Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu

The Filmfare Best Actor Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Telugu films. The awards were extended to "Best Actor" in 1972. The year indicates the year of release of the film. Chiranjeevi is the most nominated with 21 nominations and the most awarded with seven times winning the award.

Superlatives

• Chiranjeevi with seven wins, has most awards than any other actor. Mahesh Babu has five wins, followed by Sobhan Babu, Venkatesh and Allu Arjun with four wins. Four actors have won the award thrice in chronological order they are Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Kamal Haasan and Krishnam Raju. Three actors Rajasekhar, N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan has two wins each. Akkineni Nageshwara Rao & Uday Kiran being the oldest & youngest actors to win the awards, at 68 and 21 respectively.
• Allu Arjun and Venkatesh are the two actors to win both Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – South.
• Allu Arjun have won both Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu.
• Sobhan Babu was the most victorious actor with four wins in the 70s. Kamal Haasan ruled the 80s with three wins. In the 90s, Chiranjeevi outperformed every other actors with three wins. Chiranjeevi and Mahesh Babu were the two successful actors with two wins each in the 2000s. Mahesh Babu continued to be a most successful actor in the 2010s with three wins.
• Two actors have won the awards in consecutive years; in chronological order, they are Sobhan Babu (1974–1976) and Chiranjeevi (1992–1993).
• Allu Arjun is the only actor to have won Filmfare Awards South in three different acting categories: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor – Critics.
• Chiranjeevi has the most nominations with 21, followed by Venkatesh with 18 and Nagarjuna with 16.
• Allu Arjun Became the First and Only Actor to Win Filmfare Best Actor and National Film Award for Best Actor For the Same Film.

Multiple winners

• 7 Wins : Chiranjeevi
• 5 Wins : Mahesh Babu
• 4 Wins : Sobhan Babu, Venkatesh, Allu Arjun
• 3 Wins : Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Kamal Haasan, Krishnam Raju
• 2 Wins : Rajasekhar, N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan

Winners

Nominations

1970s

• 1972: N. T. Rama Rao – Badi Panthulu
• 1973: Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Marapurani Manishi
• 1974: Sobhan Babu – Khaidi Babayi
  • Krishna – Alluri Seetarama Raju
  • N. T. Rama Rao – Nippulanti Manishi
• 1975: Sobhan Babu – Jeevana Jyothi
  • N. T. Rama Rao – Teerpu
  • Rao Gopal Rao – Mutyala Muggu
• 1976: Sobhan Babu – Soggadu
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Mahakavi Kshetrayya
  • Krishnam Raju – Bhakta Kannappa
  • N. T. Rama Rao – Aradhana
  • Narasimha Raju – Thoorpu Padamara
• 1977: Krishnam Raju – Amara Deepam
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Raja Ramesh
  • Ananth Nag – Prema Lekhalu
  • N. T. Rama Rao – Adavi Ramudu
  • Rajinikanth – Chilakamma Cheppindi
• 1978: Chandra Mohan – Padaharella Vayasu
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Devadasu Malli Puttadu
  • Kamal Haasan – Maro Charitra
  • Krishnam Raju – Mana Voori Pandavulu
• 1979: Sobhan Babu – Karthika Deepam
  • Gokina Rama Rao – Punadhirallu
  • N. T. Rama Rao – Vetagaadu

