Vishnu Manchu

Manchu Vishnuvardhan Babu (born 23 November 1981) is an Indian actor and film producer known for his works in Telugu cinema and television. Manchu had a brief stint as a child artist with the 1985 film Ragile Gundelu. Years later, he starred in the 2003 action film Vishnu, for which he won the Filmfare Best Male Debut. He is currently serving as the president of the Movie Artists Association since 2021.

He is the co-owner of the film production house 24 Frames Factory and is an educationalist through Sree Vidyanikethan Educational Trust, founded by his father, Mohan Babu, a veteran Telugu actor. He is a founder and chairman of New York Academy, a school in Hyderabad for which his wife, Viranica, is the director and his father Mohan Babu, is the chair person. He is also the chairman of Spring Board Academy and Spring Board International Preschools which has more than 75 branches spread across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Vishnu Manchu is the pro-chancellor of Mohan Babu University in Tirupati established in 2022 by his father Mohan Babu.

In 2007, he starred in the comedy film Dhee, which became a hit, and Manchu established his career in Telugu cinema. Manchu is one of the sponsors of the Celebrity Cricket League Telugu Warriors.

Manchu Vishnuvardhan Babu was born in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India (now Chennai) to actor Mohan Babu and Vidya Devi. He grew up with his younger paternal half-brother Manoj and sister Lakshmi.

After completing schooling from the Padmaseshadri Bala Bhavan School, Manchu went on to take an engineering degree from Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College, majoring in Computer Sciences and Information Technology. During that time, he represented the Bhaskar JNTU cricket team, and also captained the university basketball team.

Vishnu Manchu made his acting debut as a child artist in his father Mohan Babu's 1985 film Ragile Gundelu.

He landed his first lead role in the film Vishnu (2003) directed by Shaji Kailas, for which he won the Filmfare Best Male Debut. He played a guy who wants to win his childhood love with his own merits against many hurdles. The following year, he was seen in the film Suryam (2004) in which he played a guy who aims to fulfill the last wish of his mother. Manchu made a cameo appearance as a dancer in Political Rowdy (2005), a romantic action drama.

He next appeared in the action-drama Astram (2006), as an IPS officer who has been appointed to finish off the ultras. Soon after, Manchu was cast in Game (2006), as Vijay Raj, sharing screen space with his celebrity father Mohan Babu and yesteryear heroine Shobana.