South Indian cinema, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam film industries, has produced some of the biggest stars in Indian cinema. These actors not only command immense fan followings but also represent a legacy of cultural pride and cinematic brilliance. Interestingly, many of these stars use stage names. Let’s unveil the real identities of the most popular South Indian actors.

1. Rajinikanth – Shivaji Rao Gaekwad

Known as the “Thalaiva” of Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth is a living legend. His original name, Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, reflects his Maharashtrian roots.

2. Kamal Haasan – Parthasarathy Srinivasan

Kamal Haasan, an icon of versatility and intellect, was born as Parthasarathy Srinivasan. He’s a powerhouse in both acting and filmmaking.

3. Vijay – Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar

Popularly called “Thalapathy”, Vijay’s real name is Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar. His mass appeal spans across generations.

4. Allu Arjun – Allu Arjun

Stylish Star Allu Arjun is among the most popular South Indian actors. Interestingly, he uses his birth name in the film industry.

5. Mahesh Babu – Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu

Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu, known for his charm and poise, retains his real name in his film career.

6. Prabhas – Uppalapati Venkata Suryanarayana Prabhas Raju

The ‘Baahubali’ star’s full name is a mouthful, but fans know him simply as Prabhas, one of India’s most bankable stars.

7. Yash – Naveen Kumar Gowda

Yash, the ‘KGF’ sensation from Kannada cinema, was born as Naveen Kumar Gowda and rebranded himself with a powerful screen name.

8. NTR JR. – Nandamuri taraka rama rao jr.

The legacy of NTR lives on through NTR Jr., who proudly carries his real name, echoing the political and cinematic influence of his family.

9. RAM Charan – Konidela Ram Charan Teja

Ram Charan, a top Telugu actor, carries his family name “Konidela”, being the son of megastar Chiranjeevi.

10. Dhanush – Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja

National Award winner Dhanush was born Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, but his screen name is now a brand in itself.

11. Suriya – Saravanan Sivakumar

Suriya, known for his intense performances, changed his name from Saravanan Sivakumar, mainly for screen appeal.

12. Vikram – Kennedy John Victor

The versatile Tamil actor Vikram was born Kennedy John Victor. His rugged charisma and acting range make him a fan favorite.

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13. Nani – Ghanta Naveen Babu

Tollywood’s ‘Natural Star’ Nani was born Ghanta Naveen Babu. His nickname and stage name have become iconic in modern Telugu cinema.

14. Tooler Salman – with patience patrol

Son of Malayalam superstar Mammootty, Dulquer uses his real name and is known for charming roles across industries.

15. Faash Falls – Faasil will

A critically acclaimed Malayalam actor, Fahadh uses his real name and is famous for picking bold, layered characters.

16. Nagarjuna – Akkineni Nagarjuna RAO

A pillar of Telugu cinema, Nagarjuna’s full name reflects his prestigious film lineage.

17. Vijay Deverakonda – Deverakonda Vijay Sai

Rising star Vijay Deverakonda was born Deverakonda Vijay Sai, and he dropped the first name to form his now-iconic screen identity.

18. Ravi Teja – Ravi Shankar Raju Bhupatiraju

Known for his energetic performances, Ravi Teja’s real name is Ravi Shankar Raju Bhupatiraju.

19. Chiranjeevi – Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad

Mega Star Chiranjeevi’s real name is Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad, a name he shortened for mass recognition.

20. Mammoootty – muhammad kutty panaparambil ismail

Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty was born as Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail, and his stage name is now a cultural identity.

21. Mohanlal – Mohanlal Viswanathan

One of the greatest actors India has ever seen, Mohanlal uses his real name professionally, maintaining authenticity.

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22. Puneth rajkumar – lohit rajkumar

The late Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar was originally named Lohit Rajkumar and carried forward the Rajkumar legacy with pride.