Naga Chaitanya Akkineni

Naga Chaitanya Akkineni is an actor in Telugu films, known to fans simply as Naga Chaitanya. Audiences remember him most for the romantic drama Ye Maaya Chesave, the much loved Manam and the romantic action film Thandel, which became the top box office earner of his career. His honours include a Filmfare Award South, a Nandi Award, two SIIMA Awards and the Telangana Gaddar Film Award for Best Actor. He made his debut in Josh (2009), and Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) turned him into a name to watch, bringing his first Filmfare nomination for Best Actor in Telugu. Crowds kept coming for 100% Love (2011) and Tadakha (2013). The year 2014 gave him two winners, Oka Laila Kosam and Manam, and the second earned him a SIIMA Award. Later successes included the romance Premam (2016), the family entertainer Rarandoi Veduka Chudham (2017), plus Venky Mama (2019) and Majili (2019) in the same year. Love Story (2021) won him another Filmfare nomination, and Bangarraju (2022) also did well. That same year he stepped into Hindi cinema with the comedy drama Laal Singh Chaddha, then led the horror mystery series Dhootha (2023) before Thandel (2025) won him the Gaddar award. Romance runs through much of his work, yet he has moved easily into action, comedy and horror. SIIMA juries have nominated him for Best Actor for 100% Love, Manam and Majili.