Venky Atluri

Last updated

Venky Atluri
Born
Atluri Venkateswara Rao

Occupations
  • Actor
  • Screenwriter
  • Film director
Years active2007–present
Spouse
Pooja Chowdary Nayidi
(m. 2023)
[1]

Atluri Venkateswara Rao, commonly known as Venky Atluri is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and actor who works predominantly in Telugu cinema and few Tamil films. He is known for directing Tholi Prema (2018), Sir / Vaathi (2023) and Lucky Baskhar (2024). [2] [3] [4] The lattermost is his highest grosser and has won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film – Telugu.

Contents

Early life and career

Venky Atluri was named Atluri Venkateswara Rao after his grandfather and graduated in B. Tech. This resulted in him having a long stage name for his acting debut Gnapakam (2007) directing by Uppalapati Narayana Rao co-starring Vishakha Singh. [5] The film was a box office failure. [6]

Venky Atluri married Pooja Chowdary in February 2023.

Filmography

Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

As a film director

YearTitleLanguageNotesRef.
2018 Tholi Prema Telugu [7]
2019 Mr. Majnu [8]
2021 Rang De [9]
2023 Vaathi Tamil [10]
Sir Telugu
2024 Lucky Baskhar [11]
2026 Vishwanath and Sons TamilFilming [12]

Other crew positions

YearTitleWriterActorRoleNotesRef.
2007GnapakamNoYesSrinucredited as Atluri Venkateswara Rao
2010 Sneha Geetham DialoguesYesRaviUncredited as writer [13] [14]
2011 It's My Love Story DialoguesNoUncredited [15]
2015 Kerintha YesNo

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryWorkResultRef.
Filmfare Awards South 2026 Best Director – Telugu Lucky Baskhar Nominated [16]
Critics Best Film – Telugu Won [17]
South Indian International Movie Awards 2019 Best Debut Director – Telugu Tholi Prema Nominated [18]
2025 Best Director – Telugu Lucky Baskhar Nominated [19]
Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025 Best Screenplay WriterWon [20]
Zee Cine Awards Telugu 2019Favorite Debut Director Tholi Prema Won

References

  1. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/director-venky-atluri-enters-wedlock-nithiin-congratulates-newlyweds/articleshow/97518499.cms
  2. "Tholi Prema: Varun Tej says he has done justice to the title of Pawan Kalyan's 1998 film". Firstpost. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. Janani K. (25 January 2019). "Mr Majnu Movie Review: Akhil Akkineni shines in Venky film but not bright enough". India Today. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. Sangeetha Devi Dundoo (31 October 2024). "'Lucky Baskhar' movie review: Venky Atluri, Dulquer Salmaan deliver an entertaining drama". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  5. "Quick Peek - GNAPAKAM". Idlebrain.com . Hyderabad. 12 April 2007.
  6. Nelluri, Maya (25 January 2018). "Interview with Venky Atluri about Mr.Majnu by Maya Nelluri". Idlebrain.com . Hyderabad.
  7. "Tholi Prema director Venky Atluri". Hindustan Times. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  8. "Director Venky Atluri of 'Mr. Majnu' keeps his fingers crossed". The Hindu. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  9. "Venky Atluri, Nithiin, Keerthy Suresh's 'Rang De' pooja done". The Times of India. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  10. "Dhanush's bilingual film Vaathi commences shooting". Cinema Express. 3 January 2022.
  11. The Times of India (17 October 2024). "Director Venky Atluri reveals plot details for Dulquer Salmaan's 'Lucky Baskhar'" . Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  12. "Suriya, Venky Atluri, Mamitha Baju's bilingual film Suriya 46 goes on floors". Filmfare . 19 May 2025.
  13. "Interview with Venky Atluri about Rang De". Idlebrain.com . Hyderabad. 25 March 2020.
  14. "From A Failed Actor To A Hit Film Maker". APHerald. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  15. "From A Failed Actor To A Hit Film Maker". APHerald. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  16. "Nominations for The 70th Filmfare Awards South With Kerala Tourism (Telugu) | Filmfare.com". www.filmfare.com. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  17. "Full List of Winners of The 70th Filmfare Awards South With Kerala Tourism (Telugu)". Filmfare . 22 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  18. "SIIMA Awards 2019: Here's a complete list of nominees". The Times of India. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  19. "SIIMA 2025 Telugu, Kannada winners list: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna win big for Pushpa 2; Kamal Haasan, Amitabh Bachchan honoured for Kalki 2898 AD". The Indian Express. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  20. "Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2024 full list of winners: Kalki 2898 AD wins best film, Allu Arjun wins best actor". Hindustan Times. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.