Upendra Rao, known mononymously as Upendra, is an Indian film actor, director, screenwriter, lyricist and producer who works predominantly in Kannada cinema. Recognised for his unconventional storytelling and experimental themes, he rose to prominence in the 1990s as a director before establishing himself as a leading actor in the Kannada film industry. He is also active in politics and founded the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP) in 2018, later joining and parting ways with other regional outfits.
| Full name | Upendra Rao |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 September 1968, Koppa, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka |
| Occupation | Actor, director, screenwriter, lyricist, producer, politician |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | Priyanka Upendra (actress) |
| Primary industry | Kannada cinema (Sandalwood) |
| Notable films | Tarle Nan Maga, Shhh!, Om, A, Upendra, H2O, Super, Uppi 2, Kabzaa |
| Political affiliation | Founder, Uttama Prajaakeeya Party (Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party predecessor) |
Upendra was born on 18 September 1968 in Koppa, a town in the Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka. He pursued his education in Karnataka and developed an early interest in cinema. He began his career in the Kannada film industry as an assistant to director Kashinath, who is widely considered his mentor.
Upendra started in the late 1980s as an assistant director and lyricist. He made his directorial debut with Tharle Nan Maga (1992). His second directorial venture, Shhh! (1993), a horror thriller, became a notable commercial success. He followed it with Om (1995), starring Shiva Rajkumar, which dealt with the underworld and became a cult classic in Kannada cinema.
Upendra turned actor with A (1998), which he also wrote and directed. The film, presented in a non-linear format, was a major box-office success and established his on-screen persona. He followed it with the eponymous Upendra (1999), a satirical drama that he directed and starred in; the film was simultaneously released in Kannada, Telugu and Hindi and is regarded as one of his most experimental works.
His subsequent directorial venture H2O (2002), centred on the inter-state Kaveri water dispute, was made bilingually in Kannada and Tamil and featured Prabhu Deva and Priyanka Trivedi alongside Upendra.
Through the 2000s and 2010s, Upendra acted in a range of films across genres. Notable titles include Raktha Kanneeru (2003), Gowramma (2005), Aa Dinagalu (2007), Buddhivantha (2008), Super (2010, also directed by him), Kalpana (2012), Brahma (2014) and Uppi 2 (2015), the last of which he also directed as a sequel to Upendra. He has also appeared in Telugu and Tamil films.
More recent work includes I Love You (2019), Home Minister (2019) and Kabzaa (2023), a period gangster drama directed by R. Chandru.
Upendra has written lyrics for several of his films and has produced films through his banner. He is also known for his distinctive dialogues and use of Kannada wordplay.
In 2017, Upendra announced the formation of his own political outfit, initially called the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (Prajaakeeya). He later launched the Uttama Prajaakeeya Party in 2018 with the stated aim of promoting transparent governance and direct citizen participation. He has since had associations with regional political fronts in Karnataka.
Upendra married actress Priyanka Upendra (born Priyanka Trivedi) in 2004. The couple have two children. Priyanka has acted in several Indian films across languages.
Upendra is regarded as one of the influential figures in Kannada cinema for introducing experimental narrative techniques, satirical commentary and unconventional protagonists during the 1990s and 2000s. His film Upendra (1999) is often cited in discussions of avant-garde mainstream Indian cinema. He has cultivated a strong fan following in Karnataka, where he is popularly addressed as "Uppi" or "Real Star".