# Rao Ramesh

Rao Ramesh (born 25 May 1968) is an Indian actor who works primarily in Telugu cinema, theatre, and television apart from some Tamil films. He is the son of veteran actor Rao Gopal Rao. Rao Ramesh initially appeared in Seema Simham (2002), Okkadunnadu (2007), before getting a breakthrough role in Krish's Gamyam (2008), portraying a reformed Naxalite, he received critical acclaim for his portrayal and the film went on to become one of the highest grossing Telugu films of the year.
His subsequent films, Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008), Avakai Biryani (2008) and S. S. Rajamouli's Magadheera (2009) were box office hits, while his role in the latter as a hunchbacked old Tantric won him further acclaim. Throughout the early 2010s, Rao Ramesh became a popular supporting actor and described that by 2015, he was in the "best phase of his career".

## Early life

Rao Ramesh was born on 25 May 1968 to actor Rao Gopal Rao. He was brought up in Chennai. His initial schooling was from Sri Ramakrishna Mission School in T. Nagar and later completed a degree in Communications before getting into Still-photography. He later joined K. S. Prakasa Rao, a cinematographer and father of K. Raghavendra Rao, as an assistant before going to Bangalore to learn industrial photography.

## Early career

Rao Ramesh began acting in a television series directed by Ghantasala Ratna Kumar, but the production was shelved amidst schedules. He subsequently moved back to Chennai and started acting in soap operas such as Pavithra Bandham and Kalavari Kodalu, and shot for over 1000 episodes in the space of four and half years.

