Acting
Tanikella Bharani
Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi cinema · 405 credits
Born
14 July 1954 (age 72)
Birthplace
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Also known as Thanikella Bharani · Thanikirla Bharani
Tanikella Bharani (born 14 July 1954) is an Indian actor, screenwriter, poet, playwright, and director who primarily works in Telugu cinema, with appearances in Tamil and Hindi films. He began his career as a stage actor and playwright in the mid-1970s before entering the film industry. Bharani made his film debut as a dialogue writer for *Kanchu Kavacham* (1984). He wrote dialogues for films including *Ladies Tailor* (1985), *Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Recording Dance Troupe* (1987), and Ram Gopal Varma's gangster drama *Shiva* (1989), in which he also played Nanaji. He later appeared in villainous, comedic, and supporting roles. He won the Nandi Award for Best Villain for *Samudram* (1999) and the Nandi Award for Best Character Actor for *Nuvvu Nenu* (2001). Bharani has acted in more than 750 films and has written books, plays, and devotional songs dedicated to Lord Shiva. He made his directorial debut with the Telugu drama *Mithunam* (2012), starring S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Lakshmi, and received the CineMAA Special Jury Award for Best Direction. He played the priest Swamyji in S. S. Rajamouli's *Baahubali: The Beginning* (2015) and *Baahubali 2: The Conclusion* (2017). His Tamil film roles include appearances in *Ghilli* (2004) and *Vaathi* (2023). His 2024 releases include the political thriller *Prathinidhi 2*, the action film *Bhaje Vaayu Vegam*, Harish Shankar's *Mr. Bachchan*, the thriller *Kalinga*, and *Nindha*. His 2025 credits include Krish Jagarlamudi's period film *Hari Hara Veera Mallu*, Mohan Krishna Indraganti's comedy *Sarangapani Jathakam*, *Kishkindhapuri*, and Mani Ratnam's Tamil action-drama *Thug Life*. He has received three Nandi Awards and the Sahitya Puraskar for his literary work.
Known for
Filmography
Sira
Actor, Writer, Director
Raakaasa
as Chari
Sarangapani Jathakam
as Ahobila Rao
Thug Life
as Sivaguru
Kishkindhapuri
as Bhushan Verma
Sarkaaru Noukari
as Sarpanch
Vidya Vasula Aham
as Spiritual Preacher
Nindha
as Satyanand
Mr Bachchan
as Ramgarh Thakur
Manamey
as Mahendra
BRO
as Singinadham
Raa Raa... Penimiti
as (Voice Only)
Vaathi
as Thanigachalam
Kisi Ka Bhai... Kisi Ki Jaan
as Rameshwar Kodathi
Spy
as Subhash and Jai's father
Mind Game
as Appa Rao
Acharya
as Priest
HIT: The 2nd Case
as Ramu, Sanjana's Father
Sarkaru Vaari Paata
as Master
F3: Fun and Frustration
as Police Officer
Bimbisara
as The Priest
First Day First Show
as Sreenu's Father
Dhamaka
as Vasudeva Rao
Pelli SandaD
as Vashishta's Uncle
Skylab
as Sadasivam, Anand's Grandfather
Drushyam 2
as Vinay Chandra
Eakam
as Appayya Panthulu / Outdated Priest
V
as IG Y. V. Narendra
Jathi Ratnalu
as Govindu
Raja Raja Chora
as Ganapthi
April 28th Em Jarigindi
as Producer of Movie
Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo
as Anjaneya Prasad
Entha Manchivaadavuraa
as Rama Sharma
Sarileru Neekevvaru
as Venkateshwar Anandaraju
Bombhaat
as Varaha Murthy
Maharshi
as Ravi's father
Sita
Actor
Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy
as Govindayya Sharma
Agnyaathavaasi
as Abhi's uncle
Nela Ticket
as C.M.
Sammohanam
as Shyam Prasad
Pantham
as Trust chairman Tilak
Gautamiputra Satakarni
as Deva Dattudu
Om Namo Venkatesaya
as Rama's Father
DJ: Duvvada Jagannadham
as Duvvada Subrahmanya Sastry
Guru
Actor
Ninnu Kori
as Murthy
Nene Raju Nene Mantri
as Chief Minister
Goutham Nanda
as Waiter
Shamantakamani
as A.K.Ganapathi Sastry
Shatamanam Bhavati
as Chalaram (Cameo)
Raja the Great
as Mailaramgadda
Radha
as Radhakrishnan's Father
Mister
as Gundappa Naidu
Ami Thumi
as Janardhan
Bāhubali 2: The Conclusion
as Swami (voice) (uncredited)
Oopiri
as Kaalidasu
Brahmotsavam
Actor, as Sathyaraj's Friend
Sardaar Gabbar Singh
as Gabbar Singh's Guardian
Srirastu Subhamastu
as Anu's would-be father in law
Jyo Achyutananda
as Sudoku Murthy
Ism
as Sathya's father
Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada
as Amala's Father
Gentleman
as Mohan
Naruda Donoruda
as Dr. Anjeneyulu
Temper
as Venkata Rao
Surya Vs Surya
as Ersam
Bāhubali: The Beginning
as Swamiji
Bruce Lee: The Fighter
as Ravi's Father and Rama Chandra Rao's Big Brother
Mantra 2
as Ramarao
Kick 2
as Venkatratnam
Bengal Tiger
as RMP Doctor
Inji Iduppazhagi
as Doctor
Rey
Actor
Tiger
as Orphanage Principal
Bandipotu
as Makrandam
Rabhasa
as Lawyer
Aagadu
as Adi Keshava
Rowdy
as Vedam
Kalavaram
2014
Kalavaram
as Adi Moolam
Karthikeya
as Valli's Father
Alludu Seenu
as Narasimha's friend
Autonagar Surya
as Jailor
Race Gurram
as Dasaradh Prasad
Baadshah
as Pilli Gopi Krishna Simha
Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
as Kondala Rao
Iddarammayilatho
as Shankarabharanam
Adda
Actor
Naayak
as judge
Ramayya Vasthavayya
as Ammullu's Father
Julayi
as Narayana Murthy
Gabbar Singh
as Mavayya
Shirdi Sai
as Bhooti
Dhoni
Actor
Mithunam
Director, Lyricist, Screenplay
Panjaa
as Guruvayya
Once Upon a Warrior
as Kaksheera
180
as Narayanan
Oosaravelli
as Rakesh's Father
Badrinath
as Badri's Father
Golconda High School
as Viswanath
Oh My Friend
as Chandu's Father
Dhada
as Preethi's Father
Dookudu
as Ramachandra
Wanted
as Voice Over
Adhurs
as Chari's Adoptive Father
Drohi
as Nanaji
Gaayam 2
as Lawyer Saab
Brindavanam
as Ajay's Father
Leader
as Sharma C.S.
