Mahesh Babu (born Mahesh Babu Ghattamaneni on 9 August 1975) is an Indian film actor best known for his work in Telugu cinema. Born to actor Krishna in the Ghattamaneni family, Mahesh Babu faced the camera at the age of four as a child artist in 1979's Needa. His first leading role was in the film Rajakumarudu, which was released in August 1999. After playing the role of a young Kabaddi player in the 2003 blockbuster film Okkadu, Mahesh continued in this vein, gaining mass appeal and appearing in many successful films such as Murari (2001), Athadu (2005), Pokiri (2006), Dookudu (2011), Business Man (2012) and Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2013). Mahesh Babu has worked in nine films as a child artist and in seventeen films as a lead actor till date. He has won seven Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Awards, three CineMAA Awards and one South Indian International Movie Award. In addition to the films, he also endorses several brands in Andhra Pradesh and South India. He is also the national brand ambassador for Thums Up. He was listed #31 in Forbes India top 100 Celebrities for the year 2012. He was voted as the second most desirable man in the Times Most Desirable Men 2012 online polls conducted by the Indiatimes Group.
Mahesh Babu was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to prominent Telugu Cinema actor Ghatamaneni Siva Rama Krishna and Smt. Indira Devi on 9 August 1975. He is the younger brother of actor turned producer Ramesh Babu Ghattamaneni. He also has two elder sisters, Padmavathi and actress-producer Manjula Ghattamaneni and one younger sister Priyadarshini. All siblings have acted in films as child artistes. Mahesh's childhood was spent mostly in Madras under the care of his maternal grandmother Smt. Durgamma and the rest of his family. His father made sure all the children spent sufficient time with him on location and on his sets, especially during holidays. Mahesh many times said that this was where his interest for acting began. The film sets were a second playground and he did not hesitate to face the camera when asked to do a small role in his brother Ramesh Babu's debut film, Needa at the age of four. Mahesh studied at St. Bede's School in Chennai while continuing to attend his dad's filming during holidays. Few of his schoolmates at St.Bede's were Surya (Tamil film actor) and Vishnuvardhan (Tamil film director). Mahesh obtained an Honours Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai. Mahesh Babu acted in seven of his father's films as a child actor. less