Mohan Babu & Dasari Narayana Rao Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Mohan Babu and Dasari Narayana Rao appeared together in 4 Telugu films between 1980 and 2009. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kondaveeti Simhasanam (2002 — 3.3/10). Films span Natchathiram (1980) through Mesthri (2009).
The Mohan Babu & Dasari Narayana Rao partnership
After 13 years apart, they came back together for Kunti Putrudu (1993). They didn't share a set between 1980 and 1993. They saved their best for last — Kondaveeti Simhasanam (3.3/10) came 22 years in.
Their work runs across 3 decades of Telugu cinema. From Natchathiram (1980) to Mesthri (2009).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Natchathiram; the 2000s to Kondaveeti Simhasanam. Mohan Babu acted in every film; Dasari Narayana Rao directed all of them. Mostly Telugu, with 1 film in Tamil.
Partnership facts
- Dasari Narayana Rao launched Mohan Babu as a lead hero with Natchathiram (1980). Before that, Mohan Babu was mostly a supporting actor. Dasari bet on him to carry a film solo.
- On the sets of Kunti Putrudu (1993), Dasari would write dialogues in the morning and Mohan Babu would deliver them in one take. No rehearsals. Dasari trusted Mohan Babu’s instinct for timing and emotion.
- Mohan Babu has called Dasari Narayana Rao his 'guru' in multiple interviews. He credits Dasari for teaching him how to modulate his voice for the camera — a skill that defined his later career.
- Kondaveeti Simhasanam (2002) was the first Telugu film to be shot extensively in the forests of Kerala. Dasari and Mohan Babu scouted the locations together on a road trip, which became a bonding ritual before every project.
- Mohan Babu once said: 'Dasari garu never gave me a bound script. He’d just say the scene’s mood, and I’d act. That freedom made me a better actor.'
- Their last film together, Mesthri (2009), was shot when Dasari was already in declining health. Mohan Babu personally drove him to the sets every day, refusing to let anyone else handle the commute.
4 films across 3 decades
The 1980s accounted for 1 film.
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
The 2000s accounted for 2 films, averaging 3.3/10.
- Natchathiram0
- Kunti Putrudu0
- Kondaveeti Simhasanam
- Mesthri0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 29 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Telugu being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
50% of Dasari Narayana Rao's screen credits are with Mohan Babu.
Before Natchathiram, Mohan Babu had starred in 3 films, including Vetrikku Oruvan (1979) and Annan Oru Koyil (1977).
After Mesthri, Mohan Babu went on to appear in 14 more films, including Jagadguru Adi Shankara (2013) and Mahanati (2018).
Natchathiram was Dasari Narayana Rao's directorial debut.
After Mesthri, Dasari Narayana Rao went on to direct 4 more films, including Parama Veera Chakra (2011) and Erra Bassu (2014).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Mohan Babu & Dasari Narayana Rao's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Mohan Babu & Dasari Narayana Rao's films together
