Nandamuri Taraka Rama Raowas, sometimes known as NTR was born into a kamma caste family in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh and did his bachelors at Andhra-Christian College in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

He made his debut as a police constable in the movie Mana Desam in 1947. He acted in many movies but came to prominence in the role of Lord Krishna in a mythological movie called Maya Bazar. NTR went on to play a host of other mythological characters.