In person, Vishnu Manchu has the disarming ease of someone who’s grown up with fame but doesn’t wear it. He’s thoughtful without being performative, articulate without trying to impress. When he speaks, there’s no rush to arrive at the perfect soundbite. “Kannappa is more than a film for me,” he says. “It’s my offering, my prayer, and my legacy.”
The son of legendary Telugu actor Mohan Babu, Vishnu Manchu was born into the epicentre of stardom—but his own journey has been far from formulaic. He debuted as a child actor in Ragile Gundelu in 1985, and won his first Filmfare for Vishnu (2003). Since then, he’s danced through comedies (Dhee, Denikaina Ready), navigated thrillers (Rowdy, Anukshanam), and shouldered ensemble spectacles (Pandavulu Pandavulu Tummeda). But ask him what truly defines his two-decade career and he doesn’t hesitate. Kannappa, a passion project over a decade in the making, is what he calls “the story that defines who I am today.”
Over the years, he’s built production houses, steered the Movie Artists Association, and perhaps most meaningfully, founded institutions like the New York Academy and Spring Board Schools across South India. “Education changed my life,” he says simply. “It’s not a hobby. It’s a calling.”
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This balance—of spectacle and substance, spotlight and structure—is what defines Vishnu today. It’s what fuels Kannappa, his most ambitious and personal undertaking yet. The mythological epic, slated for release in June 2025, features an ensemble cast that reads like a pan-Indian blockbuster: Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal. But more than its scale, it’s the intimacy of the project that moves him. His children—twin daughters and young son Avram—all make appearances. His wife, Viranica, runs the show behind the scenes. And his father not only co-produces, but stars alongside him.
There’s a humility in Vishnu that isn’t typical of actors with his resume—or lineage. In a conversation with Esquire India, Vishnu is candid about the pressures he’s navigated, his fitness journey, and the dance of balancing work and family.
Excerpts from a conversation.
Kannappa has been years in the making and you’ve called it your dream project—what does it mean to you personally?
Kannappa is more than a film for me. It’s my offering, my prayer, and my legacy. I’ve lived with this story for over a decade. It’s a tale of absolute devotion, and it challenged me on every front—as a filmmaker, as a devotee of Lord Shiva, and as a son carrying forward my father’s legacy. It’s the project that defines who I am today.
You’ve worked with your father, acted alongside him, and now co-produced Kannappa with him. What are some of the greatest lessons Mohan Babu has taught you?
Discipline. That’s the first and last word when it comes to my father. He taught me to respect the craft, the people behind the scenes, and the power of preparation. He also taught me that no matter how high you rise, your feet must stay rooted to the ground. He’s my harshest critic and my biggest cheerleader.
Was the pressure ever real? Of growing up with your father? Or were you comfortable in your own skin?
Of course, the pressure was real. You don’t grow up as Mohan Babu’s son and expect the world to go easy on you. But I learned early on that comparison is a thief of joy. I had to find my voice, my purpose. And over time, I stopped chasing validation and started chasing growth.
Some of your contemporaries—like Allu Arjun, Ram Charan, Jr. NTR—have had their Bollywood ‘moments.’ Is a Hindi debut something on your radar?
If the right story comes, absolutely. But for me, it’s not about checking off a Bollywood box. It’s about telling stories that move people. Whether it’s in Telugu, Hindi, or any language, I’m here to create cinema that lasts.
Your physical transformation has been amazing over the last few years—what’s your fitness routine like?
Thank you. [laughs] Fitness became non-negotiable for me. I work out six days a week, mix weight training with functional workouts, and my diet is tailored to my goals. But more than aesthetics, it’s about energy and endurance—especially when you’re leading a film like Kannappa and managing a university!
As a father of four, how do you balance work and family?
It’s a dance. Some days you nail it, some days you stumble. But I’ve learned that presence matters more than perfection. When I’m with my kids, I’m all in. And thankfully, I have a partner who keeps our home grounded.
You’re more than just an actor. You’ve built schools, managed institutions, and run an educational trust. Tell me more! Is it a passion? A hobby?
It’s a calling. Education changed my life, and I want to give that opportunity to as many as I can. Through Mohan Babu University and New York Academy, we’re trying to reshape how learning happens in India. It’s not a side project—it’s core to who I am.
If not cinema, what would Vishnu Manchu have become?
An entrepreneur, for sure. I’ve always loved building things—whether it’s a university, a business, or a story. But I think I’d still find a way to be a storyteller, one way or another.
Twenty years into the industry, what does success look like to you now?
Peace. Impact. And doing work that outlives me. Early on, success was about fame and numbers. Now, it’s about legacy—creating stories, institutions, and moments that inspire others.
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Many claim that Telugu cinema is evolving rapidly. Is that true?
It’s not just evolving—it’s exploding. We’re seeing stories with scale, heart, and ambition like never before. But what excites me most is the audience—they’re ready for risk, ready for rootedness, and they’re pushing us to do better every day.
What are you on the hunt for next?
Stories that scare me in the best way. Collaborations that push boundaries. And moments—whether on screen or off—that remind me why I fell in love with this industry in the first place.