Upendra Rao is an Indian actor, filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, and politician who has predominantly worked in Kannada cinema and has also done a few Telugu movies. He is best known for acting and/or directing movies such as Tharle Nan Maga (1992), A (1998), Upendra (1999), Super Star (2002), Raktha Kanneeru (2003), Aishwarya (2006), Budhivanta (2008), Godfather (2012), S/O Satyamurthy (2015), and I Love You (2019). He is well recognized for his unusual plotlines, non-linear story structures, and thematic representation of Indian politics and society in his films.
Born Name
Upendra Rao
Nick Name
Uppi
Sun Sign
Virgo
Born Place
Koteshwara, Kundapur, Udupi, Karnataka, India
Residence
Bengaluru, Bayaluseemé, Karnataka, India
Nationality
Education
Upendra, after his high school graduation, had joined the A.P.S. College of Commerce in Bengaluru. He had graduated from there with a B. Com. (Bachelor of Commerce) degree.
Priyanka Upendra (2003-Present) – Upendra had married actress and producer Priyanka Upendra (née Trivedi) on December 14, 2003. They had first starred opposite each other in the Telugu movie Raa (2001) and then in H2O (2002). They have 2 children together – a son named Ayush Upendra (b. 2007) and a daughter named Aishwarya Upendra (b. November 2008).
Race / Ethnicity
Asian (Indian)
Hair Color
Black
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Toned physique
Neck-length, overgrown, tousled hair
Sports a rugged beard
Brand Endorsements
Upendra has served as the brand ambassador for numerous products, services, and organizations including –
United Breweries
Lunars Footwear
SK Super TMT
Mavalli Tiffin Room
Bangalore Electricity Supply Company
Emami Navaratna
Karnataka Milk Federation
Udayavani News Daily
Upendra Rao Facts
Upendra, as a child, had suffered from an eye disease, the result of which can often be noticed when he rolls his eyeballs in many film sequences.
While he was studying at A.P.S. College of Commerce, he used to participate in several plays and would often form acting troupes with his friends. In his final year in college, he had made an acquaintance with actor and director Kashinath, a distant relative of his. He would eventually start his film career as a writer and an assistant director under the supervision of Kashinath.
He was conferred with an honorary doctorate by Angkor University in 2015.
In October 2017, he had joined a newly formed political party called Karnataka Pragnyavanta Janata Paksha. The focus of the new outfit was on skill-driven leadership and people-centric politics. However, in March 2018, Upendra had quit the party citing internal differences.
He had later formed another political party and had named it Uttama Prajakeeya Party (UPP), which is based on the principles of Prajakiya (citizen-centric administration). Although it was promoted as a people-centric outfit, the fact that Upendra’s photo had been used on the party’s logo led many people to question whether this new endeavor would devolve into a structure with the most power lying in the hands of just a few powerful leaders. Also, the fact that the party name itself is abbreviated as UPPI, Upendra’s nickname, had caused further doubts in the minds of its supporters.