# Upendra (ಉಪೇಂದ್ರ) (actor)
**Upendra** (ಉಪೇಂದ್ರ), also known as Upendra Rao, is an Indian filmmaker and actor who works primarily in [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema), known for directing eight films and acting in more than 40, and for a self-referential, non-linear storytelling style that made films such as *A* (1998) and *Upendra* (1999) landmarks of the industry.[1](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/The-lsquoSuper-man-in-your-neighbourhood/article14698878.ece) His birth year is reported differently by major sources: The Times of India gives September 18, 1967, in [Karnataka](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka), India, while IMDb lists 18 September 1968.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Upendra/movies) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Career split | Directed eight films and acted in over 40 after his debut venture *Tarle Nanmaga* released in 1992[1](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/The-lsquoSuper-man-in-your-neighbourhood/article14698878.ece) |
| Signature technique | Filmibeat described *A* (1998) as marking the first recorded usage of reverse screenplay and flashbacks within flashbacks[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2017/real-star-upendra-s-7-best-directorial-films-268061.html) |
| Commercial peak | *Upendra* (1999) surpassed *A* in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh; *Super* (2010) ran 175 days; *Uppi 2* (2015) set the record for the highest-grossing opening day for a Kannada movie[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) |
| Re-release record | *Om* has re-released more than 600 times across Karnataka, running over 100 days on more than 75 of those re-releases[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2017/real-star-upendra-s-7-best-directorial-films-268061.html) |
| Politics | Founded the Uttama Prajakeeya Party in 2018, representing 'Prajakeeya' (the workers), and never contested any election[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) |
| Awards | Best Director for *Upendra* at the 47th Film Awards South (2000); Best Male Actor at the Udaya Film Awards for *A*; Best Actor and Best Dialogue for *Raktha Kanneeru* at the Hello Gandhinagara Awards 2004[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) |
## Early life and entry into cinema
Upendra came from a middle-class family of modest means and entered the film industry intending to become a hero, but chose to start as an assistant so that he could learn all aspects of filmmaking; he apprenticed under the actor and director Kashinath (ಕಾಶಿನಾಥ್).[5](https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-importance-of-being-Uppi/article15384071.ece) During his school and college days he wrote plays and poems.[6](https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/out-with-the-lies-in-with-the-truth/article19833728.ece)
His first industry credit came on *Tharle Nan Maga* (1992), where IMDb records him as writer and assistant director to Kashinath, working on dialogues, songs, and screenplay.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) Sources disagree on his exact role: Filmibeat calls *Tharle Nan Maga* his first film as a full-fledged director, casting Jaggesh as the protagonist, while IMDb treats it as an assistant-director credit and names *Shhh!* (1993) as his independent directorial debut.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2017/real-star-upendra-s-7-best-directorial-films-268061.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) [The Hindu](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hindu), in an interview with the filmmaker, describes *Tarle Nan Maga* as his first independent film, with Jaggesh in the lead, and calls it a mega hit.[6](https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/out-with-the-lies-in-with-the-truth/article19833728.ece)
## Directing career: the Upendra style
Upendra's directed films carry deliberately peculiar titles: *Shhh*, *Om*, *A*, *H2O*, *Swastik*, *Upendra*, and the super-hit *Super*.[1](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/The-lsquoSuper-man-in-your-neighbourhood/article14698878.ece) *Om* (1995), with Shivaraj Kumar in the lead, was the first movie that exposed Bangalore's underworld.[1](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/The-lsquoSuper-man-in-your-neighbourhood/article14698878.ece) *Shhh!*, a horror film whose story he had written while in college, was later re-released with updated special effects roughly twenty-three years after its original release.[6](https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/out-with-the-lies-in-with-the-truth/article19833728.ece)
**The reverse screenplay.** The defining work is *A* (1998), which Filmibeat records as the first ever recorded usage of reverse screenplay and flashbacks within flashbacks.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2017/real-star-upendra-s-7-best-directorial-films-268061.html) The Hindu's profile notes that *A* established Upendra as an indisputable hero with a fresh, deceptive, and innovative narrative.[1](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/The-lsquoSuper-man-in-your-neighbourhood/article14698878.ece) He followed it with the self-titled *Upendra* (1999), in which the protagonist is called "Naanu" (me). Explaining the film, he said, "It is the mind that is the hero of this film. So I expressed what is actually going on within us."[6](https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/out-with-the-lies-in-with-the-truth/article19833728.ece) He described searching for a fresh story after horror, action, and romance had been done to death, choosing to explore the human mind and showcase the human being without any masks; the film ends with "Aham Brahmaasmi".[5](https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-importance-of-being-Uppi/article15384071.ece)
His taste for provocative premises extended to *H2O*, which dealt with the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) as a love triangle between a Kannadiga (Upendra), a Tamilian (Prabhudeva), and a girl called Cauvery, with real Siamese twins from [Rajasthan](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajasthan) used in the climax.[5](https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-importance-of-being-Uppi/article15384071.ece) *Swasthik* won two [Karnataka State Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka-state-film-awards), for Best Art Direction (Ismail) and Best Sound Recording (S. Mahendran).[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2017/real-star-upendra-s-7-best-directorial-films-268061.html) In 2001, the hype and hoopla around his work became too much to handle, and he gave up direction, screenplay, and dialogue writing.[5](https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-importance-of-being-Uppi/article15384071.ece) He returned as a director with *Super* (2010), and later made *Uppi 2* (2015), which used a non-linear storyline in which the beginning scene of the film became the ending scene.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) • [4](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2017/real-star-upendra-s-7-best-directorial-films-268061.html)
