Rockline Venkatesh

Indian actor and film producer

Rockline Venkatesh

Venkatesh in 2018

Born|

T. N. Venkatesh

(1963-03-24) 24 March 1963 (age 62)

Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India

Occupations|

* Film producer
* Actor

Years active| 1987–present
Spouse| Pushpakumari
Children| 2

Thirupathi Narasimhalunaidu Venkatesh (born 24 March 1963), better known by his stage name Rockline Venkatesh, is an Indian actor and film producer known for his works in Kannada, Tamil and Hindi cinemas. He is the founder and owner of the production and distribution company, Rockline Entertainments which has directed over five films as of 2012. In 2015 he co-produced Bajrangi Bhaijaan which earned the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment at the 63rd National Film Awards.[1]

## Career

[edit]

### 1987–2010

[edit]

Venkatesh began his career in films as a stuntman and playing supporting roles in 1987. In 1992, he produced his first television series, Ashawadigalu.[2] He started his production venture in 1996 with co-production of Ayudha. He has made films with original stories and also remakes from other languages. He has made films with top super stars of Kannada film industry like Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Ravichandran, Shivaraj Kumar, Upendra, Sudeep, Puneeth Rajkumar, Darshan, Vijay and others and also made a few small budget films. He has used top film directors like Ravichandran, S.V.Rajendra Singh Babu, D.Rajendra Babu, S. Narayan, KV Raju, Om Prakash Rao, MS Rajashekhar, Sadhu Kokila, Dayal Padmanabhan, Meher Ramesh and others. In 2009, When IDBI started financing Kannada films, Rockline Venkatesh one of the initial producers to welcome the bank to Industry.[3] Rockline Productions has now become a brand name in the Kannada film industry which has produced several blockbusters like Preethse, Preethsodh Thappa, Yaare Neenu Cheluve, Ajay, Mourya, Diggajaru, and Dakota Express.[4][5][6][7]

### 2010 – present

[edit]

Venkatesh with .K.S. Ravikumar, Vairamuthu, Rajinikanth and Sonakshi Sinha at the audio launch of Lingaa. Venkatesh at the launch of Celebrity Cricket League 4

In 2010, The ongoing buzz was created when it was said superstar Upendra is directing a movie after 10 years, Rockline Venkatesh produced the movie and its said that they spend lakhs of money on photoshoot itself.[8] And in late 2013, after making films like Super, Preethse and Maurya, Venkatesh was very keen to remake Tamil film Soodhu Kavvum in Kannada.[9] Later it was mentioned that Rohit Shetty from Hindi film industry would direct the Hindi version of the film.[10] Recently Venkatesh has been seen working with superstars from various industries, he made his debut as a Telugu film producer with 2014's Power, starring Ravi Teja, Lingaa starring Rajnikanth which released in various languages and in 2015 he associated with Bollywood's superstar Salman Khan for the film Bajrangi Bhaijaan which emerged as a commercial success grossing over ₹6.25 billion worldwide and in the process and became the third highest grossing Indian film[11] after PK and Baahubali.

On New Year's Eve 2015, Killing Veerappan by Ram Gopal Varma was released. Rockline Venkatesh has keyed well in the prominent role as a police officer (where he has performed police roles in movies such as Agni IPS and Police Story) who becomes one of the victim to the killings of Veerappan.

In mid 2016 Rockline Venkatesh acquired the remake rights of Marathi blockbuster Sairat for four southern languages. Sairat, the critically acclaimed love story is the first Marathi film to gross over ₹100 crore (US$15 million) worldwide.[12] Rinku Rajguru, heroine of the Marathi film Sairat will make Sandalwood debut with the Kannada version directed by S. Narayan.[13]

In January 2017, Rockline Venkatesh's first Malayalam film was announced. The film, starring Mohanlal and Manju Warrier, was directed by B. Unnikrishnan while Tamil actor Vishal has been cast as the main villain.[14][15]

## Filmography

[edit]

Key  †  | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

|

See also: Category:Rockline Entertainments films

### As producer

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Language  | Notes

|
|
|

1992  | Belli Modagalu | Kannada  | Remake of Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu
1993 | Ananda Jyothi | Based on the novel Maangalya Maale by Kakolu Saroja Rao
1994 | Rasika |
1995 | Himapatha | Based on the novel of same name by T. K. Rama Rao
1996 | Aayudha |
1997 | Agni IPS |
Laali | Karnataka State Film Award for Second Best Film
1998 | Kurubana Rani | Co-written by V. Vijayendra Prasad
Yaare Neenu Cheluve | Remake of Kadhal Kottai
Preethsod Thappa | Remake of Ninne Pelladata
1999 | Naanu Nanna Hendthiru | Remake of Thaikulame Thaikulame
2000 | Preethse | Remake of Darr
Krishna Leele | Remake of Gokulathil Seethai
2001 | Diggajaru | Remake of Natpukkaga
Jodi | Remake of Darling Darling
Usire | Remake of Bharathi Kannamma
2002 | Dakota Express | Remake of Ee Parakkum Thalika
Nagarahavu | Remake of Baazigar
2003 | Ondagona Baa | Remake of Kalisundam Raa
Dum | Tamil | Remake of Appu
2004 | Maurya | Kannada | Remake of Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi
2005 | Varsha | Remake of Hitler
Majaa | Tamil | Remake of Thommanum Makkalum
2006 | Ajay | Kannada | Remake of Okkadu
Sirivantha | Remake of Aa Naluguru
2008  | Bombaat |
2009 | Yodha | Remake of Bose
Junglee |
Devru | Remake of Thalai Nagaram which itself was based on Malayalam movie Abhimanyu
Manasaare |
2010 | Super |
2012 | Dakota Picture | Remake of Malamaal Weekly
2014 | Power | Telugu | Remade in Bengali as Power
Lingaa | Tamil  | Cameo appearance in the song "Oh Nanba"
2015 | Bajrangi Bhaijaan | Hindi | Similar to Kallarali Hoovagi
Written by V. Vijayendra Prasad
2016  | Kotigobba 2 | Kannada
Tamil |
Sundaranga Jaana | Kannada | Remake of Bhale Bhale Magadivoy
2017 | Manasu Mallige | Remake of Sairat
Villain | Malayalam | [16][17]
2018 | Brihaspathi | Kannada | Remake of Tamil film Velaiilla Pattadhari
Aatagadharaa Siva | Telugu | Remake of Rama Rama Re...
2019 | Natasaarvabhowma | Kannada |
Aadi Lakshmi Puraana |
2023  | Kaatera | [18]
2024 | Karataka Damanaka | [19][20]

### As actor

[edit]

Year  | Film  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1989 | Hongkongnalli Agent Amar |  | [21]
1993 | Ananda Jyothi |  | Based on the novel Maangalya Maale by Kakolu Saroja Rao
1994 | Rasika | Rajeev |
1996 | Police Story |  |
1997 | Agni IPS | Baasha Khan |
2002 | Dheera |  | Remake of Evadra Rowdy[22]
Dakota Express | Krishna | Remake of Ee Parakkum Thalika
Balarama | Balarama | Remake of Yerra Mandaram
Nagarahavu |  | Remake of Baazigar
2007 | Police Story 2 | Vijay |
2008 | Kaamannana Makkalu | Krishna |
2009 | Devru |  | Remake of Thalai Nagaram which itself was based on Malayalam movie Abhimanyu
2012 | Dakota Picture | Krishna | Remake of Malamaal Weekly
2014 | Lingaa | Man at the bar | Tamil film
Cameo appearance in the song "Oh Nanba"
2016 | Killing Veerappan | T. Harikrishna |
Nataraja Service | Inspector Venkatesh |
2018 | Naachiyaar | Feroz Khan | Tamil film
8MM Bullet | KK |
2019 | Kurukshetra | Shalya |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "63rd National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. 28 March 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
2. ^ Shenoy, Archana (28 April 2002). "New sensation". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 20 May 2002. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
3. ^ "IDBI not keen on financing Kannada films". Rediff. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
4. ^ "Celebs at Karnataka Chalanachitra Kalavidara Sangha". ask4tick.com. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
5. ^ "Artist association grand meeting". indiaglitz.com. 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
6. ^ "FTII-like institute to come up in Bengaluru". newindianexpress.com. 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
7. ^ "Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce". newindianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
8. ^ "Upendra, the director returns". Rediff. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
9. ^ "'Soodhu Kavvum' to have Kannada remake". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
10. ^ "ROHIT SHETTY TO REMAKE SOODHU KAVVUM". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
11. ^ "Bajrangi Bhaijaan Total Box Office collections – Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali". www.belvoireagle.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
12. ^ "Success ka effect: Sairat to now be remade in 4 different languages!". DNA India. 12 June 2016. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
13. ^ "Kannada Remake Of Marathi Film Sairat Launched". filmibeat. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
14. ^ "Vishal's role in Malayalam debut revealed?". The New Indian Express. 27 January 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
15. ^ "Vishal to play the main antagonist in Mohanlal's next?". www.bollywoodlife.com. 27 January 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
16. ^ "Vishal to make his Malayalam debut in Mohanlal's next". The Indian Express. 27 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
17. ^ "Actor Vishal to make Mollywood debut in Mohanlal-starrer". manoramaonline.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
18. ^ "Darshan's 'Kaatera' gets a release date". thehindu. 29 November 2023. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
19. ^ Y Maheswara Reddy (25 August 2023). "Almost ready". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
20. ^ "Director Yogaraj Bhat Reveals The Meaning Of His Upcoming Film's Title Karataka Damanaka". News18. 15 July 2023. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
21. ^ "Hongkongnalli Agent Amar (1989) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew".
22. ^ "Indiainfo: Kannada: Dheera - Review". Archived from the original on 1 October 2002.

## External links

[edit]

* Rockline Venkatesh at IMDb
* Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived 2012-05-12)

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States