Tanikella Bharani is a famous South Indian actor, screenwriter, director, and poet. He was born on 14 July 1954 in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, India.
In 1985, Tanikella made his debut as an actor in the Telugu film ‘Ladies Tailor,’ in which he played the role of a police. After almost two years, he appeared in his second Telugu film ‘Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Recording Dance Troupe.’
In 1989, he acted in three Telugu films ‘Siva,’ ‘Swarakalpana,’ and ‘Chettu Kinda Pleader.’ In the 1990s, he appeared in many popular Telugu films like ‘Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu’ (1991), ‘Money Money’ (1994), ‘Big Boss’ (1995), ‘Pellichesukundam’ (1997), and ‘Samudram’ (1999).
In the year 2001, he acted in more than 10 Telugu films including ‘Ammo Bomma,’ ‘Jaabili,’ ‘Family Circus,’ ‘Nuvvu Nenu,’ and ‘Snehamante Idera.’
In 2002, he acted in 17 Telugu films, and in 2003, he appeared in 14 Telugu films. Tanikella then appeared in many more Telugu films including ‘Oka Pellam Muddu Rendo Pellam Vaddu’ (2004), ‘Political Rowdy’ (2005), ‘Chirutha’ (2007), ‘Rakta Charitra’ (2010), and ‘Dhada’ (2011).
Some of his other popular Telugu films are ‘Ramayya Vasthavayya’ (2013), ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ (2015), ‘Nela Ticket’ (2018), ‘Saaho’ (2019), and ‘Acharya’ (2022). His next project is Vaathi (2023).
He made his Tamil debut with ‘Veetla Visheshanga’ (1994) in which he played the role of inspector. He has acted in many Tamil films including ‘Mazhai’ (2005), ‘Bheemaa’ (2008), ‘Nootrenbadhu’ (2011), ‘Kalavaram’ (2014), and ‘Thozha’ (2016).
Tanikella has also acted in a few Hindi films. His debut Bollywood film is ‘Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega’ (2001) in which he played the role of Dakshina Murthy. He has also appeared in a few Hindi versions of the Telugu films Rakht Charitra’ (2010), ‘Rakht Charitra 2’ (2010), and ‘Saaho’ (2019).
In 2012, he directed the Telugu film ‘Mithunam’ starring S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Lakshmi. He has also directed a few Telugu short films.
Tanikella Bharani’s father’s name is T. V. S. Srithanikella Ramalingeswara Rao, and his mother’s name is Lakshmi Narasamma. His father used to donate rice, pulse, and other food items to needy people during natural calamities in their village. Tanikella has three elder brothers and three younger brothers.
On 30 November 1988, he got married to Durga Bhavani, and the couple has a son named Teja Tanikella, and a daughter named Bhavani Tanikella. His son, Teja, works as an actor.