## Acting career and stardom
Upendra had earlier cameo appearances in *Anantana Avantara*, *Ajagajantara*, and *Tharle Nan Maga*; his full-fledged acting debut came as lead and director of *A* (1998), a film reportedly based loosely on [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://www.edgepedia.org/jean-paul-sartre)'s short story *Erostasus*. The film had originally been planned with a different actor in the lead, who exited the project, prompting Upendra to step in.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/this-day-that-year-upendras-debut-as-hero-the-cult-classic-a-turns-24/amp_articleshow/89072088.cms) Gurukiran, who also made his debut with *A*, scored the music, with cinematography by H.C. Venugopal.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/this-day-that-year-upendras-debut-as-hero-the-cult-classic-a-turns-24/amp_articleshow/89072088.cms)
The psychological thriller *[Upendra](https://www.edgepedia.org/upendra-film)* catapulted him into superstar status while also bringing criticism; fans copied his hairstyle and admired his breathless dialogue delivery.[5](https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-importance-of-being-Uppi/article15384071.ece) His acting credits across the 2000s and 2010s include *Preethse* (2000, a remake of *Darr*), *Super Star* (2002), *Kutumba* (2002), *Gokarna* (2003), *Hollywood* (2003), *Raktha Kanneeru* (2003), *Gowramma* (2005), *Auto Shankar* (2005), *Aishwarya* (2006), *Anatharu* (2007), *Kalpana* (2012), *S/O Satyamurthy* (2015), and *I Love You* (2019), along with Telugu films such as *Raa*, *Sarpa Okemata*, and *Neethone Untanu*, and *Naanu Naane* and *Nagarahavu*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) • [5](https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-importance-of-being-Uppi/article15384071.ece)
## By the numbers
The commercial record of his films rests on a few well-documented figures. *Om* remains a cult classic, re-released more than 600 times all over Karnataka, and on more than 75 of those re-releases it ran for more than 100 days, described by Filmibeat as an all-time world record.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2017/real-star-upendra-s-7-best-directorial-films-268061.html) *A* became one of the highest-grossing movies in the Kannada film industry, and *Upendra* (1999), starring [Raveena Tandon](https://www.edgepedia.org/raveena-tandon) among three heroines, surpassed it in Karnataka and [Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/andhra-pradesh).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) *Super* (2010), his directorial comeback, broke records in theaters across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, had a 175-day theatrical run, and was one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of that year.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) *Uppi 2* set the record for the highest-grossing opening day for a Kannada movie.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/)
## Political engagement
In 2018 Upendra started the Uttama Prajakeeya Party. His party represented 'Prajakeeya', meaning the workers. However, he never once contested any election.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/)
## Reception, criticism, and awards
Critics called Upendra's work vulgar, melodramatic, and arrogant, and he was criticized for casting real-life rowdies in *Om*; the same profile records that his fans copied his hairstyle and admired his dialogue delivery, so his reception has drawn both criticism and adulation.[5](https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-importance-of-being-Uppi/article15384071.ece) The pressure of that hype and controversy was the reason he gave in 2001 for stepping away from direction.[5](https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-importance-of-being-Uppi/article15384071.ece)
His honors include the Udaya Film Award for Best Male Actor for *A* (1998), Best Director for *Upendra* at the 47th Film Awards South in 2000, and Best Actor and Best Dialogue for *Raktha Kanneeru* (2003) at the Hello Gandhinagara Awards 2004.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/) One of his films won two [Filmfare Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards), Best Film in Kannada and Best Director in Kannada.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2017/real-star-upendra-s-7-best-directorial-films-268061.html) A weaker entertainment-portal biography adds that he has received the best director award six times across the [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south), Udaya Film Awards, and Suvarna Film Awards, and the best actor award fourteen times, and that he has worked in 17 films as a playback singer since 1999.[8](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/movie-actor/upendra-rao)
## Recent activity
An undated Times of India topic-page listing identifies *Next Level*, *Zombie Reddy 2*, and *Rakta Phal* as Upendra movies, without dates or reception details.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Upendra/movies)
## References
1. [The 'Super' man in your neighbourhood, The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/The-lsquoSuper-man-in-your-neighbourhood/article14698878.ece)
2. [Upendra Movies: Latest and Upcoming Films of Upendra, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Upendra/movies)
3. [Upendra (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962192/)
4. [Real Star Upendra's 7 Best Directorial Films, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2017/real-star-upendra-s-7-best-directorial-films-268061.html)
5. [The importance of being Uppi, The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-importance-of-being-Uppi/article15384071.ece)
6. [Out with the lies, in with the truth, The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/out-with-the-lies-in-with-the-truth/article19833728.ece)
7. [This Day, That Year: Upendra's debut as hero, the cult classic 'A' turns 24, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/this-day-that-year-upendras-debut-as-hero-the-cult-classic-a-turns-24/amp_articleshow/89072088.cms)
8. [Kannada Movie Actor Upendra Rao Biography, Nettv4u](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/movie-actor/upendra-rao)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Kannada film actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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