1980s

• 1980: J. V. Somayajulu – Sankarabharanam
  • Chiranjeevi – Punnami Naagu
  • M. Prabhakar Reddy – Yuvatharam Kadilindi
  • Krishnam Raju – Sita Ramulu
  • Sai Chand – Maa Bhoomi
• 1981: Kamal Haasan – Aakali Rajyam
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Premabhishekam
  • J. V. Somayajulu – Saptapadi
  • M. Prabhakar Reddy – Palle Pilichindi
  • N. T. Rama Rao – Kondaveeti Simham
• 1982: Chiranjeevi – Subhalekha
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Meghasandesam
  • Krishnam Raju – Trisulam
  • N. T. Rama Rao – Bobbili Puli
  • Sobhan Babu – Devata
• 1983: Kamal Haasan – Sagara Sangamam
  • Chiranjeevi – Khaidi
  • Krishna – Adavi Simhalu
  • Krishnam Raju – Dharmaatmudu
  • Sobhan Babu – Mundadugu
• 1984: Krishnam Raju – Bobbili Brahmanna
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Vasantha Geetam
  • Chiranjeevi – Challenge
  • Naresh – Srivariki Premalekha
  • Sobhan Babu – Sampoorna Premayanam
• 1985: Chiranjeevi – Vijetha
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Bharyabhartala Bandham
  • Krishna – Agni Parvatam
  • Murali Mohan – O Thandri Teerpu
  • Rajendra Prasad – Preminchu Pelladu
• 1986: Krishnam Raju – Tandra Paparayudu
  • Chiranjeevi – Chantabbai
  • Kamal Haasan – Swati Mutyam
  • Rajasekhar – Repati Pourulu
  • Venkatesh – Kaliyuga Pandavulu
• 1987: Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Aatma Bandhuvulu
  • Balakrishna – Muvva Gopaludu
  • Chiranjeevi – Swayam Krushi
  • Nagarjuna – Majnu
  • Rajasekhar – Sruthilayalu
  • Rajendra Prasad – Aha Naa-Pellanta!
• 1988: Venkatesh – Brahma Puthrudu
  • Chiranjeevi – Rudraveena
  • Kallu Chidambaram – Kallu
  • Krishnam Raju – Antima Teerpu
  • Nagarjuna – Aakhari Poratam
• 1989: Kamal Haasan – Indrudu Chandrudu
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Sutradharulu
  • Chiranjeevi – Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu
  • Nagarjuna – Geetanjali
  • Nagarjuna – Siva
  • Venkatesh – Prema

1990s

• 1990: Rajasekhar – Magaadu
  • Chiranjeevi – Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari
  • Mohan Babu – Alludugaru
  • Rajendra Prasad – Mama Alludu
  • Venkatesh – Bobbili Raja
• 1991: Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu
  • Balakrishna – Aditya 369
  • Chiranjeevi – Gang Leader
  • Rajendra Prasad – Yerra Mandaram
  • Venkatesh – Kshana Kshanam
• 1992: Chiranjeevi – Aapathbandavudu
  • Chiranjeevi – Gharana Mogudu
  • Mammootty – Swathi Kiranam
  • Nagarjuna – Antham
  • Venkatesh – Chanti
• 1993: Chiranjeevi – Muta Mesthri
  • Jagapathi Babu – Gaayam
  • Rajasekhar – Allari Priyudu
  • Rajendra Prasad – Mister Pellam
  • Venkatesh – Abbaigaru
• 1994: Rajasekhar – Anna
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Bangaru Kutumbam
  • Jagapathi Babu – Shubhalagnam
  • Nagarjuna – Hello Brother
  • Venkatesh – Muddula Priyudu
• 1995: Mohan Babu – Peddarayudu
  • J. D. Chakravarthy – Gulabi
  • Kamal Haasan – Subha Sankalpam
  • Nagarjuna – Gharana Bullodu
  • Naresh – Sogasu Chuda Taramaa?
• 1996: Venkatesh – Dharma Chakram
  • Jagapathi Babu – Maavichiguru
  • Nagarjuna – Ninne Pelladata
  • Srikanth – Pelli Sandadi
  • Venkatesh – Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya
• 1997: Nagarjuna – Annamayya
  • Chiranjeevi – Master
  • Jagapathi Babu – Chilakkottudu
  • Vadde Naveen – Pelli
  • Venkatesh – Preminchukundam Raa
• 1998: Venkatesh – Ganesh
  • Chiranjeevi – Bavagaru Bagunnara?
  • Nagarjuna – Chandralekha
  • Pawan Kalyan – Tholi Prema
  • Prakash Raj – Antahpuram
• 1999: Chiranjeevi – Sneham Kosam
  • Balakrishna – Samarasimha Reddy
  • Pawan Kalyan – Thammudu
  • Ravi Teja – Nee Kosam
  • Venkatesh – Raja

