Mahesh Babu (born 9 August 1975) is an Indian actor and producer who works in Telugu films. The son of the veteran star Krishna, he acted as a child before making his debut as a hero in 1999. Films such as Okkadu, Pokiri, Dookudu and Srimanthudu made him one of the most popular and highest-paid actors in Telugu cinema. Fans call him “Prince” and “Superstar”. He is also known for his charity work, especially paying for heart surgeries for children.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu |
| Born | 9 August 1975, Madras (now Chennai), India |
| Age | 51 |
| Parents | Krishna, Indira Devi |
| Education | Loyola College, Chennai (B.Com) |
| Occupation | Actor, producer |
| Years active | 1979–1990 (child artist), 1999–present |
| Spouse | Namrata Shirodkar (m. 2005) |
| Children | 2 (Gautham and Sitara) |
| Known for | Okkadu, Athadu, Pokiri, Dookudu, Srimanthudu |
Early Life
Mahesh was born in Madras, the second son of the Telugu film star Ghattamaneni Krishna and his first wife, Indira Devi. He grew up in Chennai, where he went to St. Bede’s school and earned a commerce degree from Loyola College. He made his first screen appearance at the age of four in Needa (1979) and acted as a child in several of his father’s films through the 1980s before taking a break to finish his studies.
Career
Mahesh made his debut as a lead actor in Raja Kumarudu (1999), winning the Nandi Award for Best Male Debut. He had his first major successes with Murari (2001) and the action film Okkadu (2003), one of the biggest Telugu hits of its time. Trivikram Srinivas’s Athadu (2005) added to his reputation.
Puri Jagannadh’s Pokiri (2006), in which Mahesh played an undercover police officer, broke box-office records in Telugu cinema and was remade in several languages, including in Hindi as Wanted. After a few quiet years he returned with the blockbusters Dookudu (2011), Businessman (2012), Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2013) and Srimanthudu (2015), in which he played a rich heir who adopts a village. He made a Tamil-Telugu bilingual, Spyder, in 2017.
Mahesh played a young chief minister in Bharat Ane Nenu (2018) and starred in Maharshi (2019), Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020), Sarkaru Vaari Paata (2022) and Guntur Kaaram (2024). He then began work on a large-scale adventure film with S. S. Rajamouli, whose title, Varanasi, was revealed in November 2025. He also runs the production company G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment and co-owns a multiplex chain in Hyderabad.
Personal Life
Mahesh married the former Miss India and actress Namrata Shirodkar in February 2005, after they worked together on Vamsi (2000). They have a son, Gautham, and a daughter, Sitara. Through his foundation he has funded more than a thousand heart operations for children and adopted two villages, Burripalem in Andhra Pradesh, his father’s home village, and Siddhapuram in Telangana. His father, Krishna, died in November 2022.
Awards and Honours
Selected Filmography
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Mahesh Babu born?
Mahesh Babu was born on 9 August 1975 in Madras (now Chennai), India and is 51 years old.
What is Mahesh Babu known for?
Known for: Okkadu, Athadu, Pokiri, Dookudu, Srimanthudu.
Featured image: Mahesh Babu at the audio launch of Selvandhan, the Tamil version of Srimanthudu, Chennai, August 2015. Photo by Silverscreen.in, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
