Naga Shaurya

Before he got his first role, Shaurya struggled for almost five years. He stated, "Every time I was on the verge of signing a film, something or the other would happen and I was back to square one",[5] and added that he was "disappointed and wanted to go back to my parents".[6] Shaurya first appeared on screen in Cricket Girls & Beer.[7] Shaurya saw an advertisement by Vaaraahi Chalana Chitram, who were casting for Srinivas Avasarala's romantic comedy Oohalu Gusagusalade and sent in his portfolio. Although he had no hopes, he was selected for the lead role.[6] While working on Oohalu Gusagualade, he was selected for a role in Chandamama Kathalu which released first. An anthology film, it featured Shaurya as part of an ensemble cast.[8]

Shaurya's Oohalu Gusagusalade with Raashi Khanna, released two months later and became a critical and commercial success.[9] While praising his performance Deccan Chronicle noted, "Naga Shourya is perfect for the role of Venky; he looks fresh and has performed with ease."[10] His third release that year, Dikkulu Choodaku Ramayya with Sana Makbul, was again a romantic comedy. A triangular love story directed by Trikoti, it was about a son and father falling for the same girl.[11] The Hindu wrote, "Naga Shaurya proves yet again that he's one of the best among the newer lot of actors. He brings in the required innocence of a teenager and shows his anguish and helplessness in the later portions effectively".[12] Shaurya's final release of the year was Lakshmi Raave Maa Intiki with Avika Gor.[13] In 2015, Shaurya appeared in Jadoogadu under the direction of Yogie opposite Sonarika Bhadoria.[14]

Shaurya's career marked a turning point in 2016 with five films: Abbayitho Ammayi, B. V. Nandini Reddy's Kalyana Vaibhogame, G. V. Rama Raju's Oka Manasu, Srinivas Avasarala's Jyo Achyutananda and Nee Jathaleka.[15][16] Of these films, only Kalyana Vaibhogame with Malvika Nair and Jyo Achyutananda with Regina Cassandra, were commercially successful.[17][18] Praising his performance in Jyo Achyutananda, Idlebrain stated, "Naga Shourya is aptly cast. His character should look vulnerable and his casting helped it. He has done extremely well." While The Hindu opioned, "Naga Shourya is the pick of the lot here; he delivers an extremely nuanced performance."[19][20] In 2017, Shaurya played a cameo in the film Kathalo Rajakumari.[21]

Naga Shaurya in 2018

Shaurya appeared in four films in 2018. The first release, Chalo with Rashmika Mandanna, was a box office success.[22] Firstpost noted, "For Naga Shaurya, Chalo feels like a step in the right direction, and he’s completely at ease with himself. He succeeds to a good extent, until the story runs out of fuel."[23] His other films that year, the Tamil-Telugu bilingual Diya, the family entertainer Ammammagarillu and the romantic comedy Nartanasala failed at the box office.[24][25] The Hindu criticized the latter for its approach on gay people.[26]

Shaurya's only release in 2019, was the fantasy comedy Oh! Baby with Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The film, which received positive reviews, was a commercial success.[27] Deccan Chronicle said, "Naga Shaurya does his small role neatly."[28] His 2020 action thriller film, Aswathama with Mehreen Pirzada, produced by his home banner Ira Creations, was a profitable venture.[29] Firstpost opioned, "It is not just the narrative that keeps you at the edge of the seat but also a major credit for that goes to Shaurya. The actor has reinvented himself as an action hero, and the transformation works quite well." Times of India said, "Naga Shaurya does an okay job when it comes to portraying emotions for some reason. His frustration and anger work well for the action scenes.".[30][31]

In 2021, Shaurya had two releases, Varudu Kaavalenu and Lakshya.[32] The former had an average run where as Lakshya failed to get the cash registers ringing at the box office. The News Minute termed his performance in Varudu Kaavalenu as "convincing".[33] For Lakshya, Times of India stated, "The film clearly shows off the hard work that Shaurya has put in. For someone who has played a boy-next-door for the most part, this film is a test to his caliber and it’s not just his body that has transformed."[34]

Shaurya's only film in 2022, Krishna Vrinda Vihari with Shirley Setia, was a box-office failure.[35][36]

Shaurya had two releases in 2023 - Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi with Malvika Nair and Rangabali with Yukti Thareja. Despite mixed to positive reviews, both the films turned out to be box-office disappointments.[37] For Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi, Telangana Today stated, "Naga Shaurya proves that he’s a bankable star when it comes to the rom-com genre."[38] The Indian Express noted his work in Rangabali and said, "Naga Shaurya does a good job in a character tailor-made for him."[39]

Shaurya will next appear in Raja Kolusu's film Nari Nari Naduma Murari, Mahesh S. Koneru's film Police Vari Hecharika and a SS Arunachalam's untitled next.[40][41]

Shaurya started his own production house named Ira Creations and first produced Chalo (2018), with his mother Usha Mulpuri.[51] Since then, Shaurya has co-produced Nartanasala (2018), Aswathama (2020) and Krishna Vrinda Vihari (2022).[52]

• All films are in Telugu, unless otherwise noted.