K. Raghavendra Rao Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

K. Raghavendra Rao was born on Saturday, 23 May 1942 (age 81 years; as of 2023) in Kolavennu, Andhra Pradesh, India. His zodiac sign is Gemini. After completing his formal education, his interest in filmmaking led him to become a director.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 8″

Hair Colour: Grey (semi-bald)

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

 K. Raghavendra Rao’s father, K. S. Prakash Rao, was a filmmaker, who died in 1996. His mother’s name is Koteswaramma. G.Varalakshmi, an actress, was Rao’s stepmother.

Wife & Children

K. Raghavendra Rao is married to Sarala. The couple has a son, Prakash Kovelamudi, a filmmaker, and a daughter, Madhavi.

Other Relatives

K. Raghavendra Rao’s cousin K. Bapayya is a filmmaker and his son-in-law Shobu Yarlagadda is a film producer.

Career

Director

Telugu Films

K. Raghavendra Rao began his career as an associate director with the film ‘Vagdanam’ (1961). In 1975, he made his directorial debut with the film ‘Babu.’

In 1976, he directed two back-to-back films titled ‘Jyothi’ and ‘Raja.’ Some of his notable directorial films include ‘Adavi Ramudu’ (1977), ‘Driver Ramudu’ (1979), ‘Annamayya’ (1997), ‘Bobbili Brahmanna’ (1984), ‘Devata’ (1982), ‘Justice Chowdary’ (1982), ‘Kaliyuga Pandavulu’ (1986), ‘Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari’ (1990), ‘Gharana Bullodu’ (1995), and ‘Shirdi Sai’ (2012).

Rao has supervised direction in films such as ‘Student No. 1’ (2001), ‘Okato Number Kurraadu’ (2002), ‘Pallakilo Pellikoothuru’ (2004), and ‘Pelli SandaD’ (2021).

Hindi Films

Rao made his Hindi directorial debut with the film ‘Nishana’ (1980). He has directed films like ‘Farz Aur Kaanoon’ (1982), ‘Himmatwala’ (1983), ‘Jaani Dost’ (1983), ‘Justice Chaudhury’ (1983), ‘Tohfa’ (1984), ‘Mera Saathi’ (1985), Dharm Adhikari (1986), ‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani’ (1997), and ‘Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa’ (2001).

Producer

Films

In 1980, K. Raghavendra Rao made his debut as a producer with the Telugu film ‘Bhale Krishnudu.’

Subsequently, he produced many films like ‘Allari Priyudu’ (1993), ‘Iddaru Mitrulu’ (1999), ‘Pelli Sambandham’ (2000), ‘Okato Number Kurradu’ (2002), and ‘Bommalata’ (2004). In 1984, he produced a Hindi film, ‘Naya Kadam.’ In 2004, he produced an English-language film, ‘Morning Raga.’

Television

Rao has produced many Telugu television serials including ‘Santhi Nivasam’ (2002), ‘Mangammagari Manavaralu’ (2013), ‘Soundrya Lahari’ (2014), ‘Koyilamma’ (2016), ‘Sye Sye Sayyare’ (2017), ‘Siri Siri Muvvalu’ (2018), ‘C/o Anasuya’ (2020), and ‘Krishna Tulasi’ (2021).

Other Assignments

K. Raghavendra Rao has worked as a presenter for some notable films like ‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’ (2017), ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ (2015), ‘Anaganaga O Dheerudu’ (2011), ‘Bobby’ (2002), and ‘Student No. 1′ (2001). He worked as a choreographer for the film ‘Pelli Sandadi’ (1996). In 2021, he played the role of ‘Vasishta’ in the film ‘Pelli SandaD,’ the sequel of ‘Pelli Sandadi.’

Awards

Filmfare Awards South

• Won the Best Director award for the film ‘Prema Lekhalu’ (1977)

• Won the Best Director award for the film ‘Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari’ (1990)

• Won the Best Director award for the film ‘Allari Priyudu’ (1993)

• Won the Best Director award for the film ‘Annamayya’ (1997)

• Won the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002

Nandi Awards

• Won the Best Director award for the film ‘Bobbili Brahmanna’ (1984)

• Won the Best Director award for the film ‘Allari Priyudu’ (1993)

• Won the Best Director award for the film ‘Pelli Sandadi’ (1996)

• Won the Best Director award for the film ‘Annamayya’ (1997)

• Won the Best Choreographer award for the film ‘Pelli Sandadi’ (1996)

CineMAA Awards

• Won the Lifetime Contribution Award in 2012

• Won the Best Film (Jury) award for the film ‘Shirdi Sai’ (2013)

IIFA Awards

• For Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema in 2017

SIIMA Awards

Facts/Trivia

• K. Raghavendra Rao is obsessed with fruits and flowers and often uses them in his films. In an interview, he talked about denoting fruits and flowers to a woman’s beauty. He said,
  

  We use flowers and fruits when you want to worship God. It’s something like that in my case, when it comes to films. I use fruits and flowers to worship woman’s beauty.” ^[1]The Times of India

• From 2015 to 2019, he served as an Executive member of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board.

• Rao has a YouTube channel named ‘KRR Works’ for which he has received a YouTube silver play button.
  

  K. Raghavendra Rao with YouTube play button

•  K. Raghavendra Rao is a huge admirer of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (N. T. R.).
  

  K. Raghavendra Rao in front of N. T. R.’s photo frame