one of a kind. He was able to start a new religion called 'PAWANISM'. It's time for his followers to put it into practice by working for the betterment of society as a sign of respect for our star. Jai Hind...

Power Star Pawan Kalyan's latest film, Gabbar Singh, has garnered immense appreciation and praise from renowned personalities in the film industry. Esteemed filmmakers such as D. Ramanaidu and Dasari Narayana Rao, among others, have expressed their admiration for the movie's entertainment value. Joining the chorus of praise is none other than South Indian superstar Rajinikanth.

According to reports, Rajinikanth recently attended a special screening of Gabbar Singh in Chennai, arranged by the local distributor exclusively for him and his family members. Watching the movie alongside his loved ones, Rajinikanth described it as a flawless mass entertainer.

Gabbar Singh, a blend of comedy and action, captivated Rajinikanth, who is renowned for his remarkable prowess in both genres. He was particularly impressed by Pawan Kalyan's exceptional action sequences and impeccable comedic timing in the film. After exiting the theater, the Tamil superstar couldn't contain his enthusiasm for Pawan Kalyan's performance, showering him with praise.

Notably, Gabbar Singh has garnered positive reviews from nearly all film critics. Since its theatrical release on May 11, the movie has been achieving remarkable success at the worldwide box office. Within just ten days, it surpassed the 50-crore rupee mark, setting a new record at the Tollywood box office.

2 Mahesh Babu Mahesh Babu is an Indian actor, producer, media personality, and philanthropist known for his works in Telugu cinema.

Superstar Prince Mahesh is the best! No one can be better than this tall, handsome hero! Mahesh also has the highest number of female fans, just like me. There are many words to describe him: tall, handsome, young, charming, cute, cool, awesome, terrific, extraordinary, attractive, brave, unbeatable... and it goes on and on... Mahesh is superb! No one can reach him. He is just the best!

Superstar Mahesh doesn't need a special introduction because he is well-known all over India. He has a huge fan base worldwide and is a settled actor who can effortlessly and gracefully perform any kind of role. He is the epitome of style and sets trends. He is a very special person, down-to-earth, and highly professional. He always strives for the best and has showcased the stamina of Tollywood in Bollywood and Hollywood as well. No one can match or compete with him in any form. He is a role model for the new generation of actors. He is the only actor who has fans from a very young age to the elderly. His films are like complete meals for everyone. Jai Ho Superstar! I am proud to be his fan.

3 Jr. N.T.R.

He brought value to the art, like his grandfather. Dialogue delivery, expressions, Navarasa tempo, bhavam, the essence of emotions - all cannot be observed and enjoyed, but he has done it and left it to the public to experience the same. A beautiful flower is of no use without its fragrance, but Jr. NTR has proven that he is a beautiful flower with exceptional acting skills. There is a slokam by Kalidasa that goes, "patting on the back and asking 'how are you'," which applies to mother, child, sister, and finally wife. But the dialogue is the same, and the acting is the same. It's the delivery and expression of the dialogue that make the difference, which is called acting or bhavam. The tempo, Navarasas, body language, and facial expressions are all important aspects, and Jr. NTR has mastered them. He is the future, a diamond in acting. He is not great alone. His teachers are great for teaching him all those things.

4 Prabhas

Prabhas is stylish, handsome, and a youth icon in the film industry. His acting is kekaa.

Prabhas has those typical Telugu features, with an incredible height and a solid career built up bit by bit, film after film.

He is so down to earth, you wouldn't think he is from a filmy family. He is hardworking and very self-critical; hence, he rarely repeats the same mistakes from one film to another. I like his versatility in acting in different genres and his chemistry with all the actors and actresses he teams up with!

Just like Pawan Kalyan and Mahesh Babu, he is one of those modern-day Telugu actors who didn't rely on their family name to reach the top.

I just love his humble attitude and forlorn looks! :)

Posted by a non-Indian viewer.

He creates thunder in the Anti's hearts. It's the name that makes our hair stand on end.

He has the attitude that everyone tries to hire!

Glamour takes on a perfect meaning after gazing at him.

We are proud to have such a perfect personality as a hero in our cinema!

Innocence and charm are born from his smile.

The spark in his eyes drives the fans crazy.

The first 8-pack body in the history of Telugu cinema.

He became a style icon for the new generation.

5 Allu Arjun Allu Arjun is an Indian film actor who primarily works in Telugu cinema. After playing as a child artist in Vijetha and as a dancer in Daddy, Arjun made his adult debut in Gangotri. Arjun then appeared in Sukumar's debut film Arya.

He is the best star ever. He should be the number one for this generation. He is the most stylish actor. He is smart...

Allu Arjun is amazing. I became his fan after watching Arya. I saw him for the first time in the movie Arya, and after that, I watched all his movies. Though he has gained weight, he still looks amazing. He is not only a good actor but also a very good person. I am a North Indian girl and a huge fan of the style star Allu Arjun.

For Allu Arjun's following, you can just check his Facebook followers. No actor in Tollywood has ever had such a following in the star cast.

