Adivi Sesh
Currently one of the most versatile actors in the industry, Adivi Sesh has excelled in different characters in his short tenure as a mainstream actor. While movie-goers are raving about his performance as the clueless ex-boyfriend in the recent suspense thriller Kshanam, Adivi Sesh has also made his mark as a villain in films like Panjaa and Baahubali.
Rati Agniotri
One of the versatile powerhouses in Bollywood, Rati made her mark in a villainous role in Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Dictator, earlier this year. While the film was largely underwhelming, Rati’s scenes with Balayya was said to be the highlight.
Gopichand
He may have impressed as a hero in light-hearted entertainers like Loukyam and Jil but actor Gopichand first made his mark as a baddie, in films like Jayam, Nijam and Varsham. With the actor enjoying a fairly large fan-base, it remains to be seen if he would go back to doing negative roles.
Lakshmi Manchu
This actress impressed everybody with a dark and mystic role in her Tollywood debut Anaganaga O Dheerudu (2011). While the movie didn’t quite do so well, Lakshmi Manchu received tremendous praise for her performance.
Ramya Krishna
She may have played the sweet, romantic wife to Nagarjuna in Soggade Chinni Nayana but actress Ramya Krishna’s role as the spiteful and jealous Neelambari in Rajinikanth-starrer Narasimha (1999) won her plenty of accolades and proved her mettle as a versatile actor.
Jagapathi Babu
A star of the 90s, this veteran actor has reinvented himself as an actor and superbly resurrected his career by featuring in negative roles. While in last year’s Srimanthudu, Jagapathi Babu excelled in a role which had shades of grey, he was phenomenal as a full-fledged villain in this year’s NTR-starrer Nannaku Prematho.
Anasuya Bharadwaj Given her glamorous
performances as a television anchor and in Nagarjuna’s Soggade Chinni Nayana, Anasuya surprised everyone in a negative role in the recently released film Kshanam. With the film raking in the moolah at the box-office, this lady’s career seems to have taken off in emphatic style.
Rana Daggubati
After a promising debut with Sekhar Kammula’s Leader, actor Rana Daggubati became an instant star in Tollywood. Soon, Rana also bagged Bollywood films like Dum Maaro Dum, Department and Baby. Which is why it surprised everybody when Rana was chosen to play the role of an antagonist in SS Rajamouli’s fantasy film Baahubali: The Beginning. Rana went on to put in one of his best acting performances and the film became a historic success for Telugu cinema.
Sonu Sood
After an indifferent start to his Bollywood career, Sonu Sood turned towards negative roles and became a major hit in Tollywood. Impressed with his performances as a villain, Telugu filmmakers signed him up by the dozen and the actor featured as a baddie in films like Athadu, Arundhati, Dookudu, Julai and Aagadu.
Telangana Shakuntala
The late actor was one of the most popular villains in Telugu cinema and redefined negative roles essayed by women in the industry. Some of her popular films include Aha Naa Pellanta, Gulabi, Bhadrachalam and Nuvvu Nenu.