It was not usual for a skinny, not so looking young lad to make up his filmy debut as hero in Telugu cinema. But Allari Naresh is exactly the same when he made his debut with Ravi Babu’s Allari, an adult comedy. Naresh’s performance and comedy timing was appreciated and by all and since then he became popular as ‘Allari Naresh’.

His next movie Dhana Laxmi I Love You, a remake of Hera Pheri was a disaster and his third movie Thotti Gang, co-starring Prabhu Deva and Sunil was a good hit at the Box office. Thotti Gang is again followed by two flops- ‘Juniors’, the remake of Thulluvadho Ilamai and Praanam, in which he is seen in a Dual role. Finally, Naresh broke the shackles with Maa Alludu Very Good, co-starring Rajendra Prasad which went to become a big hit. That movie was immediately followed by Nenu, a remake of Kaadhal Kondein. The movie was a big flop but it revealed the other side of Naresh who was only seen as a comedy actor till then. He acted as helpless and deprived psycho in the movie and it is one of his best performances till date. The movie was again followed by two more flops, Nuvvante Naakistam, Danger and Party. However, he managed to unarguably stardom with KithaKithalu which was a blockbuster. He went on doing films despite his inconsistency at the box office. By the end of 2007, he went on to act in movies like Gopi - Goda Meedha Pilli (Flop), Athili Sattibabu LKG (Superhit), Allare Allari (Flop), Pellaindi Kaani (flop) and Seema Shastri (Super hit).

Allari Naresh was a producer friendly hero in those days. His films used to cost very little for the producers and they would reap many times better if the movie went on to become a hit. So, the actor was never short of offers. In 2008, he has 8 releases which is a rare feat for any hero then – Sundara Kanda (flop), Vishaka Express (flop), Pelli Kaani Prasad (flop), Gamyam (Hit), Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters (Hit), Siddu from Srikakulam (flop), Blade Babji (Hit) and Dongala Bandi (Flop). His role as Gaali Seenu is also deemed as one of his finest performances till date and he went on to receive 'Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor' for his excellent performance.

As said earlier, inconsistency would always haunt Allari Naresh. From 2009 to till date, he went on to do 18 films. Except for Bendu Apparao RMP, Betting Bangarraju, Aha Naa Pellanta, Seema Tapakai, Sudigadu and Yamudiki Mogudu, none of them managed to do well at the box office. During this time, he also went to do a movie, Subhapradham with K.Vishwanath which bombed miserably and his role in Shambo Siva Shambo got him good accolades. Sudigadu, a remake of Tamil film, Thamizh Padham went on to become a big hit and is currently the biggest grosser in the actor’s career.  But Allari Naresh could not keep up the success steam with his next films, Action 3D, Laddu Babu, Jump Jilani and Brother of Bommali. Up next is the prestigious 50th film in the actor's career and he is desperate to be in winning ways with that film which is yet to be announced.

• Bandipotu directed by Indraganti Mohan Krishna.