He's a stylish star and a superb person in South India. He should be awarded 3rd rank. His fame even intimidates Mahesh Babu. He's such an awesome actor, dancer, and personality that no one can be compared with Bunny. Actually, Kalyan and Mahesh are actors from the previous generation, and Bunny is the current hero.

6 Ram Charan Teja

His acting should be improved, but he's a good dancer. He has the following of his father.

Best actor with great expressions and emotions, and also the best dancer in Tollywood. He proved himself in his first movie and is still acting quite well, much better than those idiotic heroes like NTR. There's no comparison with others. He's a newcomer but still has a huge fan following. Best of luck, Cherry, for your upcoming movies.

He is an amazing actor who can easily fit into any character he plays. Be it the lover boy of Chirutha, the leader of Nayak, the warrior of Magadheera, or the tough police officer of Zanjeer, he is just too good. An excellent dancer and extremely good-looking, he has a very good sense of styling. No wonder he is the Mega Power Star.

7 Ravi Teja

He is a very energetic person. His movies are very enjoyable, and he is hardworking, without any film background.

He is the only star in the present day who, through hard work and dedication, has successfully completed 25 years in the industry. He came without any background but has now earned taglines like Massraja, Andhra Amitabh, and Mass Maharaja. I hope Kick 2 will be the biggest hit in his career to date, which is set to release on August 21st of this month.

A perfectionist, he is an actor with perfect acting and good dancing skills. A multi-talented person, he is like Saif Ali Khan: no luck, but very energetic in acting.

8 Chiranjeevi

This is too stupid. Chiranjeevi is a legendary actor. He is the best actor of all time, not only in the Telugu industry. He is a megastar, remember that. He is the only Indian actor who played a lead role in a Hollywood film (ABU). He should be number 1 without any second thought. If you don't know, be calm. Stop making these cheap rankings.

The only thing I can say about him is that he is an all-rounder. He can do all types of roles. He can handle mass, class, sentimental, romantic, and faction stories. He can do justice to any role, unlike other heroes.

CHIRU is the god of Tollywood because he is the only man who teaches how to reach a great and number 1 position only by hard work... He is definitely an inspiring person to all the youth in the Telugu states and all the people who love him across the world... Not just by me. Great people across India praise and admire him a lot because of his politeness, and giving respect to others...

Chiru established an eye bank and blood bank, and because of his charisma and craze, fans and millions of people across the world are inspired... He has also inspired so much charity work by his lovable fans... and serves the poor a lot...

One of the legends of cinema, Amitabh Bachchan, said in a function that 'Chiranjeevi Gaaru is the King of Indian Cinema'...

He is definitely the supreme hero, the mega star... and the one and only superstar of Indian cinema, mainly South Indian cinema...

You are number one, sir... No one can replace you...

9 Nagarjuna

He is a true actor who consistently experiments with different roles in various categories. True great actors should explore all facets of acting. The only one from Tollywood who does this is NAG. Actors should receive credit in all categories rather than sticking to one or two, like Nagarjuna Akkineni.

NTR, ANR, and Krishna are superstars and great actors. NTR and Krishna are more superstars than great actors. ANR is a great actor more than he is a star.

Chiranjeevi is a bigger superstar than he is an actor, and Nagarjuna is a better actor than he is a superstar. They are equals. Remaining actors in this generation are still stars. They can't be superstars.

He is suitable for all types of characters. His acting is different from others', and he accepts whether the cinema is a hit or a flop. He never claims that his film was a super-duper hit, breaking records.

10 N.T. Rama Rao

Yeah, just watch one scene (mono-action dialogues when Draupadi insults Duryodhana in Mayasabha) if not the entire movie from DVSK to realize what an extraordinary actor NTR was. No comparisons with him. Not even anyone from Hollywood could match his acting panache. Of course, he is the best in Indian Cinema, and no one can come close to his mythological roles except for another legendary actor from Telugu cinema, SVR Gaaru, for dialogue delivery. NTR had great looks in addition to his powerful dialogue delivery skills. Truly, he is Yugani ki Okkade, and that is the great Senior NTR. No questions asked!

He is the only actor in Indian cinema who can mesmerize audiences in any role, be it in family-oriented subjects, social, political, or comedy, in all types of genres. He is the only person whom people can see as a god on screen and imagine that a god would seem to be like NTR. Legendary actor with such a great voice and such a stunning personality. Jai NTR.

The Contenders
11 Nitin Reddy

Great spontaneous and natural actor. He has grown as an actor and sharpened his skills over time, not to mention that he has matured and created an extraordinary sense of style. He also physically maintains himself and is very handsome. He is a natural dancer and has great comic timing. He appears quite humble, although he displays a larger-than-life persona on screen. I love his films, especially for their good choice of script over the last 4-5 years. Another thing I feel good about as a female fan is that women are never wearing skimpy clothes and are always respected in his films. It goes to say that audiences will come to watch films as long as there is a good story and it's a clean entertainer. There is no need to portray women as sex symbols to make a hit film.

