Upendra Quick Facts
| Full Name | Upendra |
| Profession | Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Lyricist, Politician |
| Date of Birth | 18 September 1968 |
| Age | 58 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Koteshwara, Udupi district, Karnataka (per infobox; the article body gives Bengaluru, which is unresolved) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Years Active | 1989–present |
| Debut | Anantana Avantara (1989), cameo |
| Breakthrough | A (1998), as lead actor; Om (1995) as director |
| Known For | Om, A, Upendra, Super, Uppi 2, UI |
| Spouse | Priyanka Trivedi (married 14 December 2003) |
| Parents | Manjunath Rao and Anusuya |
Upendra Career in Numbers
Here is a quick snapshot of Upendra’s career.
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Films | About 85 acting credits listed, including cameos, voice roles and unreleased films |
| Career Span | 1989–present |
| Languages | Kannada, Telugu, Tamil |
| Directing | Directed films including Om (1995), Upendra (1999), Super (2010), Uppi 2 (2015) and UI (2024) |
| Major Awards | Multiple Udaya, Suvarna and SIIMA awards; Karnataka State Film Awards for Best Director and Best Film for Shrimathi (2012) |
| Latest Release | Raktha Kashmira (2026) |
Early Life and Family
Upendra was born on 18 September 1968. His parents are Manjunath Rao and Anusuya, and his father came from Thekkatte in Koteshwara, Udupi district. Sources differ on his birthplace, so this profile lists Koteshwara as given in the infobox.
Upendra Career Journey
Writer and Director (1989–1997)
He started working in 1989 as a writer and assistant director under Kashinath. His directorial debut was Tharle Nan Maga (1992), and Om (1995), which he directed, became one of the best-known Kannada films of the decade.
Lead Actor (1998–2010)
He became a lead actor with A (1998) and then played the lead in Upendra (1999), which he also directed. Super (2010) was another notable directorial work, followed by Shrimathi (2011).
Politics and Recent Work (2017–Present)
He joined the Karnataka Pragnyavanta Janata Paksha in 2017 and founded the Uttama Prajaakeeya Party in 2018. Recent work includes Kabzaa (2023), UI (2024), Coolie (2025, an extended cameo in Tamil), and Raktha Kashmira (2026).
Upendra Movies: Complete Filmography
Below is Upendra’s filmography. All films are in Kannada unless noted. Films with no confirmed release are marked Upcoming, and roles that sources do not state are marked Undisclosed.
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Anantana Avantara (Cameo) | Kamadeva |
| 1989 | Love Maadi Nodu | Doctor |
| 1991 | Ajagajantara | Groom |
| 1993 | Shhh! (Also director; cameo) | Fake police officer |
| 1995 | Om (Also director; voiceover for Kote Prabhakar) | Deena |
| 1995 | Operation Antha (Also director; cameo) | Bystander |
| 1997 | Omkaram (Also director) | Narrator in the first scene |
| 1998 | A (Also director) | Surya |
| 1998 | Kanyadanam (Telugu) | Venkat |
| 1999 | Upendra (Also director) | Naanu |
| 2000 | Preethse | Chandru |
| 2000 | Oke Maata | Sooryam |
| 2001 | Raa | Sridhar |
| 2002 | Neethone Vuntanu (Telugu) | Ravi |
| 2002 | H2O (Kannada-Tamil bilingual) | Udayashankar Gowda |
| 2002 | Super Star | Ricky / Deependra |
| 2002 | Nagarahavu | Ajay |
| 2002 | Naanu Naane | Raja |
| 2002 | Hollywood | Upendra / Surendra / Robot US47 |
| 2003 | Kutumba | Vijay |
| 2003 | Rakta Kanneeru | Mohan |
| 2003 | Gokarna | Sidda |
| 2004 | Omkara | Sathya |
| 2005 | Gowramma | Venkat Swamy |
| 2005 | News | Guru |
| 2005 | Auto Shankar | Shankar |
| 2006 | Uppi Dada M.B.B.S. | Rao Bahaddur Upendra |
| 2006 | Thandege Thakka Maga | Sathya |
| 2006 | Aishwarya | Abhishek Hegde |
| 2007 | Parodi | Vijay |
| 2007 | Masti | Siddappaji |
| 2007 | Toss (Telugu) | Neelakanta |
| 2007 | Anatharu | Rudra |
| 2007 | Lava Kusha | Chakri |
| 2008 | Satyam (Tamil-Telugu bilingual) | Manickavel |
| 2008 | Salute | Prathap Rudra |
| 2008 | Buddhivanta (Seven roles) | Panchamrutha |
| 2008 | Mast Maja Maadi (Cameo) | Himself |
| 2009 | Dubai Babu | Babu |
| 2009 | Rajani | Rajani |
| 2010 | Super (Also director) | Subhash Chandra Gandhi |
| 2011 | Shrimathi | Raj Kumar |
| 2011 | Maryade Ramanna (Voice role) | Cycle (voice) |
