Sumanth

Sumanth's father Surendra Yarlagadda is a retired film producer, noted for several hit films such as Shiva, Rao Gari Illu, Gaayam, Muchattaga Mugguru and Collector Gari Abbayi. Sumanth has one sister, Supriya Yarlagadda, who is the executive director of Annapurna Studios. Prominent actor Nagarjuna Akkineni is his maternal uncle. The famous late film producer D. Ramanaidu is his uncle from his paternal side. Also, noted film producer Daggubati Suresh Babu and actor Venkatesh Daggubati are his cousins. Actors Rana Daggubati, Naga Chaitanya, Akhil Akkineni, and Sushanth are also his cousins.[5]

In August 2004, Sumanth married former actress Keerthi Reddy. They, however, were divorced amicably in 2006.[6]

Sumanth studied at the Hyderabad Public School, graduating in 1991. For his undergraduate studies, he enrolled in an engineering course in Michigan. Realising after 2 years that it wasn't in his best interest, he transferred to Columbia College Chicago, from where he graduated with a B.A in Film Studies in 1997.[7] He was selected to the Dean's List during his final two semesters for his academic excellence. He said that it was only in film school where he truly enjoyed and thrived in academics.

Sumanth started his acting career playing the lead in Ram Gopal Varma's Prema Katha, which released on 15 April 1999. Despite moderate commercial success, Sumanth's performance was well appreciated, and the film too won critical acclaim and several Nandi Awards.[8] His next film, Yuvakudu, directed by Karunakaran and co-starring debutant Bhumika Chawla, did positive business at the box office and was critically hailed as well. His third film Pelli Sambandham gave him the opportunity to act beside his grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. The film, however, managed only average business at the box office. The same was the case with Snehamante Idera, where he was cast alongside his uncle Nagarjuna Akkineni.

In 2003, after a self imposed hiatus of almost 2 years, he starred in his first blockbuster Satyam. It also happened to be Genelia D'Souza's debut Telugu film.[9] Satyam, which was produced by his uncle Nagarjuna, was one of the highest-grossing films of 2003–2004. Sumanth revealed that he was actively involved in the production and creative input for this film besides acting. Shifting genres, he followed up with another hit film, the action/drama Gowri, which confirmed him as a bona fide box office draw, and gave him an action image.[10]

After the flop Dhana 51, and the above average Mahanandi alongside Anushka Shetty, Sumanth changed his path completely in 2006, starring in Sekhar Kammula's romantic comedy/drama Godavari. It remains one of the most acclaimed films in his career.[11] In addition to receiving rave reviews and box office success, it went on to win multiple Nandi and Filmfare awards.[12] Godavari was responsible in giving Sumanth an urban and NRI following, and is widely considered a modern-day classic.[13]

Sumanth's next film was the average running action/family drama Chinnodu (2006). In 2007, he starred in two movies: Madhumasam and Classmates. The former, a romantic comedy/drama alongside Sneha, produced by D. Ramanaidu and directed by Chandra Siddhartha, was a hit, whereas the latter did not fare too well, despite good reviews.[14] In early 2008, Sumanth's home production, the action/drama Pourudu alongside Kajal Aggarwal turned out to be a moderate success.[15] It was especially appreciated for its action sequences. However, his next film, the action/romance Boni alongside Kriti Kharbanda released in mid 2009, and failed at the box office.

In 2011, after a gap of almost a year, Sumanth took a rather bold turn by starring in Golconda High School, directed by the national award-winning Indraganti Mohan Krishna. It was based on the English novel The Men Within, written by ex-cricketer Harimohan Paruvu, and it is regarded to be one of the first sports dramas in Telugu.[16] Released on 15 January 2011, it garnered excellent critical acclaim and was declared a commercial hit as well. The critics as well as audience praised Sumanth's portrayal of a cricket coach with a chequered past, calling it one of his finest roles.[17]

Sumanth's next was the romantic drama Raaj, which released in March 2011, but failed miserably at the box office. Sumanth candidly admitted after release that he wasn't expecting much from this film as it was plagued with several problems during production. Following this, he starred in Daggaraga Dooramga, a romance/ thriller under the direction of Ravi Kumar Chavali, and it was another failure. In 2013, Sumanth teamed up again with director Chandra Siddhartha for the romantic comedy Emo Gurram Egaravachu[18] It released on 25 January 2014 to a lukewarm response from the audience. Sumanth's foray into the comedy genre however received fairly positive reviews from the critics.[19] Next came the romantic comedy Naruda Donoruda, the remake of the Hindi hit Vicky Donor. It released in November 2016, but this too did not fare well. Economic demonetization, which came into effect a few days after its release, was deemed one of the main reasons for its box office failure.

After a series of disappointments, Sumanth made a strong comeback with the romantic drama Malli Raava, under the direction of Gowtam Tinnanuri. Released on 8 December 2017, it received positive reviews, and was a box office hit. Some critics even went to the extent of calling it his best film to date.[20] Sumanth's performance too was praised, and he won the best actor award from the Telugu Chamber of Film/Commerce. The film also won in the best film and best director categories.

Sumanth's next was a supernatural mystery/thriller Subrahmanyapuram, directed by debutant Santhossh Jagarlapudi. Released on 7 December 2018, it received mixed reviews and turned out an above par grosser. This was followed by the drama/thriller Idam Jagath, which didn't fare too well. He was then seen donning the role of his grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao biopic N.T.R: Kathanayakudu, directed by Krish Jagarlamudi.[21] This film opened on 9 January 2019 to critical acclaim but was deemed a box office failure. Sumanth's portrayal in his first supporting role drew unanimous praise from all quarters.[22] He next starred in the investigative drama Kapatadhaari,[23] which released on 19 February 2021, to some positive critical acclaim,[24] and his performance as a traffic cop was generally applauded.[25]

Switching modes, Sumanth has now completed shoot for a gangster action comedy titled Waltair Seenu, in which he's playing the lead, and it is due for release soon. It is directed by Manu Yagnaa.[26]

His most recent film Malli Modalaindi, a romantic comedy directed by Keerthi Kumar TG and produced by ED Entertainments released in February 2022 directly on the Zee5 streaming service.[27] Despite receiving mostly unfavorable critical reviews, it was declared a hit.[28]

He is presently playing a key supporting role in Sita Ramam, a period war drama starring Dulquer Salmaan. It is produced by Swapna Dutt and directed by Hanu Raghavapudi.[29]

In addition, Sumanth is also playing the lead role in a drama thriller titled Aham Reboot that is written and directed by Prashant Sagar Atluri.[30]

Sumanth has expressed an interest to diversify into playing author backed supporting and negative roles in the future, while parallelly doing lead roles.[31]