Akkineni Nagarjuna & K. Raghavendra Rao Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Akkineni Nagarjuna and K. Raghavendra Rao appeared together in 4 Telugu films between 1995 and 2017. Their highest-rated collaboration was Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017 — 8.1/10). Films span Gharana Bullodu (1995) through Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017).
The Akkineni Nagarjuna & K. Raghavendra Rao partnership
After 15 years apart, they came back together for Shirdi Sai (2012). They didn't share a set between 1997 and 2012. They saved their best for last — Om Namo Venkatesaya (8.1/10) came 22 years in.
The work is uneven: Om Namo Venkatesaya (8.1) at one end, Gharana Bullodu (3.6) at the other. From Gharana Bullodu (1995) to Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017).
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Annamayya; the 2010s to Om Namo Venkatesaya. Akkineni Nagarjuna acted in every film; K. Raghavendra Rao directed all of them. Mostly Telugu, with 1 film in telugu.
Partnership facts
- Raghavendra Rao once said about Nagarjuna: 'He is the only actor who can play a saint without making it boring. He brings a modern soul to ancient stories.'
- Raghavendra Rao and Nagarjuna had a standing ritual before every film: they would visit Tirumala together, offer a coconut, and only then start shooting. They did this for all four films, without fail.
- Nagarjuna personally convinced Raghavendra Rao to direct 'Annamayya' (1997). The director was hesitant because he had never made a devotional film before. Nagarjuna insisted only Rao could pull off the scale and emotion he wanted.
- On 'Shirdi Sai' (2012), Raghavendra Rao shot Nagarjuna's scenes in long, unbroken takes. He told Nagarjuna to forget the camera and just 'live inside the character.' Nagarjuna later said that freedom made him deliver his most internal performance.
- Their 'Annamayya' (1997) single-handedly revived the Telugu devotional genre. After its success, a wave of saint biopics followed — including 'Sri Ramadasu' (2006) and 'Sri Krishna Leela' (2008) — all directly inspired by the template they built together.
4 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 2 films, averaging 4.7/10.
The 2010s brought 2 films together, anchored by Om Namo Venkatesaya (8.1/10).
- Annamayya
- Gharana Bullodu
- Om Namo Venkatesaya
- Shirdi Sai
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 22 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Telugu being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
By the time of Gharana Bullodu, both already had careers — Akkineni Nagarjuna with 22 films, K. Raghavendra Rao with 22.
Before Gharana Bullodu, Akkineni Nagarjuna had starred in 22 films, including Varasudu (1993) and Varasudu (1993).
After Om Namo Venkatesaya, Akkineni Nagarjuna went on to appear in 13 more films, including Naa Saami Ranga (2024) and Anaganaga Oka Raju (2026).
Before Gharana Bullodu, K. Raghavendra Rao had directed 22 films, including Justice Chaudhury (1983) and Major Chandrakanth (1993).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Akkineni Nagarjuna & K. Raghavendra Rao's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Brahmanandam is the through-line — cast on 4 of their 4 films. M. M. Keeravani scored 4 of them. Brahmanandam appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
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4Other iconic Telugu director-actor duos
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