| 2012 | Aarakshaka | Arun / Vishnu |
| 2012 | Katari Veera Surasundarangi | Upendra / Mohan / Temporary Yama |
| 2012 | Godfather | Shiva / Ajay / Vijay |
| 2012 | Kalpana | Raghava |
| 2013 | Topiwala | Basak |
| 2014 | Brahma | Brahma |
| 2014 | Super Ranga | Sriranga |
| 2015 | Shivam | Basavanna / Alexander |
| 2015 | S/O Satyamurthy (Telugu) | Devaraj Naidu |
| 2015 | Uppi 2 (Also director) | Naanu / Neenu |
| 2016 | Kalpana 2 | Raghava / Jade Shivu |
| 2016 | Mukunda Murari | Mukunda |
| 2017 | Upendra Matte Baa | Upendra / Surendra |
| 2019 | I Love You | Santosh |
| 2022 | Home Minister | Renuka Prasad |
| 2022 | Ghani (Telugu) | Vikramaditya |
| 2023 | Kabzaa | Arkeshwara |
| 2024 | UI (Also director) | Sathya / Kalki / Upendra Rao |
| 2025 | Coolie (Extended cameo) | Kaleesha |
| 2025 | Andhra King Taluka (Telugu) | Andhra King Surya Kumar |
| 2025 | 45 | Rayappa |
| 2026 | Raktha Kashmira (Delayed release) | Devendra / Bheema |
| Upcoming | Buddhivantha 2 (Completed, unreleased) | Undisclosed |
| Upcoming | Thrishulam (Completed, unreleased) | Undisclosed |
| Upcoming | Bhargava (Filming) | Undisclosed |
| Upcoming | Guerrilla War (Announced) | Undisclosed |
| Upcoming | Zombie Reddy Nxt Lvl (Filming) | Undisclosed |
Upendra Awards and Achievements
| Year | Award | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Udaya Film Award – Best Male Actor | A |
| 2000 | Filmfare Awards South – Best Director and Best Film | Upendra |
| 2003 | Udaya Film Award – Best Male Actor | Nagarahavu |
| 2004 | Hello Gandhinagara Awards – Best Actor and Best Dialogue | Rakta Kanneeru |
| 2008 | Suvarna Film Awards – Special Award for Performance | Anatharu |
| 2011 | Udaya Film Award – Best Screenplay | Super |
| 2011 | Suvarna Film Awards – Favourite Director and Favourite Film | Super |
| 2012 | Karnataka State Film Awards – Best Director and Best Film | Shrimathi |
| 2012 | 1st SIIMA – Special Appreciation Award | Shrimathi |
| 2013 | Udaya Film Award – Best Male Actor | Kalpana |
| 2013 | 2nd SIIMA Critics Award – Best Actor | Katari Veera Surasundarangi |
| 2015 | Honorary Doctorate | Angkor University |
| 2016 | 5th SIIMA – Best Director | Uppi 2 |
| 2025 | 13th SIIMA – Best Director | UI |
Upendra Personal Life
Upendra is married to actress Priyanka Trivedi, whom he married on 14 December 2003.
Upendra Net Worth
No reliable net worth estimate from a named and dated published source was found for Upendra. Figures on general finance and lifestyle websites cite no primary source and could not be verified, so this profile does not state a figure.
Lesser-Known Facts About Upendra
- He worked as a writer and assistant director under Kashinath before acting.
- He directed Om (1995), in which he also appeared as Deena.
- He founded the Uttama Prajaakeeya Party in 2018.
- He received an honorary doctorate from Angkor University in 2015.
- He has directed several of his own films, including Super (2010) and UI (2024).
Legacy and Impact
Upendra is one of the most distinctive figures in Kannada cinema, known for experimental storytelling and for combining acting, direction and writing in the same projects. His films have often been discussed for their unconventional style.
Frequently Asked Questions About Upendra
How old is Upendra?
Upendra was born on 18 September 1968, making him 58 years old as of 2026.
What was Upendra’s debut film?
His debut was a cameo in Anantana Avantara (1989). He became a lead actor with A (1998).
Which is Upendra’s best-known film?
Om (1995), which he directed, is among the best-known Kannada films. Upendra (1999), UI (2024) and Super (2010) are also widely discussed works.
What is Upendra’s latest and upcoming movie?
His latest listed release is Raktha Kashmira (2026), which was delayed. Several completed or announced films, including Buddhivantha 2, Thrishulam and Guerrilla War, have no confirmed release dates.
What is Upendra’s net worth?
No reliable, dated and sourced net worth estimate was found, so this profile does not publish a figure.
Final Summary
From writing and assisting on films in the late 1980s to directing and starring in some of Kannada cinema’s most talked-about films, Upendra has built a career that spans acting, direction and politics.
