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Upendra Rao Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 16, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth18 September 1969

Age55 Years

BirthplaceBangalore, India

ProfessionDirector, Scriptwriter, Actor, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpousePriyanka Trivedi

FamilySon - Aayush Rao; Daughter - Aishwarya Rao

Upendra Rao Biography

Upendra Rao is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, actor and politician best known for his work in Kannada cinema. Born in Bangalore in 1969, he has built a

Early life and background

Upendra Rao was born on 18 September 1969 in Bangalore, India. Raised in a family where his father worked as a cook, he took part in theatre, debates and cultural activities during his school years. While studying for a bachelors degree in commerce at APS College of Commerce, Bangalore, he began writing and moved into film work by assisting director Kashinatha Hathwara, a distant relative. Early on he contributed songs and dialogues and worked across departments, gaining hands-on experience that prepared him for a career behind and in front of the camera.

Career

Upendra made his film acting debut in 1989 with Anantana Avantara and directed his first feature, Tharle Nan Maga, in 1992. Over the 1990s he established himself as a distinctive voice in Kannada cinema, directing and often acting in films such as Shhh! (1993), Om (1995), A (1998) and Upendra (1999). Some of these projects earned both critical attention and commercial success, and he continued to alternate between directing and performing through the 2000s and 2010s.

His filmography as an actor includes notable Kannada titles such as Preethse (2000), Kutumba (2002), Raktha Kanneeru (2003), Aishwarya (2006), Topiwala (2013), Brahma (2014), Super Ranga (2014), Shivam (2015) and I Love You (2019). After a period away from directing, he returned with the 2010 film Super, which became a major box-office success and one of the most talked-about Kannada films of that year.

Not every project was free of controversy. A 1995 release, Operation Antha, was an extended take on an earlier film and met with criticism and controversy despite its ambition. Across his career Upendra has amassed recognition from many award bodies: Filmfare Awards South, Karnataka State Film Awards, SIIMA, Udaya Film Awards, Suvarna Film Awards and others have honored his work in directing, acting and screenwriting.

Public profile

Upendras public image blends his creative work with commercial endorsements and political engagement. He has served as brand ambassador for United Breweries and appeared in promotions for brands including Lunars Footwear, Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR), Emani Navaratna Brand, and the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise.

In the political arena, Upendra has been active in state-level party building. He initially helped establish Karnataka Pragnyavanta Janata Paksha with D. Mahesh Gowda but stepped away from that effort. In 2019 he formed a new political organization called Uttama Prajakeeya Party (UPP), signaling a continued interest in public life beyond cinema.

Personal life

Upendra married actress Priyanka Trivedi, who won the title of Miss Kolkata in 1996, on 14 December 2003. The couple have two children: a son, Aayush Rao, and a daughter, Aishwarya Rao. He has a brother, Sudhindra Rao, who after a period of service with the Border Security Force assisted Upendra in film production.

Throughout interviews he has reflected on a modest childhood, recalling odd jobs he and his brother did to support the family, which shaped his early work ethic.

Latest updates

Upendra continues to be recognized by industry awards for work across directing and acting categories; among recent mentions in his awards list is a Best Director award at the 13th SIIMA Awards for the film UI. He remains a visible figure in Kannada cinema through occasional acting roles, directorial projects and public appearances, while maintaining his involvement in political and brand activity.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Upendra Rao, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

I Love You

Acted in the film

2019
Super

Directed the film which was a major box-office success

2010
UI

Directed the film and received Best Director award at the 13th SIIMA Awards

2025
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Career Highlights

  1. Made acting debut in Anantana Avantara (1989) and directorial debut with Tharle Nan Maga (1992).
  2. Directed and acted in influential Kannada films including Om, A and Upendra.
  3. Super (2010) returned him to directing and became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of that year.
  4. Recipient of multiple awards across Filmfare South, Karnataka State Film Awards, SIIMA and others.
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Upendra Rao born?

Upendra Rao was born on 18 September 1969.

What is Upendra Rao known for?

Upendra Rao is known for director, Scriptwriter, Actor, Politician.

What is Upendra Rao’s marital status?

Upendra Rao's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Upendra Rao married to?

Upendra Rao is publicly listed as married to Priyanka Trivedi.