Rakht Charitra
as Ram Murthy
Rakht Charitra 2
as Ram Murthy
Khaleja
as Durga Prasad
Kedi
Actor
Kurradu
as Varun's Father
Sontha ooru
as Devudu Babu
Ek Niranjan
as Veeraiah
Oy!
as Telugu Teacher
Boni
Actor
Ready
as Raghava /"Dallas" Nageswara Rao
Kathanayakudu
as School Teacher
Jalsa
as Bulli reddy
Kuselan
as School Teacher
Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters
as Bommana brothers' father
Ashta Chamma
as Sarva Sarma
Kalidasu
as Principal of College
Satyam
as Deiva's Father
Okkadunnadu
as RBI Official
Anumanaspadam
as Forest officer
Dhee
as Corporator Krishna
Azhagiya Tamil Magan
as Guru's Father
Raju Bhai
as Anjali's father
Nava Vasantham
as Raja's Father
Rakhi
as Criminal Lawyer Sachidanandam
Godavari
as Captain Chintamani
Pournami
as Mallika's father
Annavaram
as Lallu
Amma Cheppindi
as Paparao
Boss
Actor
Happy
as Subba Rao
Bommarillu
as Aravind's Friend
Game
Actor
Bhagyalakshmi Bumper Draw
as Paala Pullayya
Gopi – Goda Meeda Pilli
as Gopi's father
Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana
as Kantepudi Srinivasa Rao
Allari Bullodu
as Raju's father
Athadu
as Naidu
Sada Mee Sevalo
as Suryakantam's Father
Balu
Actor
Political Rowdy
as Vithal's uncle
Malliswari
as Murthy
Gambeeram
as Minister Rajendran
Jai
as Farah's father
Sye
as Prudhvi's Father
Ghilli
as Muthupandi's Father
Venky
as Venky's Father
Grahanam
as Narayana Swamy
Samba
as Father of Nandu, as Nandu's father
Arjun
as Roopa's father
Naaga
as Subramanyam
Enakku 20 Unakku 18
as Preeti's Father (Telugu version)
Satyam
as Chakradhar
Dongodu
as Naidu
Okariki Okaru
as Kamesh's Father
Gangotri
as Anjaneya Shastri
Missamma
as Nanda Gopal's neighbor
Indra
as Valmiki
Nuvve... Nuvve...
as Abu, Vishwanath's friend
Manmadhudu
as Prasad
Takkari Donga
as Doobey
Avunu Valliddaru Ishtapaddaru!
as Anil's Maternal Uncle
Sontham
as Shyam Prasad
Santosham
as Narayana Murthy
Student No. 1
as Jailor
Narasimha Naidu
as Papanashanam
Sri Manjunatha
as Bhrungi
Family Circus
as Fishing Inspector
Priyamaina Neeku
as Ganesh's father
Devullu
as TV Anchor
Chitram
as Ramana's father
Azad
as Kanaka Raju
Raja
Actor
Samudram
as Chepala Krishna
Abhishekam
as G. K. Naidu
Pandaga
as Sai Babu
Pelli Peetalu
as Tatabbai
Pattukondi Chuddam
1997
Pattukondi Chuddam
as Sub Inspector Gottam Gopala Krishna
Egire Paavurama
as Simhachalam
Deyyam
as Psychologist
Mummy Mee Aayanochadu
1996
Mummy Mee Aayanochadu
as Inspector Extra Venkat Rao
Lingababu Love Story
as Pakir Dada
Amma Donga!
as Sattipandu
Pokiri Raja
as Inspector Prem Chand
Money Money
as Manikyam
Aunty
as Khan
Ghatotkachudu
as Thota Ramudu
Subhalagnam
as Doctor
Aame
as Pattabhi
Yamaleela
as Thota Ramudu
வீட்ல விசேஷங்க
1994
Veetla Visheshanga
as Inspector Sennimalai
Money
as Manikyam
Pekata Paparao
as Harichandra
Gaayam
as Lawyer Saab, Dialogue
Mister Pellam
as Bank Manager
Aditya 369
as Raja Varma's Henchman
Jaitra Yatra
Actor, Dialogue
Shiva
as Nanaji
Swara Kalpana
Actor, Writer
Siva
as Nanaji, Dialogue
Chettu Kinda Pleader
as Paata Samanlavaadu, Dialogue
Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Recording Dance Troupe
as Dorababu, Writer
Lawyer Suhasini
Actor, Dialogue
Maharshi
Writer
Sankeertana
Dialogue
Ladies Tailor
as Police, Dialogue, Screenplay