Junior NTR turns 37: From Aadi to Aravinda Sametha, 7 high-octane actioners of RRR's Komaram Bheem

Fondly known as Junior NTR, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao aka Tarak is arguably one among the finest lead actors in contemporary Telugu cinema. Before portraying the titular role of Rama in Gunasekhar’s ‘Bala Ramayanam’ as a child artist, NTR was seen as Bharata opposite his legendary grandfather in the 1991 biographical film ‘Brahmarshi Vishwamitra’. Following the footsteps of the senior, the junior made his silver screen debut as the protagonist with ‘Ninnu Choodalani’ at just 17 years of age.

In an illustrious career spanning for close to two decades, Tarak has created a niche for himself with his power-packed performances and dazzling dance moves which eventually credited him as the darling of the masses. While most modern-day heroes are still craving for that mass appeal, the pint-sized dynamite acquired it during his initial stages as an actor with just a few films under his belt. He is superb in acting, brilliant in dance, intense in fights, convincing in emotional scenes, and captivating in screen presence.

Junior NTR is celebrating his 37th birthday on Wednesday (May 20) and on the special occasion; check out the 7 high-octane actioners of RRR’s Komaram Bheem.

Rousing from obscurity to stardom, Tarak catapulted him into the big league of Tollywood with his fourth film ‘Aadi’. Directed by VV Vinayak in 2002, the high-octane actioner recorded a massive success at the box-office and turned the protagonist into a darling among the masses. The Nandamuri scion proved his mettle in acting, fights and dance in the faction-themed film.

After acquiring decent success with his directorial debut Student No. 1, Rajamouli was supposed to direct a fantasy film with Prakash Kovelamudi. Due to budget constraints and other reasons, the project was shelved and eventually, the one-film-old director roped in Junior NTR for Simhadri. Released as an underdog in 2003, the action-drama surpassed all the existing records in Telugu cinema and enjoyed a stupendous success at the ticket counters. Starring Bhumika Chawla and Ankitha as the leading ladies, the film showcased the extraordinary talent of Rajamouli as a commercial filmmaker. Simhadri laid a strong foundation for both Tarak and Jakkanna in Telugu cinema.

Despite ending up as an average grosser at the ticket counters, Rakhi showcased the incredible acting potential hidden in Junior NTR for probably the first time. In the role of an innocent man-turned- vigilante, the 37-year-old actor delivered a tear-jerking performance and packed a punch in action sequences. Especially in the courtroom climax, his dialogue delivery and convincing act will be remembered among the Telugu audience for years to come.

Yamadonga can be termed as a special film in Tarak’s career. After the release of Rakhi, he underwent a rigorous body transformation and got rid of all those extra kilos from the body by opting for a strict diet and hard workout routine. Released in 2007, the SS Rajamouli directorial brought the much-needed success for NTR after a row of failures. Starring Priyamani and Mamtha Mohandas, the fantasy actioner featured an ensemble star cast like Mohan Babu and Khushbu in pivotal roles.

After struggling with a series of failures for five long years, Tarak bounced back into top form with the stupendous success of Puri Jagannadh’s Temper. After this emotional actioner, he changed his strategy and preferred to pick content-driven films which have strong characters. Starring Kajal Aggarwal as the leading lady, Temper showcased NTR as a bad cop who transforms into a whole new level after a shocking incident. After Yamadonga, this act as Daya is by far one of his finest performances. If the dialogues helped him show his brutality, his speechless moments in the court during the final scenes showed what a fine actor he is.