K.Raghavendra Rao, a legendary figure in Telugu cinema, has spanned four decades in his illustrious career, directing an impressive 110 films to date and producing over 25 films in various Indian languages.
His journey began successfully in 1975, with a long-standing association with the icon of Telugu cinema, the late N.T.R. (ex-chief minister),and has continued into the 21st century, working with five generations of stars. This includes NTR & ANR, Krishna & Shoban Babu, Chiranjeevi & Balakrishna, Nagarjun & Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Jr. NTR & Allu Arjun.
He is credited with having longstanding relationships with some of the biggest stars of Telugu cinema, including 12 films with the late NTR, 8 films with Chiranjeevi, and 17 films with Sridevi. He has also introduced and launched the careers of several notable stars and heroines.
In addition to his work in Telugu cinema, Rao has also made a significant impact in Hindi cinema, with blockbuster hits like Himatwaala, Tofha, Justice Choudary, Farz Aur Kanoon, and Jani Dhost, among others. He is credited with the resurgence of Jeethandra as the jumping jack of Hindi cinema.
As per independent estimates, the box-office impact of his Hindi films, adjusted for inflation, is over Rs.200 crores, making him one of the most successful directors in Indian film history. Rao has also directed all three generations of families, including the Late NTR, ANR, D.Rama Naidu, and L.V Prasad.
His assistants include successful directors like B.Gopal, Kondandaram Reddy, S.S. Raj Mauli, Chandrasekar, and YVS Choudary. Rao has also served as the Electronic Media Advisor for the Chandrababu Naidu Govt. and has received numerous awards, including a National Award, over 10 State awards, 2 Filmfare awards, and a Filmfare Life Time Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian Cinema.
