Did you know there are many South actors who changed their names before entering the film industry? It’s quite common for stars to adopt new stage names in the South film industry. There are various reasons behind this decision. Some celebrities change their names due to numerology beliefs, while others do it to follow a trend or because they believe a particular name will bring them fame.
In some cases, celebrities change their birth names to make it easier for their fans to address them. Rajinikanth, Mammootty, Yash, and many other superstars in the Southern film industry have all chosen to change their original names. Here’s a list of South celebrities who have changed their names for the silver screen.
1. Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth was originally named Shivajirao Gaikwad by his family. However, before his debut in the Tamil film “Apoorva Raagangal” (1975), directed by the legendary filmmaker K. Balachander, he decided to change his name. Balachander named him Rajinikanth to avoid any confusion with another actor, Shivaji Ganesan. Since then, Rajinikanth has become an iconic name in the Indian film industry and is celebrated as one of the biggest stars in the country.
2. Mammootty
Mammootty was originally named Muhammad Kutty Panparambil Ismail. However, before entering the world of Malayalam cinema, he made a significant change and adopted the name Mammootty. This decision was influenced by reports that his fans affectionately called him Mammootty as a surname. Rather than using his long birth name, the actor opted to use this beloved nickname as his stage name. He marked his debut in the Malayalam film “Anubhavangal Palichkal” and went on to become the biggest superstar in the South.
3. Yash
Before becoming the renowned “KGF” star, Yash had two names when he was born. His mother’s family legally named him Yashwant, but he was also known as Naveen. However, as he ventured into the film industry, fellow industry players suggested adopting a stage name. To stand out as an actor from Karnataka, he decided to shorten Yashwant to simply “Yash.” From that point on, history was made. Yash is now celebrated for his iconic portrayal of Rocky Bhai in the “KGF” franchise and has achieved immense fame and popularity worldwide.
4. Dhanush
Dhanush is among one of the South actors who changed their names. His original name was Venkatesh Prabhu Kasturi Raja. In 1995, he decided to go by the screen name Dhanush, drawing inspiration from the undercover operation “Kuruthipunal” depicted in fiction. He made his debut in the film “Thulluvadho Ellamai” in 2002, and since then, he has appeared in more than 50 films. Dhanush has been honored with the National Award four times for his outstanding contributions to the industry.
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5. Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi was originally named Konidela Shivshankar Vara Prasad, but his family later decided to call him Chiranjeevi. This change was influenced by his mother, a devout follower of Hanuman, who suggested the name ‘Chiranjeevi’. Throughout his impressive career of over four decades, he has starred in over 150 feature films and is widely regarded as one of the megastars of Telugu cinema.
6. Nani
After working as a radio jockey and assistant, the actor made his first appearance in the movie “Ashta Chhamma.” Interestingly, his real name is Naveen Babu Ghanta, but he goes by the name “Nani” in the film industry. On Dussehra, he decided to use “Nani” as his last name in all his future movies.
7. Pawan Kalyan
The actor is a Southern film industry superstar, whose real name is Konidela Kalyan Babu, but after entering the film industry, he prefers to be called Pawan Kalyan.
8. Vishwak Sen
Young Telugu actor Vishwak Sen’s real name is Dinesh Naidu. Yes, however, before entering the industry, it changed due to numerology. The actor revealed his real name and said, “My name was Dinesh Naidu when I was born. But then my father checked numerology and said that even if I work hard, the name will not bring me success. Then I asked him for another name. He showed me four names to choose from. I chose Vishwa Sen.”
