Akkineni Naga Chaitanya (born November 23, 1986) is an Indian actor best known for his work in Telugu cinema. Josh (2009) was his acting debut, and Ye Maaya Chesave, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, was his breakthrough (2010). Several film awards have been bestowed upon him, including the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut - South, the Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the SIIMA Award for Best Actor (Critics).
During his early career, he appeared in a number of successful films, including 100% Love (2011), Tadakha (2013), and Manam (2014), as well as a few films that did not fare well. Chaitanya is well-known for his roles in Premam (2016), Majili (2019), Venky Mama (2019), Love Story (2021), and Bangarraju (2022).
In October 2017, he married actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, but the couple divorced in October 2021.
Early years
Chaitanya was born in Hyderabad on November 23, 1986, to actors Akkineni Nagarjuna and Lakshmi Daggubati. His paternal grandfather, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and maternal grandfather, D. Ramanaidu are well-known Telugu film actors. When Chaitanya was a child, his parents divorced. Both of his parents remarried later in life. While Nagarjuna married former actress Amala Mukherjee, Lakshmi married Sharath Vijayaraghavan, a Sundaram Motors corporate executive. Chaitanya has a maternal step brother and a paternal half-brother, actor Akhil Akkineni. Venkatesh, his maternal uncle, and his first cousins Rana Daggubati, Sumanth, and Sushanth are all actors.
Chaitanya grew up in Chennai, where he spent 18 and a half years of his life. He attended Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan in Chennai and AMM School in Chennai. He then graduated from St. Mary's College in Hyderabad. During his second year of college, he expressed to Nagarjuna his desire to pursue acting as a career. In Mumbai, he enrolled in a three-month acting course. He received additional acting and martial arts training in Los Angeles, as well as voice and dialogue coaching for a year before making his acting debut.
Career
First appearance and breakthrough (2009–2012)
Chaitanya made his film debut in 2009 with Josh, directed by Vasu Varma, in which he played a college student. "As a debutant, Naga Chaitanya has performed well. He has his moments where he's proven himself. There is always scope for improvement and one hopes that he will hone his skills in the years to come," wrote Rediff.com. Chaitanya received the Filmfare Award South for Best Male Debut.
He then appeared in Gautham Vasudev Menon's 2010 romantic drama Ye Maaya Chesave, which was also shot in Tamil as Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, but with a different cast and climax. He portrayed a Hindu Telugu assistant director who falls for a Christian Malayali girl. "Naga Chaitanya is at home in romantic scenes. His asset is his voice and his casual acting style. Chaitanya has improved his performance from his first film. He can now confidently act in more romantic films and strengthen his position," wrote a Sify.com reviewer. However, the reviewer felt that Chaitanya should focus on his looks, as he thought Chaitanya looked "very boyish." The film was a box office success and went on to achieve cult status. He was also nominated for a Filmfare Award South for Best Actor Male.
Following Ye Maaya Chesave, he collaborated with Sukumar in 2011 for another love story titled 100% Love, in which he portrayed a studious and egotistical college student who is the top ranker in his college. Dhada was his next film (2011). The plot of the film revolves around an engineering graduate student who was supposed to finish his studies in the United States and return to India in 10 days. "After good performances in his last two films, Naga Chaitanya doesn't live up to expectations; he has the same expression stuck on his face throughout the film," wrote the Times of India.
Bejawada, directed by Vivek Krishna, was his next release that year. Chaitanya played the role of a college student turned gangster in the film. The film received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it his worst. Critics also panned his performance. "This film might have even outdone "Dhada" in being called the worst film of Chaitanya's career, because while the young actor still needs to work on his facial expressions, he was saddled with a poorly sketched character in this film, devoid of all heroism, and he fails to rise above it," wrote the Times of India.
Career ups and downs with few successes (2013–2018)
Tadakha, Chaitanya's next film, was an official remake of N. Vettai, a Tamil action film directed by Lingusamy. The Hindu wrote, "Naga Chaitanya shows tremendous improvement even in his last outing, the debacle called Bejawada. He is in sync with his role, exudes overconfidence, and appears to have had funny stunt sequences and comic portions. Reprising a role played by an established actor like Arya is no mean task and Chaitanya pulls it off rather well."
Chaitanya appeared in the 2014 period drama Manam alongside his grandfather, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and father, Nagarjuna. In the film, he played two characters: a middle-class father in 1983 and a carefree college student. "Naga Chaitanya has done a decent job and compared to his earlier films, he matured a lot as an actor," wrote Deccan Chronicle, and Sify.com said, "There is a lot of improvement in Naga Chaitanya's acting. He looks natural and has done justice to his role."
His next film was Deva Katta's political drama Autonagar Surya, in which he played Surya, a skilled mechanic. Critics gave the film mixed reviews upon its initial release, but praised Chaitanya's performance, calling it one of his best efforts. The film was a failure. "One rarely sees Naga Chaitanya smiling in this film," The Hindu wrote. "Chaitanya brings in the right amount of grit and intensity required for his role and shows that he can carry a film on his shoulders with the help of an able director."
