Top 10 Best Must Watch Movies of Mahesh Babu

Superstar Mahesh Babu, lovingly called Prince, is one of the most charming and talented actors in the Telugu movie industry. Born on August 9th, 1975, he started his acting career at the tender age of four and has more than eight movies to his credit as a child actor. He rose from being a prodigious child actor to a powerful superstar with over 37 films under his belt. The handsome, versatile actor is not only known for his “Prince Charming” looks, but also for his classy acting. There is no doubt that Mahesh Babu is one of the highest-paid actors in the Telugu industry as well as India, which demonstrates his popularity. His fans eagerly await Mahesh Babu’s new movies and instantly trend them on all social media, sometimes even before the movie name is finalised or the film is directed.

Here is a list of the Top 10 Must-Watch Movies Of Mahesh Babu. Watching these blockbuster Telugu movies is the perfect way to spend a weekend!

List of the Top 10 Must-Watch Movies of Mahesh Babu

Mahesh Babu does not require an introduction to moviegoers, but if you are not a big movie fan, you may not be aware of all of his nicknames. He is called the Universal Star, the Superstar, the Prince of Tollywood, and Naani. He is one of those exceptional actors who, in addition to having great looks, also has perfect emotional range. His acting style is subtle, and he can pull off any experimental movie role with panache. Here is a list of must-watch Mahesh Babu movies compiled by Top 10s Only. 

1. Murari (2001)

Murari is a supernatural movie that is a family entertainer and is ranked as one of the top 10 most popular and super hit movies of Mahesh Babu. The movie was directed and written by Krishna Vamsi, and it features Mahesh Babu in the titular role of Murari. Sonali Bendre made her Telugu movie debut as Mahesh Babu’s love interest in this movie. It has other prominent actors like Maruthi Rao, Lakshmi, Sukumari, and Kaikala Satyanarayana as character actors. 

The movie is about Murari, who is a happy-go-lucky person whose ancestors have been under a generational curse by Goddess Durga since the mid-19th century. Every forty-eight years, a family member perishes as a result of this curse. In this generation, Murari is the one who will bear the curse. The movie is about how Murari overcomes this through his spirituality and penance. The movie’s music was composed by Mani Sharma and was all the rage two decades ago. 

As for his acting review, this film is without a doubt one of Mahesh Babu’s must-watch movies, as it shows why he is appreciated as a complete actor. He does not overact and show off his heroism or manliness, but is subtle and does full justice to his character. When you see him in the film, it is Murari, the character that comes through and not Mahesh the superstar. No wonder the movie got rave reviews! He won the Nandi Special Jury Award for this movie. The film was dubbed into Hindi as Rowdy Cheetah (2015) and remade in Kannada as Gopi (2006). 

2. Okkadu (2003)

Directed and written by Gunashekar, Okkadu is one of the most romantic movies of Mahesh Babu and has melodious music by Mani Sharma. It has many songs that are hummable and lingers on in your head even years later. The movie is about the journey of Ajay (Mahesh Babu), a Kabbadi player who saves Swapna (Bhumika Chawla) from the clutches of baddie Obul Reddy, who tries to forcefully marry her. Obul Reddy, played by Prakash Raj, is a factionist who falls in love with Swapna despite the age gap between them. Obul kills Swapna’s brother over a petty issue. Swapna’s father, to save his daughter from Obul Reddy, asks her to go to her uncle in the USA. But Obul apprehends her, and she is rescued by Ajay, who has come to compete in a Kabaddi tournament. The remaining story is about how they fall in love and emerge victorious. 

Mahesh Babu is intense in this movie. It is one of the most romantic movies of Mahesh Babu. He has demonstrated his acting range via this blockbuster hit film. He can emote without saying a single word. The introduction scene is whistle-worthy, and he has carried the entire movie wonderfully well. Bhumika too has portrayed her role to perfection. The film received positive reviews, was successful at the box office, and became the highest grosser at that time. Mahesh Babu got a big break in his career and also won the Nandi and Filmfare South Awards for Best Actor.

3. Athadu (2005)

Athadu is an action movie that is directed by Trivikram Srinivas and is Mahesh Babu’s most famous movie. The movie stars Mahesh Babu in the lead role as Nandu and has Trisha as the female lead. Sonu Sood, Prakash Raj, and Sayaji Shinde star in supporting roles. The film is one of the biggest hits in Telugu movies and is the most televised movie on TV. This was one of the important movies of Mahesh Babu’s career, as it went on to become the highest grossing film of that year. This movie was remade as Ek: The Power of One in Hindi. 

The story is about Nandu, an orphan who is a high-profile professional killer. His accomplice in all the operations is Sonu Sood. While on one such operation, he unintentionally causes the death of Pardhoo, a runaway youngster who wants to go back to his village. Nandu then assumes Pardoo’s identity to escape the cops. The rest of the story is about how Nandu resolves Pardoo’s problems. 

