- By Ridam Sharma
- Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:15 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
South Indian Actors and Their Real Names: South Indian cinema has given fame to some of the most iconic and beloved Pan-India actors. These actors have not only ruled regional cinemas in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam but have also achieved pan-India and global recognition. Surprisingly, the iconic names which give these actors widespread fame are not their real names. Some significant South stars have changed their official names into something more appealing. However, some stars with common names simply change names to something unique to help them shine among their contemporaries. From Tollywood to Bollywood and even Hollywood, artists opting for stage names is a common habit.
In Bollywood, Kiara Advani, born Alia Advani, opted to change her name because she didn’t want to share the same name as her contemporary, who was already a big name in the industry at the time of her debut.
The same goes in the South Indian film industry, where actors have become household names and enjoy massive fan followings. The majority share of these actors' success goes to their phenomenal acting skills, distinctive styles and magnetic screen presence. However, your name also plays a key role in your personality. Legends like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan have enjoyed decades-long careers, which would not have been possible without their massive fan bases. These two legendary stars have changed their names.
On the other hand, modern-day stars like Vijay, Allu Arjun, and Prabhas have also created enormous fan bases, particularly among the youth, because of their energetic performances and blockbuster films. However, some share of their success does go to their unique names.
List Of 20+ Most Popular South Indian Actors And Their Real Names
Popular Actor Name | Real Name | Industry | Famous Movies |
---|---|---|---|
Rajinikanth | Shivaji Rao Gaekwad | Tamil | Enthiran, Sivaji, Robot |
Kamal Haasan | Kamal Haasan | Tamil | Vikram Thug Life |
Vijay | Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar | Tamil | Leo, Master |
Allu Arjun | Allu Arjun | Telugu | Pushpa |
Prabhas | Uppalapati Venkata Satyanarayana Prabhas Raju | Telugu | Baahubali |
Mahesh Babu | Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu | Telugu | Nenu, Maharshi |
Suriya | Saravanan Sivakumar | Tamil | Soorarai Pottru, NGK |
N. T. Rama Rao Jr | Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr | Telugu | RRR |
Yash | Naveen Kumar Gowda | Kannada | KGF |
Ram Charan | Konidela Ram Charan Teja | Telugu | Magadheera, RRR |
Dhanush | Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja | Tamil | Raanjhanaa, Asuran |
Dulquer Salmaan | Dulquer Salmaan | Malayalam | OK Kanmani |
Vijay Sethupathi | Vijay Sethupathi | Tamil | Vikram Vedha, Super Deluxe |
Nagarjuna | Akkineni Nagarjuna | Telugu | Manam, Soggade Chinni Nayana |
Sudeep | Sudeep Sanjeev | Kannada | Eega, Vikrant Rona |
Daggubati Venkatesh | Daggubati Venkatesh | Telugu | VF2, Seethamma Vakitlo |
Vikram | Kennedy John Victor | Tamil | Anniyan, Ponniyin Selvan |
Karthi | Karthik Sivakumar | Tamil | Paruthiveeran, Kaithi |
Jayam Ravi | Ravi Mohan | Tamil | Thani Oruvan, Santhosh Subramaniam |
Prakash Raj | Prakash Rai | Multi-language | Singham, Mozhi |
Nivin Pauly | Nivin Pauly | Malayalam | Premam, Bangalore Days |
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