Nani (actor)

Nani
Nani at the Makkhi release function in 2012.
Born	Naveen Babu Ghanta Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Residence	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Other names	Nani Naveen
Occupation	Actor, Producer, Assistant Director, RJ
Years active	2008–present
Spouse(s)	Anjana Yelavarthy (m.2012-present)

Naveen Babu Ghanta,^[1] better known by his nickname Nani, is a South Indian actor who stars in Telugu and Tamil films. After his education, he became an assistant director and worked with Srinu Vaitla and Bapu,^[2] before working as an RJ for World Space Satellite in Hyderabad.^[3] An advertisement, featuring him, led to his first acting assignment in the form of Ashta Chamma.

Personal life

Nani was born and brought up in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. He did his schooling from St. Alphonsa's High School and studied in Narayana Junior College, S.R Nagar before graduating from Wesley’s.^[3] Nani got engaged on 12 August 2012, to his girlfriend of five years, Anjana Yelavarthy. Speaking to Hyderabad Times, the actor said, "We exchanged rings in a simple ceremony in Vizag that was attended by both our families." They got married on 27 October 2012, in a private ceremony in Vizag.^[4]

Career

During his graduation, Nani "got addicted" to movies, citing Mani Ratnam as a big influence on him.^[3] He wanted to become a director; thanks to producer Anil, who was a distant relative of his, Nani could join director Bapu as a "clap director" for the film Radha Gopalam that Anil was producing at that time.^[3] He then worked for films including Allari Bullodu, Dhee and Asthram.

Nani took a sabbatical to work on a film script. Nandini Reddy, a friend who was then working as a radio jockey for World Space Satellite, offered Nani work as an RJ.^[3] He accepted and worked for one year, hosting a programme named "Non-Stop Nani".^[5] He was offered the film Ashta Chamma, also starring Swati Reddy, when the film's director Mohan Krishna Indraganti noticed him in an advertisement.^[3] His second film Ride was produced by Bellamkonda Suresh. His first release in 2011 Ala Modalaindi was a romantic comedy written and directed by Nandini Reddy. It was told that many of the scenes in the film were inspired from the life of Nani and Nandini Reddy. Nani's performance in the film received positive reviews, with critics noting that he was "completely natural" and "living [his] role".^[6][7] Simultaneously he did a Tamil film Veppam with his friend Anjana as director. Later in 2011 Nani had another release in Pilla Zamindar, in which he and Srinivas Avasarala were once again seen together after Ashta Chemma. Nani's next release was S. S. Rajamouli's live action project Eega which was a high commercial success. His last 2012 release was Gautham Menon's Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu opposite Samantha.^[8]

Nani turned producer for the film D for Dopidi which was co-produced by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.. He also lent his voice for the film that stars Sundeep Kishan and Varun Sandesh.^[9] In 2014, Nani was first seen in Pasupuleti Krishna Vamsi's Paisa. He has finished shooting for Samuthirakani's Janda Pai Kapiraju and Yash Raj Films' maiden Tamil production Aaha Kalyanam.

Filmography

References

External links

• Nani at the Internet Movie Database