Bhupatiraju Ravi Shankar Raju (born 26 January 1968), known professionally as Ravi Teja, is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work in Telugu cinema. Recognised for his roles in action comedy films, he is popularly referred to as "Mass Maharaja". Known for his comic timing, he is among the highest-paid actors in Telugu cinema and has received several accolades, including three Nandi Awards and a Filmfare Award South. He was featured in Forbes India's list of top 100 celebrities in 2012, 2013, and 2015.

Teja began his career with an uncredited role in Karthavyam (1990) and went on to play minor roles in several films. He later appeared in supporting roles in Sindhooram (1997), Manasichi Choodu (1998), Premaku Velayara (1999), Samudram (1999), and Annayya (2000). During this period, he also worked as an assistant director. He made his debut as a lead actor with Nee Kosam (1999), which was an average grosser at the box office but earned him the Nandi Special Jury Award.

Teja gained recognition with Itlu Sravani Subramanyam (2001), Aunu Valliddaru Ishta Paddaru! (2002), and Idiot (2002), establishing himself as a leading actor. He further cemented his position with films such as Khadgam (2002), Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi (2003), Venky (2004), Naa Autograph (2004), Bhadra (2005), and Vikramarkudu (2006). His subsequent notable films include Dubai Seenu (2007), Krishna (2008), Neninthe (2008), Kick (2009), Don Seenu (2010), Mirapakay (2011), Balupu (2013), Power (2014), Bengal Tiger (2015), Raja the Great (2017), Krack (2021), Dhamaka (2022), and Waltair Veerayya (2023).

Ravi Teja was born in Jaggampeta in the erstwhile East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. His father, Bhupathiraju Rajagopal Raju was a pharmacist and his mother, Bhupathiraju Rajya Lakshmi was a homemaker. Ravi Teja is the eldest of three sons, the others being Bharath Raju and Raghu, who are also actors.

He spent most of his childhood in Northern India because of his father's work. His schooling was done in Jaipur, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bhopal. He was fascinated with cinema right from his childhood. He idolized Amitabh Bachchan and would re-enact scenes from his films at home. Later on he moved to Vijayawada along with his family. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Arts at Siddhartha Degree College, Vijayawada. He is fluent in both Telugu and Hindi and can converse in English.

Half way through his graduation, he went to Madras in 1988 to pursue a career in films. In his early years in Madras, YVS Chowdary and Gunasekhar were his roommates. He played small roles in the films Karthavyam (1990), Abhimanyu (1990), Chaitanya (1991), Collector Gaari Alludu (1992), and Aaj Ka Goonda Raj (1992). Ravi Teja became an assistant director, working in several Bollywood as well as Telugu projects including Pratibandh, Aaj Ka Goonda Raj, and Criminal. He met Krishna Vamsi and worked as an assistant director under him for the 1996 hit film Ninne Pelladata. Vamsi also gave Ravi Teja the opportunity to act in a small role in that film. He continued to work as an assistant director for a few other films.

In 1997, while still working as an assistant director, Ravi Teja got an opportunity to act in the film Sindhooram directed by Krishna Vamsi in a supporting role. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.

Ravi Teja followed up with roles in the films Seetharama Raju, Padutha Teeyaga, Manasichi Choodu and S. V. Krishna Reddy's Premaku Velayara. In 1999, he was cast in a leading role by Srinu Vaitla for Nee Kosam. The film won the Silver Nandi for Best Film. Ravi Teja won the Nandi Award for Best Actor Special Jury for his performance. Following this, he started appearing in more significant roles such as Krishna Vamsi's Samudram, Chiranjeevi's Annayya and Budget Padmanabham. He also appeared in lead roles in multi-starrer films such as Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi, Tirumala Tirupati Venkatesa, Sakutumba Saparivaara Sametam and Ammayi Kosam.