Star Debuts - Nandamuri Balakrishna (1 of 12)

People think their path is already set, red-carpeted with rose petals strewn on it. Or is it? Star sons have an easy entry, but a higher standard of expectations from the cinegoers. Is it as easy as it looks? Apparently not. From intensive workouts to acting classes and dance training sessions and in extreme cases, if rumor is to be believed, surgeries and the like. So what, they are at least assured an entry in to the cinema field without any problems. However, not all of them become overnight stars-some fade away into oblivion, by compulsion or by choice. Or others go away from the maddening race of the mainstream while still others are hanging there, in the pipeline to be what their parent or uncle or grandparent has been, to live their lifelong dream or to try it, give it a shot-it don't cost 'em nothing! There's no denying though, that it is these very people that are ruling the roost. 'Outsiders' continue to struggle, trying to make their way into the dense and compact little world. Nandamuri Balakrishna Nandamuri Balakrishna, son of the legendary NTR, lovingly known as Balayya, was exposed to movies before kids figure out its all make-believe. He appeared in his father's films from the tender age of 14, starting with Tatamma Kala in 1974 and continuing the run with a couple of hit flicks. As a lead actor, he started his journey with Sahasame Jeevitham in '84 and later went on to please the box-office with movies starting with Mangamma Gari Manavadu '84 to the Narasimha Naidu '01, emerging out of his father's shadows slowly but surely. With his next movie Okka Magadu being one of the highly anticipated movies of this year, you can tell he was always in for the long run. PS: Balayya mania is to be seen to be believed (or make it to any theatre on the first day of Okka Magadu).