He is a very good actor... He is a very good dancer... My mother tongue is not Telugu. I can't understand Telugu completely. Still, I am a big fan of NITIN because he is very handsome, and his acting is very realistic. Superb...

12 Naga Chaitanya

He started his career with Josh, which is a very good film, and further solidified it with 100% Love, a most entertaining film. His talent shows that he is one of the most promising upcoming heroes.

He is simply superb, and he is a romantic person.

13 Sayaji Shinde
14 Akkineni Nageswara Rao

He was a very good actor, but for some reasons... But he was very nice.

15 Ram Pothineni

He is simply superb and handsome, and a better actor compared to others like Ram Charan Tej and Allu Arjun. He has a beautiful smile that impresses all girls. All the best to the energetic star.

He is an awesome star: a chocolate boy, an energetic star, and the king of girls' hearts. He is the best dancer and actor. He is simply superb.

The best South Indian star. He is a complete package. Keep giving us that awesome smile that melts hearts.

16 Kenguva Srinivasa Rao

Excellent senior artist. He could fit into any kind of character, from comedian to villain to a father character.

17 Venkatesh

I want to meet Venkatesh at least one time because he is a fantastic hero. I would like to suggest to Venkatesh sir: please don't opt for multi-star films. This is because you have a different image with the audience, specifically with ladies. You are the only real hero who looks very beautiful compared to others.

Venkatesh is an awesome actor who can do any kind of roles, and he has a huge following from all types of audiences. He is very friendly with all his fans and co-stars and is always positive. We love him for all these qualities. He has the most success rate that no one else of his generation can hold. Victory Venkatesh always rocks.

I am a very big fan of him, and he is the only star with a high success rate.

18 Prakash Raj
19 Balakrishna

Nata Simham Nandamuri Balakrishna has great energy, which is evident from his films. Apart from that, he can pull off any kind of role, be it commercial (action), mythological, or any experimental role. He personifies his role with a lot of ease and expertise. Irrespective of the box-office result of his movies, he always delivers an excellent performance. Not to be forgotten, his remarkable fan following always gives him an edge over the others. Even after a series of disasters, his movies open to earth-shattering responses. Undoubtedly, he possesses the best box-office stamina compared to others. His recent blockbuster "LEGEND" collected 45 crore nett, whereas his contemporaries have not even reached 30 crore. He can be strongly reckoned as the best Telugu actor. JAI NBK!

Thanks for giving the voting option. Based on this, if we select the number one hero, it's a waste of time because 80% of movie lovers don't know how to connect to the internet. It may be NTR, Pawan, or Mahesh. Only talent matters, not fake records or fake publicity. But I am suggesting to all, don't blame other heroes. They are all happy, so why should fans quarrel? Think, we are all educated people. Please try to build a friendly nature among the fans.

20 Krishna

Krishna should be at the top of the list. He's the one who has done a lot for Tollywood more than anyone else. All other actors are selfish. He's the only one who released 17 films in one calendar year, and 12 of them ran for 50 days. Eight out of them ran for 100 days, and three were silver jubilees. Once upon a time, Krishna won the superstar title consecutively for 6 years, which was conducted by a leading filmy weekly. They stopped that survey, thinking it was a waste to continue, and they confirmed Krishna is an evergreen superstar. NTR was scared upon seeing Krishna's following at that time.

I love Super Star and Nata Sekhara Krishna very much. He is a rare superstar on the Indian silver screen.

Superstar Krishna was the number 1 star of the '70s and '80s.

21 A.N.R.

He is truly the god of Tollywood. He brought the film industry from Madras to Andhra Pradesh. All Telugu actors should be very thankful to him.

He is a live-life artist. The role and A.N.R. both are fighting each other. As an actor, he overcomes the role credit. The wording, time sense, tempo, ego, quality, quantity, bhavam, and the main body language are good. All of these qualities are fighting each other, and as an actor, he brought them credit to all qualities of acting. We can say he is the dictionary of acting. As Gantasala is the pioneer, divine voice singer.

To be frank, earlier, no entertainment is there, especially for the poor man. Radio songs (from neighbor radios and village radios), listening and becoming a fan to them. Nowadays, so much media is there at free of cost. I cannot become a fan of anyone. The depth of the song, the depth of the music, the depth of direction, the depth of the acting, the depth of the actors, the depth of all arts can be seen in earlier days but not at present.

There is a hollow mark to A.N.R. for love and lover of all.
(Poet:- Pasipapa) English & Telugu Poet. DR. R.S.R. aNJANEYULU,
Who is who national and international, Guinness book record holder

22 Sunil
23 Siddharth

His acting is wordless. No one can compare with him in terms of his performance...

I'm not a South Indian, but I watched some English-subtitled movies of Sid, and I loved them. They sparked my interest in Telugu movies. He is just incredible.

He is immensely talented. Looks great. Acts great.

24 Rajendra Prasad

Versatile actor, gold medalist in acting... No one is a better performer than him...

25 Dr. Rajasekhar

Super action star. Full of action-packed movies. A legend in Indian cinema.

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