2000s

• 2000: Venkatesh – Jayam Manadera
  • Mohan Babu – Rayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary
  • Nagarjuna – Azad
  • Venkatesh – Kalisundam Raa
• 2001: Uday Kiran – Nuvvu Nenu
  • Balakrishna – Narasimha Naidu
  • Mahesh Babu – Murari
  • Pawan Kalyan – Kushi
• 2002: Chiranjeevi – Indra
  • Jr. NTR – Aadi
  • Nagarjuna – Santosham
  • Uday Kiran – Nee Sneham
• 2003: Mahesh Babu – Okkadu
  • Chiranjeevi – Tagore
  • Jr. NTR – Simhadri
  • Mahesh Babu – Nijam
  • Nandamuri Harikrishna – Seetayya
• 2004: Chiranjeevi – Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.
  • Allu Arjun – Arya
  • Nagarjuna – Mass
  • Prabhas – Varsham
  • Rajendra Prasad – Aa Naluguru
• 2005: Siddharth – Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana
  • Mahesh Babu – Athadu
  • Nagarjuna – Super
  • Prabhas – Chhatrapati
  • Venkatesh – Sankranti
• 2006: Mahesh Babu – Pokiri
  • Jr. NTR – Rakhi
  • Nagarjuna – Sri Ramadasu
  • Siddharth – Bommarillu
• 2007: Jr. NTR – Yamadonga
  • Allu Arjun – Desamuduru
  • Rajendra Prasad – Mee Sreyobhilashi
  • Srikanth – Operation Duryodhana
  • Venkatesh – Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule
• 2008: Allu Arjun – Parugu
  • Jr. NTR – Kantri
  • Pawan Kalyan – Jalsa
  • Ram – Ready
  • Ravi Teja – Krishna
• 2009: Ram Charan – Magadheera
  • Allu Arjun – Arya 2
  • Kamal Haasan – Eenadu
  • Prabhas – Ek Niranjan
  • Ravi Teja – Kick

2010s

• 2010: Allu Arjun – Vedam
  • Balakrishna – Simha
  • Jr. NTR – Adhurs
  • Naga Chaitanya – Ye Maaya Chesave
  • Rana Daggubati – Leader
• 2011: Mahesh Babu – Dookudu
  • Balakrishna – Sri Rama Rajyam
  • Nagarjuna – Rajanna
  • Prabhas – Mr. Perfect
  • Ram – Kandireega
• 2012: Pawan Kalyan – Gabbar Singh
  • Mahesh Babu – Businessman
  • Nagarjuna – Damarukam
  • Nitin – Ishq
  • Ram Charan – Racha
• 2013: Mahesh Babu – Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
  • Nitin – Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde
  • Pawan Kalyan – Attarintiki Daredi
  • Prabhas – Mirchi
  • Ram Charan – Naayak
• 2014: Allu Arjun – Race Gurram
  • Mohan Babu – Rowdy
  • Nagarjuna – Manam
  • Sharwanand – Run Raja Run
  • Venkatesh – Drushyam
• 2015: Mahesh Babu – Srimanthudu
  • Allu Arjun – S/O Satyamurthy
  • Jr. NTR – Temper
  • Nani – Bhale Bhale Magadivoy
  • Prabhas – Baahubali: The Beginning
• 2016:Jr. NTR – Nannaku Prematho
  • Allu Arjun – Sarrainodu
  • Naga Chaitanya – Premam
  • Nagarjuna – Oopiri
  • Nani – Gentleman
  • Ram Charan – Dhruva
• 2017:Vijay Devarakonda – Arjun Reddy
  • Balakrishna – Gautamiputra Satakarni
  • Chiranjeevi – Khaidi No. 150
  • Jr. NTR – Jai Lava Kusa
  • Prabhas – Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
  • Venkatesh – Guru
• 2018:Ram Charan – Rangasthalam
  • Dulquer Salman – Mahanati
  • Jr. NTR – Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava
  • Mahesh Babu – Bharat Ane Nenu
  • Vijay Devarakonda – Geetha Govindam

2020s

• 2020–2021: Allu Arjun – Pushpa: The Rise
  • Mahesh Babu – Sarileru Neekevvaru
  • Naga Chaitanya – Love Story
  • Nani – Shyam Singha Roy
  • Naveen Polishetty – Jathi Ratnalu
  • Rakshit Atluri – Palasa 1978
  • Vaishnav Tej – Uppena

See also

• Filmfare Awards
• Telugu Cinema

References

Bibliography

• Ramachandran, T.M. (1973). Film world. Vol. 9.
• Collections. Update Video Publication. 1991.
• The Times of India directory and year book including who's who. Times of India Press. 1984.