Amidst ‘Devara’ speculations, looking back at Jr. NTR’s dual roles

As the anticipation surrounding Jr NTR's upcoming film ‘Devara’ reaches a fever pitch, speculation is rife about the actor's potential dual role in the movie. These speculations started after the makers released a new poster of the actor from the film.

While fans eagerly await confirmation, this seems like the perfect opportunity to take a trip down memory lane and revisit Jr NTR's iconic double acts. From his early days as a rising star to his current status as a Tollywood titan, Jr NTR has consistently impressed audiences with his versatility and range, particularly when playing dual roles. In this story, we delve into his most memorable double performances.

‘Andhrawala’: The first film that saw Tarak playing a double role is director Puri Jagannadh’s 2004 actioner ‘Andhrawal.’ He played the roles of Munna and Shankar Pehlwaan. Though there was much hype around the movie following the blockbuster success of ‘Simhadri,’ the movie turned out to be a disaster at the ticket window. Also seen in the film were Rakshitha, Rahul Dev, Sanghavi, among others.

‘Adhurs’: Director VV Vinayak’s 2010 action-comedy ‘Adhurs’ starred Rao in a dual role as Narasimha and Chari. Also featuring Nayanthara and Sheela as the female protagonists, ‘Adhurs’ saw Nassar, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sayaji Shinde, Ashish Vidyarthi, Tanikella Bharani, and Brahmanandam in supporting roles.

‘Jai Lava Kusa’: Written and directed by KS Ravindra, the 2017 Telugu action film featured Tarak in a leading role. It is the only movie that has had him play not dual but triple roles - he was seen as Jai, Lava, and Kusa, triplets who get separated at a very young age and follow different paths in life. A commercial success, ‘Jai Lava Kusa’ went on to rake in Rs. 130 crore at the box office. It was also screened at the  Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.

‘Ramayya Vasthavayya’: In the 2013 action-packed film 'Ramayya Vasthavayya', Jr NTR (Tarak) starred alongside leading ladies Shruti Haasan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, playing the distinct roles of Nandu and Ramu. While not a traditional dual role, the characters were revealed to be two facets of the same person, showcasing Tarak's versatility. Directed by Harish Shankar, the movie received praise for Tarak's performance, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark at the box office.