From being Yash’s personal bodyguard to portraying villain in 'KGF': Know all about Ramachandra Raju

Yash gained global recognition and a huge fan base for his 'KGF' series due to the colossal success of 'KGF: Chapter 1' and 'KGF: Chapter 2.' The action drama film directed by Prashanth Neel was an extraordinary cinematic experience. From the story to the thrilling characters, everything was classy. The performance of other supporting actors received praise along with Yash’s performance as Rocky Bhai. The most highlighted aspect was the character portrayal of the fierce villain Garuda. However, the actor who played the part was not a seasoned film actor. Ramachandra Raju, who had previously played the supporting blacksmith's role, was Yash’s personal bodyguard in real life.

Ramachandra Raju worked with Yash for over 12 years

Before entering films, Ramachandra Raju had a very different career. As per Pinkvilla, he had been working as Yash’s personal bodyguard and driver for nearly 12 years. Prior to that, he had a full-time job at a construction company, which he later left to work closely with the actor. Even though his profession was far from cinema, Raju always had a strong interest in acting. His big opportunity came when director Prashanth Neel noticed his strong personality while narrating the 'KGF' script to Yash. The director thought that Raju’s build, height, and intense expression would fit Garuda’s role.

Intense training and workshop before playing Garuda

Serious preparation is needed to play a large role in a film like 'KGF'. Before stepping on set, Ramachandra Raju took training and acting courses for a year. He trained on expressions, body language, and dialogue delivery. During that year, he also hit the gym to obtain the ripped, muscular body needed to play the role of Garuda. When 'KGF: Chapter 1' was released, his performance satisfied fans. His screen presence was commended, his body language was excellent, and as the villain, he was able to instill fear, it was such a powerful performance in the film.

Ramachandra Raju’s career after the success of 'KGF'

With the colossal success of 'KGF,' Ramachandra Raju started receiving calls from different film industries. He reprised one and all with his role in 'KGF: Chapter 2,' and after that, he acted in quite a few prominent films. His works include 'Sulthan,' 'Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire,' 'Aaraattu,' and 'Aranmanai 4.' Up next, Ramachandra Raju is playing a key role in Sundar C's Tamil directorial 'Mookkuthi Amman 2.' From being a bodyguard behind the scenes to becoming a recognised on-screen villain, Ramachandra Raju’s journey remains one of the most inspiring and unusual success stories in Indian cinema.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”