Mahesh Babu as Nandu is brilliant and suits the character amazingly. Hence, it is among the Mahesh Babu top 10 movies list. He not only looks amazing but lives up to the Prince Charming image. Due to his acting prowess, he transforms from Nandu’s character to Pardoo smoothly. The combo of Mahesh Babu and Trivikram delivers an action-comedy that is entertaining. Mahesh’s comic timing is impeccable, and there are enjoyable dialogues, songs, and action sequences. The Prince won the Nandi Award for Best Actor for this movie. 

4. Pokiri (2006)

Another awesome film in Telugu is Mahesh Babu’s Pokiri which will be mentioned whenever anyone creates a top 10 list. Pokiri is an action thriller that’s directed and written by Puri Jagannadh. It is one of the classics of Tollywood and created records in the South Indian film industry as it continued to rule the box office for three consecutive years. Mahesh Babu stars as Pandu, and his female lead is Ileane D’Cruz. The other stars who appear in significant roles are Ashish Vidyarathi, Prakash Raj, and Sayaji Shinde. 

The plot revolves around Pandu, who is a mafia don who can kill anyone for money. He meets Sruthi (Ileana) and falls in love at first sight. Sruthi feels the same way but is hesitant because Pandu is a criminal. Pandu, despite being a goon, has great principles, and that leads to enmity with Ali (Prakash Raj), who is a mafia don. The rest of the plot is about how both parties settle their scores. Though the plot looks like nothing you have never heard of, Mahesh Babu’s acting makes the movie an entertainer. The stage is set for Mahesh Babu with Pandu’s chase, fight, and introduction song. He delivers some memorable one-liners and is a worthwhile watch for the way he delivers them. He has delivered his best-ever performance in terms of his fighting and acting skills. 

Mahesh Babu won the Vamsee Film Awards, the Santosham Film Awards, and the South Filmfare Awards for best actor. It is one of the top 10 best movies of Mahesh Babu and has been remade in many languages. It was remade into Tamil with the same title, with actor Vijay (Thalapathy) as the lead. The Tamil version was Prabhu Deva’s debut as a director. He then went on to direct Wanted in Hindi, which became one of Salman Khan’s biggest hits. 

5. Dookudu (2011)

Dookudu is an action-comedy movie directed by Srinu Vaitia. This Mahesh Babu movie was one of the most expensive movies ever made in his career. It was released in theatres at a time when the Telugu film industry was in desperate need of a box office hit. Along with Mahesh Babu, the film stars Samantha, Sonu Sood, and Prakash Raj as the pivotal characters. The film is said to have been inspired by a German movie, Goodbye, Lenin and was commercially successful. Los Angeles Times called it the biggest hit you have heard of as it grossed more than Rs 100 crore and is definitely a part of any Mahesh Babu’s best romantic movies list despite being an action comedy.

The movie is about Ajay Kumar, a police officer and son of an ex-MLA, played by Mahesh Babu. The ex-MLA, portrayed by Prakash Raj, wakes from a coma, but his health remains unstable. To help his recovery, Ajay Kumar disguises himself as an MLA to fulfil his father’s ambition. The movie is about how he eliminates his father’s enemies. 

Mahesh Babu is brilliant as police officer Ajay Kumar. His Telangana dialect is a hit with the viewers, and he looks stunningly handsome. He is an actor who overpowers you with his sheer charm. His comic scenes with Brahmanadam are a standout and have great entertainment value. His dialogues have a mass appeal and are punchy. This is one of the blockbuster movies of Mahesh Babu that won many best actor awards – CineMAA Awards, 59th Filmfare Awards South, Nandi Awards, and South Indian International Movie Awards. 

6. Nenokkadine (2014)

Nenokkadine is a psychological action movie that is directed by Sukumar and is one of the best action movies of Mahesh Babu. The film has Mahesh Babu as the lead, and Kriti Sanon makes her acting debut in this movie. Actors Nassar, Kelly Dorji, and Pradeep Rawat played supporting roles. The story is about Gautam (Mahesh Babu), a rock star. He is an orphan whose parents were murdered, and he seeks vengeance on his parents’ killers. To complicate matters, Gautam has schizophrenia with 25% of his grey matter missing. He seeks the help of Sameera, a journalist. The rest of the movie is about how he figures out his parents’ killers by solving several clues to his mysterious past. 

With this movie, Mahesh Babu got more recognition as an actor for his masterful acting. His decision to play the role of a person with psychological problems deserves special mention. This movie presents him in a different way and is fascinating to watch. It is a multi-layered character that he plays to perfection and is one of the best accomplishments of his career. At the SIIMA awards, he was named best actor. 

7. Srimanthudu (2015)

Srimanthudu is an action-drama movie directed by Koratala Siva and is unquestionably Mahesh Babu’s most famous movie. It has Mahesh Babu as the hero and Shruti Hassan as the female lead. The other prominent stars in supporting roles are Japati Babu, Sampath Raj, Sukanya, and Harish Uthaman. The film revolves around Harsha Vardhan, played by Mahesh Babu, a youngster who inherits his father’s business empire. He is urged by Charuseela (Shruti Hassan) to learn about his ancestral roots in a remote village called Devarakota. He adopts the village and tries to improve the lives of the people there. His efforts are not appreciated by the local goons. The rest of the movie is about how he develops the village. 

Mahesh, as usual, is outstanding as Harsha Vardhan, and this can be counted as one of the best Mahesh Babu romantic movies of all time. His pre-climax emotional scene performance is outstanding. His acting, dialogue delivery, and expressions are top-notch. His romantic scenes and marriage fight scenes are fantastic, and he looks young and in love. He deserves all the awards and accolades he received for this movie. He won the Filmfare Awards South Award, the IIFA Utsavam Award, the Nandi Award and the South Indian International Movie Award in the Best Actor category for this film.

8. Bharat Ane Nenu (2018) 

Bharat Ane Nenu is a political drama directed by Koratala Siva. The film has Mahash Babu and Kiara Advani as leads. The supporting cast of this top-rated movie of Mahesh Babu has Sarath Kumar, Prakash Raj, and Aamani Devaraj, among others. The plot revolves around Bharat, who is a student at Oxford University who has to return to India after the demise of his Chief Minister father. When he returns, he sees the corruption in his state and is disillusioned by it. He then owes it to himself to make a difference by becoming the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He then owes it to himself to make a difference by becoming the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The rest of the film is about how he overcomes obstacles and enemies to effect change in the system. 

The premise and scale of the film are the major aspects of this film that make it worthy of being on Mahesh Babu’s top list of films. The movie is well-directed, as the story covers major social issues in a spectacular manner. Mahesh too has given an award-winning performance in this movie. With his commanding presence as CM, he takes the movie to a whole new level. Of course, his good looks contribute to his charm, and the icing on the cake are the fantastic, massy political dialogues that he delivers with great aplomb. Like all his other movies, the production value is good, and the background music is gripping. 

9. Maharshi (2019)

Maharshi is an action drama movie directed by Vamshi Paidipally and is one of the super hit movies of Mahesh Babu. The leads are Mahesh Babu and Pooja Hegde, and this is one of his biggest movies in recent times. The story is about Rishi, the CEO of a reputed MNC in the US. One day, he gets to know that the success is because of a very close friend, Ravi Kumar, portrayed by Allari Naresh. At the same time, he finds that Ravi is in trouble in his village, Ramapuram. The rest of the plot is about how Rishi gives up his lifestyle and saves Ravi from his problems. 

Mahesh Babu is the biggest draw and is thus among the top rated movies of Mahesh Babu. He is shown in three different avatars, and fans love him in all three. Whether it is the look of the CEO or a college student, he plays to the gallery. In the second half, the transformation showcases his acting skills. This film also earned him the South Indian International Movie Award for Best Actor.

10. Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020)

Sarileru Neekevvaru is another action-comedy movie that is directed and written by Anil Ravipudi and is one of Mahesh Babu’s top 10 movies. The film, of course, has Mahesh Babu in the lead, along with actor Rashmika Mandanna. The supporting roles are played by Prakash Raj, Rajendra Prasad, and Vijayshanti. The movie is about Ajay, played by Mahesh Babu, who is a military officer working for the Indian Army. Bharati is a professor in Kurnool City, and the local minister, played by Prakash Raj, has a problem with her and plans to kill her. When she is about to be killed, Ajay saves her in the nick of time. The story is about who Bharathi is and her connection with the military officer Ajay. 

It’s Mahesh Babu’s show all the way. The hero is magnanimous and has different variations in his role. He is showcased in a superb manner, and his fans will enjoy the portrayal. The plus point of this movie is his dancing in the song Mind Block. His comic timing is another noteworthy thing in this movie. He has great chemistry with Rashmika, and they look cute as a couple. This movie is counted as Mahesh Babu’s biggest hit movie as it showcases this actor’s tremendous acting potential.

Mahesh Babu has been part of the Telugu film industry for over four decades. So his filmography is as extensive as his fanbase. He has some of the biggest grossers, and luckily many of them are available on OTT platforms. So watch all of these Mahesh Babu top 10 movies and enjoy!

Looking for more movie top 10 lists? If you’re a fan of Tamil Cinema, don’t miss out on this article about the Top 10 Must Watch Ajith Movies for His Best Acting

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the God of Tollywood?

Mahesh Babu has a massive fan following and is often called the Prince or the God of Tollywood.

What is Mahesh Babu’s 25th film?

Maharishi is Mahesh Babu’s 25th film, and it was a blockbuster success. Read the content above to get more info about this awesome Mahesh Babu top Telugu film.

Who is a handsome hero in Tollywood?

Undoubtedly, superstar Mahesh Babu is among the most handsome heroes in Tollywood. His fresh-faced appearance and boyish charm have enthralled fans all around the world.

Who is The 1 hero in the Tollywood fan following?

There are many contenders for this spot, including the likes of Mahesh Babu, Pawan Kalyan, etc. Tollywood fans unanimously agree that Mahesh Babu is the undisputed king. His success at the box office is yet another indicator of his popularity amongst his fans.

Who is the king of Telugu hero films?

Mahesh Babu, who has received numerous awards and accolades, is currently regarded as the king of Telugu hero movies. He is famous for the many action hero roles he has played in several hit Telugu films.