## Filmography
### Telugu

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Seema Simham | Hema's brother | |
| 2007 | Okkadunnadu | Man Searching for Bombay Blood Group | |
| 2008 | Gamyam | Naxalite | |
| 2008 | Kotha Bangaru Lokam | Lecturer | |
| 2008 | Avakai Biryani | Masterji | |
| 2008 | Dongala Bandi | | |
| 2009 | Fitting Master | | |
| 2009 | Kick | Naina's uncle | |
| 2009 | Magadheera | Ghora | |
| 2009 | Villagelo Vinayakudu | Colonel Lakshmipati | |
| 2010 | Inkosaari | Revanth | |
| 2010 | Leader | Mavayya | |
| 2010 | Aakasa Ramanna | Ali | |
| 2010 | Varudu | Umesh Gupta | |
| 2010 | Maryada Ramanna | Broker | |
| 2010 | Shambo Shiva Shambo | Karna's friend | |
| 2010 | Sye Aata | | |
| 2010 | Khaleja | Tantrik | |
| 2011 | Mirapakay | College principal | |
| 2011 | Seema Tapakai | Narsimha | |
| 2011 | Chattam | Prakash | |
| 2011 | Badrinath | | |
| 2011 | Amayakudu | | |
| 2011 | Aakasame Haddu | College Principal | |
| 2011 | Pilla Zamindar | Military Rajanna | |
| 2011 | Solo | Gautham's foster uncle | |
| 2011 | Friends Book | Police Inspector | |
| 2012 | Gabbar Singh | Minister Pradeep Kumar | |
| 2012 | All the Best | Babji | |
| 2012 | Julai | ACP Raja Manikyam | |
| 2012 | Srimannarayana | Marthand Rao | |
| 2012 | Bus Stop | | |
| 2013 | Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu | Geetha’s father | |
| 2013 | 3G Love | Shanti's father | |
| 2013 | Shadow | Sivaji | |
| 2013 | Sukumarudu | SVR | |
| 2013 | Iddarammayilatho | Central Minister | |
| 2013 | Balupu | A. R. Naidu | |
| 2013 | Mallela Theeram Lo Sirimalle Puvvu | Lakshmi's father | |
| 2013 | Om 3D | Byrreddy | |
| 2013 | Mantra 2 | | |
| 2013 | Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha | Anil's father | |
| 2013 | Attarintiki Daredi | Shekhar | TSR – TV9 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2013 | Doosukeltha | Sarweshwar | |
| 2013 | Ramayya Vasthavayya | CBI Officer Avinash | |
| 2013 | Kaalicharan | | |
| 2014 | Kshatriya | | |
| 2014 | Legend | Jaidev's uncle | |
| 2014 | Kotha Janta | Ramesh | |
| 2014 | Amrutham Chandamamalo | Chandu | |
| 2014 | Oohalu Gusagusalade | Venky's uncle | |
| 2014 | Geethanjali | Ramesh Rao | |
| 2014 | Race Gurram | Sekhar Chandra | |
| 2014 | Nee Jathaga Nenundali | Sravan | |
| 2014 | Karthikeya | Prudhvi Raj | |
| 2014 | Rabhasa | Raghava | |
| 2014 | Aagadu | Police Commissioner Ramachandra Rao | |
| 2014 | Rowdy Fellow | Asuragana Durga Prasad | |
| 2014 | Jump Jilani | | |
| 2014 | Lakshmi Raave Maa Intiki | Sarvesh Anand Rao | |
| 2014 | Saheba Subramanyam | Police officer | |
| 2014 | Govindudu Andarivadele | Rajendra | |
| 2014 | Poga | | |
| 2014 | Mukunda | Municipal Chairman | Nominated–SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu |
| 2015 | Bandipotu | Seshagiri | |
| 2015 | Rey | | |
| 2015 | S/O Satyamurthy | Pallavi's father | |
| 2015 | Dohchay | Chandu's father | |
| 2015 | Pandaga Chesko | Mr. Rai | |
| 2015 | Cinema Choopistha Mava | Somnath Chatterjee | |
| 2015 | Bruce Lee: The Fighter | Rama Chandra Rao | |
| 2015 | Mirchi Lanti Kurradu | | |
| 2015 | Size Zero | Sweety's father | |
| 2015 | Sher | Raghuram | |
| 2015 | Bengal Tiger | Home Minister Nagappa | |
| 2015 | Tripura | Psychology professor | |
| 2015 | Shankaraabharanam | Badrinath Thakur | |
| 2015 | Where Is Vidya Balan | Dr. Harsha | |
| 2016 | Abbayitho Ammayi | Prardhana's father | |
| 2016 | Speedunnodu | Ramachandrappa | |
| 2016 | Sardaar Gabbar Singh | Ramesh Talwar | |
| 2016 | Brahmotsavam | Peddabbai | |
| 2016 | Srirastu Subhamastu | Jagannatham | |
| 2016 | A Aa | Pallam Venkanna | Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu |
| 2016 | Om Sai Ram | | |
| 2016 | Hyper | Minister Rajappa | |
| 2016 | Jaguar | Dr. Ramachandran | |
| 2016 | Naanna Nenu Naa Boyfriends | Raghava Rao | |
| 2017 | Nenu Local | Bride's father | |
| 2017 | Om Namo Venkatesaya | Govindarajulu | |
| 2017 | Gunturodu | Krishna Rao | |
