Mohan Babu Manchu (born Manchu Bakthavatsalam Naidu) is an Indian film actor, director, and producer, known for his works predominantly in Telugu Cinema. Mohan Babu has attended the Madras Film Institute. He has acted in more than five hundred feature films in lead, supporting and cameo roles. He has received a Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu), and a CineMAA Award for Best Supporting Actor.
A former Physical Education Instructor, Mohan Babu is a noted educationalist, and operates Sri Vidya Niketan Educational Institutions, and is the founder of Sree Vidyanikethan Educational Trust. In the year 2007, he received Padmasri for his contribution to the field of Arts and education. He is a former Member of Parliament – Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh after being elected in the year 1995. He was also elected a Deputy into the International Parliament for Safety and Peace, an intergovernmental organization based in Italy. He is referred to in the media as Dialogue King, Collection King, Nataprapoorna, and Natavachaspathi.
Mohan Babu was born on 19 March 1952to Narayanaswamy Naidu and Lakshmamma in the Modhugulapalem village near the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. Mohan Babu grew up with his three younger brothers, Ranganath Chowdary, Ramachandra Chowdary, Krishna and his sister Vijaya. After finishing primary schooling from Yerpedu village, he attended the S.P.J.N.M High School in Tirupati. As a child, Mohan Babu developed an interest with the stage and actively appeared in school plays from the age of 14. His father, a headmaster, was keen on his son pursuing an academic career. It was during this time that Mohan Babu moved to Chennai and acquired a degree in Physical Education from the YMCA College of Physical Education.
Mohan Babu began his career as a Physical Education Instructor at the Kesari High School for many years. Drawn to arts as a child and convinced that the film industry was the place meant for him, Mohan Babu started traveling to many studios based in Chennai in search of opportunities. Finally, in the year 1969, he received an opportunity to work with director Lakshmi Deepak as an apprentice marking his entry into the film industry. He spent many years behind the camera until his thirst for acting and expression brought him on the screen with 1974 films Kannavari Kalalu and Alluri Seetha Rama Raju as an actor.
Dr. M. Mohan Babu was married to Manchu Vidya Devi who bore him a son Manchu Vishnu and a daughter Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna - both of who are actors in the film industry. After her sad demise that left him in agony, he married Manchu Nirmala Devi, the sister of his first wife. She bore him a son Manchu Manoj who is also an actor.
