Actor · Telugu cinema
Taraka Ratna
Taraka Ratna movies: 8 Telugu films on file, 2004–2022. Earliest on file: Bhadradri Ramudu (2004). Latest release: S5 No Exit (30 December 2022).
- Films on file
- 8 (8 as actor)
- Years on file
- 2004–2022
- Born
- 22 February 1983 · February birthdays (Wikidata)
- Died
- 18 February 2023
- Selected films on file
- Manamantha, Raja Cheyyi Vesthe, Nandeeshwarudu
- Record
- Q7685321 on Wikidata
Nandamuri Taraka Ratna (22 February 1983 – 18 February 2023) was an Indian actor in Telugu cinema. After his debut in Okato Number Kurraadu, he played lead roles in several films and the villain in a few. His turn as the antagonist in Amaravathi (2009) won him the Nandi Award for Best Villain. A member of the Nandamuri family, he was also an aspiring politician with the Telugu Desam Party.
Family background
Taraka Ratna was born in Hyderabad to Nandamuri Mohana Krishna, a Telugu cinema cinematographer, and Nandamuri Shanti. He was a grandson of the actor and former Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao. His cousins include the actors Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and N. T. Rama Rao Jr., and Nandamuri Balakrishna was his uncle.
Debut
He made his debut in Okato Number Kurraadu, written and produced by K. Raghavendra Rao. At the time of his debut he signed nine films as lead actor at once, which the source describes as a record.
Lead roles
Among the films he signed at the start of his career were Yuva Rathna (2003), Taarak (2003) and Bhadradri Ramudu, and he played the lead in several films in those early years.
Amaravathi and later work
Taraka Ratna changed direction by playing the antagonist in Amaravathi (2009), and won the Nandi Award for Best Villain for the part. His other films include Venkatadri (2009), Nandeeswarudu, Maha Bhaktha Siriyala (2014), Kakatheeyudu (2019) and Devineni (2021). He also acted in the television series 9 Hours.
Politics
Like several members of his family, Taraka Ratna was active in Andhra Pradesh politics as a supporter of the Telugu Desam Party. According to the party’s chief, N. Chandrababu Naidu, he had been preparing to contest the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections.