Venkatesh has completed four decades as an actor in Telugu cinema, marking the milestone with the release of his first look from his upcoming film with director Anil Ravipudi.
The actor entered the industry with ‘Kaliyuga Pandavulu’, which hit theatres on August 14, 1986. Directed by K Raghavendra Rao and produced by his father D Ramanaidu under Suresh Productions, the film featured Khushbu as the female lead. It went on to become a commercial success and gave Venkatesh a strong start.
Over the years, Venkatesh built a career spanning a wide range of genres and became one of Telugu cinema’s prominent stars. His filmography includes numerous commercially successful and memorable projects, and he has continued to remain active despite the arrival of a younger generation of performers.
Venkatesh is currently working on Anil Ravipudi’s upcoming project, which also features Nandamuri Kalyan Ram. The film, being referred to as ‘Venky Anil 5’ for now, is being mounted as a large-scale entertainer.
Sahu Garapati is producing the movie under the Shine Screens banner, with Suresh Productions, Smt Archana and Zee Studios presenting it.
The makers unveiled Venkatesh’s new look to coincide with his 40th anniversary in the industry. The actor appears in a serious military avatar, with the film revealing that he plays Lieutenant Colonel Venkat Reddy.
According to the team, the character is an Indian Army officer trained in counter-terrorism operations and hostage negotiations. Military insignia and other elements in the first-look design highlight the character’s background and the film’s setting.
The project has already generated interest following the release of Kalyan Ram’s traditional first look, which received a strong response from audiences.