Nandamuri Balakrishna was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to N. T. Rama Rao and smt.Basava Tarakam. Balakrishna has seven brothers Rama Krishna, Jaya Krishna, Harikrishna, Mohana Krishna, Sai Krishna, Jaya Shankar Krishna, and four sisters Uma Maheswari, Bhuvaneswari, Lokeswari, Daggubati Purandareswari.In 1974 Telugu film, Tatamma Kala which was Directed by his father NTR. This marked his debut on the silver screen. Also released in the same year, NTR’s Brahmam gari Charitra. His first year was very promising, with three out of seven movies being big hits. His first movie with ANR Bharya Bhartla Bhandham produced by Jagapati Arts was rated as an average film. Pattabhishekam, a Ramakrishna Studios film directed by K.Raghavendra Rao who weaved a new image for NTR, saved grace by collecting close to one crore in the first week and having a decent run.
In 1986, he had six consecutive box office hits and he has appeared on the cover page of The Week Magazine. Muddula Krishnnayya was the first movie to collect over one crore in the first week and he never looked back on openings. In 1989, his Muddula Mavayya turned out to be the biggest hit. His 50th movie Nari Nari Naduma Murari was a big hit. Lorry Driver, which came in 1990 was not only an unexpected hit, but is one of the most popular films in the Telugu film industry. Rowdy Inspector was another big hit in his career that came in the next couple of years. Even the film is dubbed in Hindi and was a big hit. His performance in Sci-Fi movie Aditya 369 and Folklore Bhairava Dweepam was critically acclaimed and has made decent commercial outcome.
During the year of 1993 only two of his movies Nippuravva and Bangaru Bullodu were released; both of them were released on the same day. In the year 1994 his combination with ANR in Gandeevam did not have similar success, however his next movie Bobbili Simham did. His role in Pedda Annayya (1997) was praised by fans and it was contested that he deserved an award for his role in this film.