| 2017 | Katamarayudu | Narsappa | |
| 2017 | Keshava | Krishna Murthy | |
| 2017 | Duvvada Jagannadham | Royyala Naidu | Nominated–SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu |
| 2017 | Yuddham Sharanam | Murali Krishna | |
| 2017 | Raju Gari Gadhi 2 | Parandhamaiah | |
| 2018 | EGO | Soundarajan | |
| 2018 | Agnyaathavaasi | Varma | |
| 2018 | Chalte Chalte | Santosh's Father | |
| 2018 | Howrah Bridge | Rao Ramesh | |
| 2018 | Hyderabad Love Story | Gopal Rao | |
| 2018 | Ammammagarillu | P. K. Babu Rao | |
| 2018 | Chal Mohan Ranga | Ramesh | |
| 2018 | Bharat Ane Nenu | Head Constable Ramachandra | |
| 2018 | Naa Peru Surya, Naa Illu India | Surya's godfather | |
| 2018 | Raju Gadu | Anji | |
| 2018 | RX100 | Vishwanadham | |
| 2018 | Saakshyam | Tagore | |
| 2018 | Devadas | Dr. Bharadwaj | |
| 2018 | Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava | Krishna Reddy | |
| 2018 | Savyasachi | Dr. Rajan | |
| 2018 | 24 Kisses | Murthy | |
| 2019 | Manmadhudu 2 | Attharu Pushparaju | |
| 2019 | Operation Gold Fish | S.K. Sharma | |
| 2019 | Prashnista | Raghupathi | |
| 2019 | Mr. Majnu | Siva Prasad | |
| 2019 | Majili | Rama Chandra Rao | |
| 2019 | Yatra | K. V. P. Ramachandra Rao | |
| 2019 | Chitralahari | Lawyer Purushottam | |
| 2019 | Jersey | Lawyer | |
| 2019 | Maharshi | Chandrasekhar | |
| 2019 | 1st Rank Raju | School Principal | |
| 2019 | Oh! Baby | Nani / Shekar | |
| 2019 | Oorantha Anukuntunnaru | Shivanaidu | |
| 2019 | 90ML | Kshunaakar Rao | |
| 2019 | Venky Mama | MLA Pasupathi | |
| 2019 | Prati Roju Pandage | Anand Rao | |
| 2020 | Sarileru Neekevvaru | Raghava | |
| 2020 | Solo Brathuke So Better | Virat's uncle | |
| 2021 | A1 Express | Sports Minister Rao Ramesh | |
| 2021 | Sreekaram | Kesavulu | |
| 2021 | Narappa | Lawyer Varadarajulu | |
| 2021 | Tuck Jagadish | Devudu Babu | |
| 2021 | Seetimaarr | Kadiyam Brother | |
| 2021 | Maha Samudram | Gooni Babji | |
| 2021 | Akhanda | Raju | |
| 2021 | Pelli SandaD | Vashishta's father | |
| 2021 | Pushpa: The Rise | Bhoomireddy Siddappa Naidu | |
| 2022 | Bangarraju | Ramesh | |
| 2022 | Khiladi | Raja Shekhar | |
| 2022 | Bheemla Nayak | Nagaraju | |
| 2022 | Pakka Commercial | Vivek | |
| 2022 | Swathi Muthyam | Bala's father | |
| 2022 | Leharaayi | Meghana’s father | |
| 2022 | HIT 2 | DGP Nageswara Rao | |
| 2022 | Yashoda | Central Minister Giridhar | |
| 2022 | Dhamaka | Ramesh Reddy | Nominated–SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu |
| 2023 | Das Ka Dhamki | Sanjay's uncle | |
| 2023 | Ravanasura | Home minister Mudi Reddy | |
| 2023 | Anni Manchi Sakunamule | Diwakar | |
| 2023 | Peddha Kapu 1 | Satya Rangaiah | |
| 2023 | Extra Ordinary Man | Somasekhar | |
| 2024 | Guntur Kaaram | Narayana | |
| 2024 | Geethanjali Malli Vachindi | Ramesh Rao | |
| 2024 | Maruthi Nagar Subramanyam | Subramanyam | |
| 2024 | Pushpa 2: The Rule | Bhoomireddy Siddappa Naidu | |
| 2024 | Bachchala Malli | | |
| 2025 | Mazaka | Venkata Ramana | |

### Tamil

Tamil film performances :
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2009 | Kadhalna Summa Illai | Naxalite |
| 2010 | Easan | Neethirajan |
| 2015 | Inji Iduppazhagi | Sweety's father |
| 2016 | Saagasam | Commissioner Rajamanikam |
| 2021 | Jai Bhim | Attorney General Ram Mohan |
| 2022 | Naai Sekar Returns | Max aka Meganathan |
| 2023 | Chandramukhi 2 | Guruji |
| 2024 | Vettaiyan | DGP D. Shrinivas |
| 2024 | Brother | Sivagurunathan IAS |

### Kannada

Kannada film performances :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2016 | Jaguar | Dr. Ramachandran | |
| 2022 | K.G.F: Chapter 2 | Kanneganti Raghavan | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network | Language |
| 2000–2003 | Pavithra Bandam | | Gemini TV | Telugu |
| 2005 | Nilavai Pudippom | Chidambaram | Raj TV | Tamil |
| 2007 | Chellamadi Nee Enakku | Siva's father | Sun TV | Tamil |
| 2011 | Kalavari Kodallu | | Zee Telugu | Telugu |