Later, he appeared in the romantic comedy Oka Laila Kosam. "Oka Laila Kosam is a simple love story that doesn't quite leave you with a big smile on your face, but it has enough mojo, if you are a big sucker for romance," wrote the Times of India.
In 2015, he starred as the lead in Sudheer Varma's action-crime drama Dohchay. Later that year, he joined Gautham Vasudev Menon's bilingual romantic thriller Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo.
In 2016, he co-starred with Shruti Hassan in the remake of the 2015 Malayalam cult-romantic film Premam. Following the success of Premam, his next release, Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo, received positive reviews two days after demonetization. and earned him critical praise but no commercial success.
He had two releases in 2017. Kalyan Krishna's family drama Rarandoi Veduka Chudham and the thriller Yuddham Sharanam.
In 2018, he appeared briefly in Nag Ashwin's biopic of Savitri, Mahanati, which was a huge success. He played Nageswara Rao, his grandfather. In the same year, he co-starred with Anu Emmanuel and Ramya Krishna in Maruthi-directed Shailaja Reddy Alludu. The Times of India wrote, "Some preaching, some family drama, some humour, and Shailaja Reddy Alludu plays safe for a festive release." Two months later, Chaitanya appeared in Chandoo Mondeti's thriller Savyasachi as an ambidextrous man.
Success and advancement in one's career (2019–present)
Chaitanya appeared in Majili, his fourth film with his then-wife Samantha Akkineni, in 2019. Majili became Chaitanya's highest-grossing film, grossing 700 million (equivalent to 740 million or US$9.3 million in 2020). Later that year, he co-starred with his maternal uncle Venkatesh in Venky Mama. K. directed the film. S. Ravindra, and it was directed by his uncle D. Suresh Babu was a successful business, earning 720 million (equivalent to 760 million or US$9.5 million in 2020).
He co-starred in the film Love Story with Sai Pallavi in 2021. Neeshita Nyayapati of The Times of India called his performance "one of his best," and Haricharan Pudipeddi of Hindustan Times said, "Despite the hurried climax and the predictable ending, the film works to a large extent because of its sensible treatment and earnest performances of Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, who complement each other so well."
Chaitanya first appeared in Bangarraju in 2022, alongside his father, Nagarjuna. Sakshi's Anji Shetty stated that Nagarjuna and he were the film's mainstays. The film received mixed reactions from critics but was a commercial success. He then appeared in Thank You alongside Raashi Khanna. The film received mixed to negative reviews, with The Times of India's Neeshita Nyayapati writing, "Thank You doesn't offer anything new in terms of story or performances."
Projects in the works
Chaitanya will make his Hindi film debut with Laal Singh Chaddha in 2022. He will also appear alongside Krithi Shetty in Venkat Prabhu's bilingual film Custody. It will be his first appearance in Tamil. Chaitanya will make his web series debut with Vikram Kumar's Dhootha for Amazon Prime Video. He is also working on a film with Parasuram.
Private life
Chaitanya proposed to actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu on January 29, 2017, after being in a relationship since November 2015. Later that year, on October 6, they married in Goa, in a Hindu religious ceremony and a Christian ceremony. Both were private ceremonies attended by only close friends and family. The public referred to them as "ChaySam." After much speculation, Chaitanya and Samantha announced their divorce on October 2, 2021, ending their four-year marriage.
In the news
Chaitanya is one of the most well-known and well-paid Telugu actors. He has appeared on the Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Men list several times. In 2017, he was ranked 12th, 7th in 2018, 11th in 2019, and 6th in 2020.
 | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Josh | Sathya | |
| 2010 | Ye Maaya Chesave | Karthik | |
| Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa | Himself | Tamil; Cameo appearance | |
| 2011 | 100% Love | Balu Mahendra | |
| Dhada | Vishwa | ||
| Bejawada | Shiva Krishna | ||
| 2013 | Tadakha | Karthik | Remake of Vettai |
| 2014 | Manam | Nagarjuna Radha Mohan | Dual role |
| Autonagar Surya | Surya | ||
| Oka Laila Kosam | Karthik | ||
| 2015 | Dohchay | Chandu | |
| Krishnamma Kalipindi Iddarini | Himself | Cameo appearance | |
| 2016 | Premam | Vikram Vatsalya | Remake of Premam |
| Aatadukundam Raa | Himself | Cameo appearance | |
| Sahasam Swasaga Saagipo | DCP Rajinikanth Muralidhar | ||
| 2017 | Rarandoi Veduka Chudham | Shiva | |
| Yuddham Sharanam | Arjun | ||
| 2018 | Mahanati | Akkineni Nageswara Rao | Cameo appearance |
| Shailaja Reddy Alludu | Chaitanya 'Chaithu' | ||
| Savyasachi | Vikram Aditya | ||
| 2019 | Majili | Poorna Chandra Rao | |
| Oh! Baby | Young Chanti | Cameo appearance | |
| Venky Mama | Capt. Karthik Shivaram Veeramachineni | ||
| 2021 | Love Story | Revanth | |
| 2022 | Bangarraju | Chinna Bangarraju | |
| Thank You | Abhiram | ||
| Laal Singh Chaddha | Balaraju Bodi | Hindi; Debut Hindi cinema | |
| 2023 | Custody | A. Shiva | Tamil and Telugu |
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dootha | Sagar | Amazon Prime Video | Filming |
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | CineMAA Awards | Best Male Debut | Josh | Won |
| Filmfare Awards South | Best Male Debut – South | Won | ||
| 2010 | Best Actor – Telugu | Ye Maaya Chesave | Nominated | |
| CineMAA Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| South Scope Cinema Awards | Rising Star of South | Won | ||
| 2012 | SIIMA Awards | Best Actor – Telugu | 100% Love | Nominated |
| 2014 | Manam | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor (Critics) | Won | |||
| Nandi Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
| 2016 | TSR – TV9 National Film Awards | Special Appreciation Award | Premam | Won |
| 2017 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actor – Telugu | Nominated | |
| 15th Santosham Film Awards | Best Actor | Won | ||
| Zee Golden Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Rarandoi Veduka Chudham | Nominated | |
| 2019 | TSR – TV9 National Film Awards | Special Jury Award | Shailaja Reddy Alludu | Won |
| 2022 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actor – Telugu | Love Story | Nominated |
| SIIMA Awards | Best Actor – Telugu | Nominated |
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Other name | Chay |
| Full name | Akkineni Naga Chaitanya |
| Profession | Actor |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 175 cm in meters- 1.75 m in feet & inches- 5’ 9” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms- 75 kg in pounds- 165 lbs |
| Body Measurements (approx.) | - Chest: 40 Inches - Waist: 32 Inches - Biceps: 14 Inches |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Career | |
| Debut | Film (Telugu): Josh (2009) as Sathya Web Series: Dootha (2022) on Amazon Prime Video as Sagar |
| Awards | • 2009: Best Male Debut Award for the Telugu film Josh at CineMAA Awards • 2009: Best Male Debut – South Award for the Telugu film Josh at Filmfare Awards South • 2010: Rising Star of South Award for the Telugu film Ye Maaya Chesave at South Scope Cinema Awards • 2014: Best Actor (Critics) Award for the Telugu film Manam at SIIMA Awards • 2014: Best Supporting Actor Award for the Telugu film Manam at Nandi Awards • 2016: Special Appreciation Award for the Telugu film Premam at TSR – TV9 National Film Awards • 2017: Best Actor Award for the Telugu film Premam at 15th Santosham Film Awards • 2019: Special Jury Award for the Telugu film Shailaja Reddy Alludu at TSR – TV9 National Film Awards |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 23 November 1986 (Sunday) |
| Age (as of 2022) | 36 Years |
| Birthplace | Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Hyderabad, Telangana) |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Hyderabad |
| School | • Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan, Chennai • A. M. M. Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai |
| College/University | • St. Mary's College, Hyderabad • Trinity College, London |
| Education Qualification(s) | • Bachelor of Commerce at St. Mary’s College, Hyderabad [2]St Marys College • Acting course in Mumbai [3]Rediff • Keyboard at Trinity College, London [4]Rediff • Training in acting and martial arts in Los Angeles [5]Rediff |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Hobbies | Playing Keyboard, Travelling |
| Tattoo | He has a tattoo on his right hand. |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Seperated |
| Marriage Date | • 6 October 2017 (Hindu ceremony) • 7 October 2017 (Christian ceremony) |
| Family | |
| Ex- wife | Samantha Ruth Prabhu (2017-2021) |
| Parents | Father- Akkineni Nagarjuna (actor) Mother- Lakshmi Daggubati (interior designer) |
| Other relative(s) | Paternal grandfather: Akkineni Nageswara Rao (actor) Maternal grandfather: D. Ramanaidu (producer) Step-mother: Amala Mukherjee (actress) Half-brother(s): 2 • Akhil Akkineni (from Nagarjuna and Amala) • Name Not Known (from Lakshmi Daggubati Vijayaraghavan and stepfather Sharath Vijayaraghavan) Maternal uncle: Venkatesh (actor) Cousin(s): 3 • Rana Daggubati (actor) • Sumanth (actor) • Sushanth (actor) |
To all our well wishers. After much deliberation and thought Chay and I have decided to part ways as husband and wife to pursue our own paths. We are fortunate to have a friendship of over a decade that was the very core of our relationship which we believe will always hold a special bond between us. We request our fans, well wishers and the media to support us during this difficult time and give us the privacy we need to move on. Thanking you for your support.”
I’m very disconnected from social media, to be honest. It’s… I’m such a boring person online. Of course, around my film releases, I’m reading more than posting. Reading conversations, reviews, and reactions. But I don’t attach myself too much to it, because there’s a lot of toxic material there, there is a lot of toxic material and if you can’t filter it in and figure out what’s good for you, and what’s not good for you, it can drain you and it can put you on the wrong path.”
