Uppalapati Venkata Suryanarayana Prabhas Raju, widely known simply as Prabhas, is one of India’s most prominent Telugu film actors, celebrated for his incredible works. Born on October 23, 1979, in Madras (now Chennai) into a Telugu film family, he is the youngest of three children of the late producer U. Surya Narayana Raju and Siva Kumari. He is also the nephew of veteran actor Krishnam Raju, providing him with early exposure to the film industry.
Prabhas completed his schooling in Chennai and Bhimavaram and then went on to pursue a B.Tech at Sri Chaitanya College in Hyderabad. Originally, he had considered a career outside cinema before opting to become an actor.
Early Career and Breakthrough
Prabhas made his film debut in 2002 with the drama Eeswar and initially gained attention in Telugu cinema with commercially successful films such as Varsham (2004), Chatrapathi (2005), Bujjigadu (2008), Billa (2009), Darling (2010), Mr. Perfect (2011), and Mirchi (2013), for which he won the Nandi Award for Best Actor.
Baahubali: The Actual Gamechanger
Prabhas’s career transformed with director S.S. Rajamouli’s epic Baahubali franchise. Playing dual roles in Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), he became a household name across India. The second part became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, solidifying Prabhas’s status as the first pan-India superstar, a rare achievement in Indian cinema, where linguistic barriers generally segment audiences.
Commercial Highs and Lows
Following Baahubali, Prabhas navigated varied roles with films like Saaho (2019) and Radhe Shyam (2022). He faced major criticism for the 2023 mythological drama Adipurush, which underperformed critically and commercially due to controversy over dialogue and presentation.
Yet he bounced back with Salaar: Part 1 Ceasefire (2023) and the futuristic epic Kalki 2898 AD (2024), both showing his powers in numbers. Kalki 2898 AD crossed ₹1,000 crore globally, a rare milestone in Indian film history, proving Prabhas’s lasting appeal in high-scale action cinema.
Current Projects and 2025–26 Highlights
Prabhas remains among the most in-demand stars of Indian cinema as 2026 begins. He is at the centre of several high-profile film releases:
- The Raja Saab, a horror comedy in which he adopted a fresh on-screen avatar, is releasing in early January 2026 with strong pre-release buzz.
- Spirit, another of his releases. It became his first collaboration with acclaimed director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, which uncovered an intense first look at New Year’s.
- Fauzi, a period drama set in a colonial-era-inspired narrative, continues his expansion into diverse genres.
Personal Life and Public Persona
Prabhas, known for being private, has spoken openly about focusing on work, noting that he hasn’t married yet due to his busy schedule, putting his career first despite constant public curiosity.
Off-screen, he’s recognised for his humility and generosity toward colleagues, evidenced by reported gestures such as gifting cast members during film shoots.
Legacy and Industry Impact
Across over 20 films, Prabhas has carved a distinctive place in Indian cinema. Media and fans often refer to him as “Rebel Star” or “Darling”, and he has repeatedly featured on prestigious lists such as Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 and Eastern Eye’s Sexiest Asian Men.
Despite ups and downs in some projects, his journey from regional Telugu actor to global cinematic force shows a rare success story in an industry marked by intense competition and rapid change.
