When Venkatesh brother Suresh Babu Was mistaken for Kamal Haasan
Producer Suresh Babu, a renowned figure in Tollywood shared a fascinating story from his younger days when people often mistook him for actor Kamal Haasan. During his 20s, his resemblance to the famous star even caught the attention of filmmaker Bharatiraja who offered him a lead role in a movie.
Suresh Babu is the eldest son of legendary Telugu filmmaker D. Ramanaidu. Despite his good looks and physique, he never pursued acting. Unlike other producers who launched their sons as actors, Ramanaidu had different plans for Suresh. After experiencing challenges in the film industry, Ramanaidu wanted his son to have a stable career as a doctor, engineer, or businessman. He sent Suresh to the University of Michigan in 1981 to study engineering.
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After completing his education, Suresh started a ceramic manufacturing business called Spartek Ceramics, which eventually failed. This led him to join his father’s office, where he discovered his natural talent for understanding stories and making corrections during discussions.
Suresh also revealed that during his youth, his resemblance to Kamal Haasan caused quite a stir. “Even our cars were similar, and people would often stop me, thinking I was Kamal Haasan,” he recalled.
Filmmaker Bharatiraja once approached Suresh with an acting offer. However, Suresh declined, as acting never interested him. Instead, he focused on supporting his father’s production house and helped launch his brother Venkatesh’s acting career. “I wanted to ensure Venkatesh got a strong start. It took a few years, but after *Bobbili Raja*’s success in 1990, he was established as an actor, and I decided to stay in India,” he said.
Today Suresh Babu is celebrated for his contributions to the Telugu film industry as a producer and distributor steering clear of the limelight but leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
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