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Nani

Nani

Actor and producer · Born February 24, 1984 (42) · Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

Ghanta Naveen Babu (born 24 February 1984), known professionally by his screen name Nani, is an Indian actor, film producer, and television presenter who works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He made his acting debut in Mohana Krishna Indraganti's romantic comedy *Ashta Chamma* (2008) and appeared in Nandini Reddy's *Ala Modalaindi* (2011). His other films include *Pilla Zamindar* (2011), S. S. Rajamouli's fantasy film *Eega* (2012), Gautham Vasudev Menon's romance *Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu* (2012), *Yevade Subramanyam* (2015), *Bhale Bhale Magadivoy* (2015), *Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha* (2016), *Gentleman* (2016), *Nenu Local* (2017), *Ninnu Kori* (2017), *Middle Class Abbayi* (2017), the sports drama *Jersey* (2019), *Nani's Gang Leader* (2019), *Shyam Singha Roy* (2021), *Ante Sundaraniki* (2022), the rural period drama *Dasara* (2023), *Hi Nanna* (2023), and the action thriller *Saripodhaa Sanivaaram* (2024). Nani has received two Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, including Best Actor for *Dasara* and Critics Awards for Best Actor for *Bhale Bhale Magadivoy* and *Shyam Singha Roy*, and multiple SIIMA Awards. He hosted the reality television show *Bigg Boss Telugu 2* (2018) and established the production banner Wall Poster Cinema, which produced *Awe* (2018), *HIT: The First Case* (2020), *HIT: The Second Case* (2022), and *Court – State vs a Nobody* (2025).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 24, 1984 (42)
From
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 49 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 17% in 30 days

What are Nani's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 99th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
35%
Bonds
33%
Self
17%
Survival
12%
Society
3%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 8 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 14 of 14 analyzed roles.

Hero
14 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Thrilling
6
Melancholic
7
Romantic
3
Hopeful
4
Other
11

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Nani's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nani's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

49 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Alias Rukmini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Presenter

  • The Paradise(2026)

    as Jadal Zamana

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • HIT: The 3rd Case(2025)

    Producer · as Arjun Sarkaar

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Court - State Vs. A Nobody(2025)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Saripodhaa Sanivaaram(2024)

    as Surya

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The adventures of Raj (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Nani

  • Hi Nanna(2023)

    as Viraj

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Dasara(2023)

    as Dharani

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • HIT: The 2nd Case(2022)

    Presenter · Producer · as Arjun Sarkaar

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Meet Cute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 5 episodes · Creator · Presenter · Producer

  • Ante Sundharaniki(2022)

    as K. P. V. S. S. P. R. Sundara Prasad

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Shyam Singha Roy(2021)

    as Shyam Singha Roy/Vasudev Ghanta

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Tuck Jagadish(2021)

    as Jagadish Naidu

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • V(2020)

    as Vishnu

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • HIT(2020)

    Presenter · Producer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Gang Leader(2019)

    as "Pencil" Parthasarathy

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Jersey(2019)

    as Arjun

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Praana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Devadas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Das

  • Ee Maaya Peremito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Amoli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Narrator (Telugu)

  • Krishnarjuna Yudham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Krishna/Arjun

  • Awe! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Producer · as Humanitarian Fish "Nani" (Voice)

  • MCA Middle Class Abbayi(2017)

    as Nani

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Bigg Boss Telugu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 113 episodes · Presenter · as Himself - Presenter

  • Ninnu Kori (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Uma Maheshwar Rao

  • Nenu Local (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Babu

  • Majnu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Aditya

  • Jyo Achyutananda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Cameo Appearance

  • Gentleman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Gautham / Jai

  • Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Krishna

  • Bhale Bhale Magadivoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Lucky

  • Janda Pai Kapiraju (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Aravind Shiva Shankar/Maya Kannan

  • Yavade Subramanyam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Subramanyam 'Subbu'

  • Aaha Kalyanam(2014)

    as Shakthivel

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Paisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Prakash

  • Neethaane En Ponvasantham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as special appearance

  • Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Varun Krishna

  • Eega(2012)

    as Nani

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Pilla Zamindar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Praveen "PJ" Jayaramaraju

  • Veppam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Karthik

  • Ala Modalaindi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Goutham

  • Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Suri

  • Snehituda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Arjun

  • Ashta Chamma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Rambabu / Mahesh

  • Bloody Romeo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Untitled Chiranjeevi - Srikanth Odela Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Presenter · Producer

  • Untitled Nani - Venky Atluri Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 49 titles, 45 of them dated from 2008 to 2026; peak year 2020.

Biggest box office

Ante Sundharaniki (2022)

$3.1M worldwide

Highest rated

Jersey (2019)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Paradise (2026)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
20082026

Peak 2020 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 8 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 2011Screen debut· Ala Modalaindi
  • 2011First top-billed film· Ala Modalaindi
  • 2019Breakout· Jersey
  • 2019Career best· Jersey

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting43 of 49: 41 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score85thProducing6 of 49: 1 only producing, 5 with another roleOther crew6 of 49: 2 only other crew, 4 with another role

49 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

2000s3 · acting2010s28 · 27 acting · 2 crew2020s14 · 11 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 76% of 17 roles
1121

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Nani's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 87th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th4

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 17 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

The Paradise (2026)

97th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Jersey (2019)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 80/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 87, detractors 51. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Nani's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles11–88 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles11–39 · median 23 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles21–56 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles36–63 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles11–73 · median 49 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Nani work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nani's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; S. Venkatarathnam shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers