How Nani's 19-year-old love story began with a techie in Visakhapatnam. From 5 years of dating, his struggles and now 14 years of marriage

Telugu star Nani recently celebrated 14 years of marriage with his wife, Anjana Yelavarthy, describing their journey as a “blockbuster family love story.” The Dasara star marked the special occasion by dropping a series of photographs with his wife and wrote a heartfelt caption along with the photos: "14 years for this Blockbuster Family Entertainer/Love story. @anjuyelavarthy.” In an event promoting his 2022 film Ante Sundaraniki, the star said there were some difficulties before marriage – Anjana, who is a software engineer, came from a science family, and her parents were not sure about her prospects with the actor. They tied the knot in 2012 and have a son named Arjun, who was born in 2017.

How They Met

In an old chat with Hyderabad Times, Nani revealed how he met his wife and said he met her through a common friend in Vizag when he was an RJ and was not a part of the film industry. They became friends and eventually became lovers. The couple dated for five years before tying the knot.

A Sneak Peek Into Their Days As A Young Couple

Before his recent film Paradise hit the big screens, Anjana shared an anecdote about their days as a couple before marriage and how they often bunked college to watch films together.


“I still remember 2009, when a couple of us bunked college to watch your film, only to find out it didn’t even have a morning show on its release day. I remember thinking how hard it must be for a newcomer to even get a film out there on time,” she wrote.

She also reflected on the Eega star’s 17-year-old journey in Tollywood and how each movie of his, from the blockbusters to the flops, were his babies.

“I’ve watched every film about being your baby. Some waddled, some ran, and some bumped their heads along the way. Nothing ever mattered. It was still your baby. Tonight, Paradise takes its baby steps,” she wrote.

In another interview with actor Rana Daggubati on his podcast, Nani dropped a stunning revelation about his wife – she is the granddaughter of the famous and celebrated scientist, Mr Yelavarthy Nayudamma. He also admitted he was worried his profession as an actor would cause her family to reject him.

“I honestly didn’t think our wedding plans would materialize. It was back when I had just started out in the film industry. As actors, we don’t know what the future has in store for us. They (Anjuna’s family) were all brilliant in academics,” he shared.

Nani's Journey In Tollywood

Nani is one of the highest-paid stars in Tollywood. He began his career as a ‘clap director’ to producer Anil Kumar Koneru. According to a report by The Better India, he earned a meagre Rs 4000 per month during that time. . He subsequently appeared in films like Allari Bullodu (2005), Astram (2006), and Dhee (2007) before debuting as a leading actor in Ashta Chamma. An adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance Of Being Ernest, the film was a success. However, it was not until the 2011 rom-com Ala Modalaindi, which saw him opposite Nithya Menen, did he establish himself as a leading man.

Gradually, he carved a niche for himself in Tollywood with major hits such as Nenu Local and Ninnu Kori. Today, the actor’s networth is estimated to be between Rs 150- Rs 200 crore as per a Siasat.com report.