Venky Atluri

Venky Atluri
Born
Atluri Venkateswara Rao

6 April
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India (now in Telangana, India)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Screenwriter
  • Film director
Years active2007–present
Spouse
Pooja Chowdary Nayidi
​
​
(m. 2023)​
[1]

Venky Atluri is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works predominantly in Telugu and a few Tamil films. He is known for directing Tholi Prema (2018), Sir / Vaathi (2023) and Lucky Baskhar (2024).[2][3][4] The lattermost is his highest grosser and has won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay – Dialogue Writer.[5]

Early life and career

Venky Atluri was named Atluri Venkateswara Rao after his grandfather and graduated in B. Tech from DVRCET in kandi, Sangareddy. This resulted in him having a long stage name for his acting debut Gnapakam (2007) directed by Uppalapati Narayana Rao co-starring Vishakha Singh.[6] The film was a box office failure.[7]

Venky Atluri married Pooja Chowdary in February 2023.

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

As a film director

Year Title Language Notes Ref.
2018 Tholi Prema Telugu [8]
2019 Mr. Majnu [9]
2021 Rang De [10]
2023 Vaathi Tamil
Telugu
Simultaneously shot in Telugu as Sir [11]
2024 Lucky Baskhar Telugu [12]
2026 Vishwanath & Sons Tamil [13]
TBA D60 Tamil [14]

As a writer

  • Note: all films are in Telugu, unless otherwise noted.
Year Title Notes Ref.
2010 Sneha Geetham Dialogues only; uncredited [15]
2011 It's My Love Story [16]
2015 Kerintha

As an actor

  • Note: all films are in Telugu, unless otherwise noted.
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2007 Gnapakam Srinu credited as Atluri Venkateswara Rao [16]
2010 Sneha Geetham Ravi

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Filmfare Awards South 2026 Best Director – Telugu Lucky Baskhar Nominated [17]
Critics Best Film – Telugu Won [18]
National Film Awards 2026 Best Screenplay (Dialogue) Lucky Baskhar Won [5]
South Indian International Movie Awards 2019 Best Debut Director – Telugu Tholi Prema Nominated [19]
2025 Best Director – Telugu Lucky Baskhar Nominated [20]
Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025 Best Screenplay Writer Won [21]
Zee Cine Awards Telugu 2019 Favorite Debut Director Tholi Prema Won

References

  1. ↑ "Director Venky Atluri enters wedlock; Nithiin, Keerthy Suresh congratulate newlyweds". The Times of India. 1 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Tholi Prema: Varun Tej says he has done justice to the title of Pawan Kalyan's 1998 film". Firstpost. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Janani K. (25 January 2019). "Mr Majnu Movie Review: Akhil Akkineni shines in Venky film but not bright enough". India Today. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. ↑ Sangeetha Devi Dundoo (31 October 2024). "'Lucky Baskhar' movie review: Venky Atluri, Dulquer Salmaan deliver an entertaining drama". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  5. 1 2 "72nd National Awards announced: Article 370 wins big while Mammootty bags fourth National Award". Cinema Express. 19 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Quick Peek - GNAPAKAM". Idlebrain.com. Hyderabad. 12 April 2007.
  7. ↑ Nelluri, Maya (25 January 2018). "Interview with Venky Atluri about Mr.Majnu by Maya Nelluri". Idlebrain.com. Hyderabad.
  8. ↑ "Tholi Prema director Venky Atluri". Hindustan Times. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "Director Venky Atluri of 'Mr. Majnu' keeps his fingers crossed". The Hindu. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Venky Atluri, Nithiin, Keerthy Suresh's 'Rang De' pooja done". The Times of India. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "Dhanush's bilingual film Vaathi commences shooting". Cinema Express. 3 January 2022.
  12. ↑ The Times of India (17 October 2024). "Director Venky Atluri reveals plot details for Dulquer Salmaan's 'Lucky Baskhar'". Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "Venky Atluri interview: National Award winner on Suriya's 'Vishwanath & Sons' and age-gap romance". The Hindu. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Vaathi Duo Reunion: Venky Atluri Shares Update on Dhanush's Next". 123Telugu. 29 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Interview with Venky Atluri about Rang De". Idlebrain.com. Hyderabad. 25 March 2020.
  16. 1 2 "From A Failed Actor To A Hit Film Maker". APHerald. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  17. ↑ "Nominations for The 70th Filmfare Awards South With Kerala Tourism (Telugu) | Filmfare.com". www.filmfare.com. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  18. ↑ "Full List of Winners of The 70th Filmfare Awards South With Kerala Tourism (Telugu)". Filmfare. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "SIIMA Awards 2019: Here's a complete list of nominees". The Times of India. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  20. ↑ "SIIMA 2025 Telugu, Kannada winners list: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna win big for Pushpa 2; Kamal Haasan, Amitabh Bachchan honoured for Kalki 2898 AD". The Indian Express. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2024 full list of winners: Kalki 2898 AD wins best film, Allu Arjun wins best actor". Hindustan Times. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.