Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu
The Filmfare Best Actor Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Telugu films. The awards were extended to "Best Actor" in 1972. The year indicates the year of release of the film.
Superlatives
- Chiranjeevi with seven wins, has most number of awards than any other actor. Mahesh Babu has five wins, followed by Sobhan Babu and Venkatesh with four wins. Four actors have won the award thrice in chronological order they are Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Kamal Haasan, Krishnam Raju and Allu Arjun.Three actors Rajasekhar, N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan has two wins each.
- Allu Arjun and Venkatesh are the two actors to win both Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Telugu and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.
- Allu Arjun have won both Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor - Telugu.
- Sobhan Babu was the most victorious actor with four wins in the 70s. Kamal Haasan ruled the 80s with three wins. In the 90s, Chiranjeevi outperformed every other actors with three wins.Chiranjeevi and Mahesh Babu were the two successful actors with two wins each in the 2000s. Mahesh Babu continued to be a most successful actor in the 2010s with three wins.
- Two actors have won the awards in consecutive years; in chronological order, they are Sobhan Babu and Chiranjeevi.
- Allu Arjun is the only actor to have won Filmfare Awards South in three different acting categories: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor - Critics.
- Chiranjeevi has a most number of nominations with 21, followed by Venkatesh with 18 and Nagarjuna with 16.
Multiple Winners
- 7 Wins : Chiranjeevi
- 5 Wins : Mahesh Babu
- 4 Wins : Sobhan Babu, Venkatesh
- 3 Wins : Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Kamal Haasan, Krishnam Raju, Allu Arjun
- 2 Wins : Rajasekhar, N. T. Rama Rao Jr. & Ram Charan
Winners
| Year | Actor | Role | Film | Ref |
| 2018 | Ram Charan | Chittibabu | Rangasthalam | |
| 2017 | Vijay Deverakonda | Dr. Arjun Reddy Deshmukh | Arjun Reddy | |
| 2016 | Jr. NTR | Abhiram | Nannaku Prematho | |
| 2015 | Mahesh Babu | Harsha Vardhan | Srimanthudu | |
| 2014 | Allu Arjun | Lucky | Race Gurram | |
| 2013 | Mahesh Babu | Chinnodu | Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu | |
| 2012 | Pawan Kalyan | Venkatarathnam Naidu / Gabbar Singh | Gabbar Singh | |
| 2011 | Mahesh Babu | G. Ajay Kumar / Chinna | Dookudu | |
| 2010 | Allu Arjun | Cable Raju | Vedam | |
| 2009 | Ram Charan | Harsha / Bhairava | Magadheera | |
| 2008 | Allu Arjun | Krishna | Parugu | |
| 2007 | Jr. NTR | Raja | Yamadonga | |
| 2006 | Mahesh Babu | Krishna Manohar / Pandu | Pokiri | |
| 2005 | Siddharth | Santosh | Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana | |
| 2004 | Chiranjeevi | Shankar Prasad | Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. | |
| 2003 | Mahesh Babu | Ajay Verma | Okkadu | |
| 2002 | Chiranjeevi | Indrasena Reddy / Shankar Narayana | Indra | |
| 2001 | Uday Kiran | Ravi | Nuvvu Nenu | |
| 2000 | Venkatesh | Mahadeva Naidu Abhiram | Jayam Manade Raa | |
| 1999 | Chiranjeevi | Simhadri Chinnayya | Sneham Kosam | |
| 1998 | Venkatesh | Ganesh | Ganesh | |
| 1997 | Akkineni Nagarjuna | Annamacharya | Annamayya | |
| 1996 | Venkatesh | Rakesh | Dharma Chakram | |
| 1995 | Mohan Babu | Peddarayudu Raja | Peddarayudu | |
| 1994 | Rajasekhar | Komaranna / Anna | Anna | |
| 1993 | Chiranjeevi | Subhash Chandra Bose | Muta Mesthri | |
| 1992 | Chiranjeevi | Madhava | Aapathbandavudu | |
| 1991 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao | Sitharamayya | Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu | |
| 1990 | Rajasekhar | Vikram | Magaadu | |
| 1989 | Kamal Haasan | G. K. Rayudu Chandram | Indrudu Chandrudu | |
| 1988 | Venkatesh | Shakti | Brahma Putrudu | |
| 1987 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao | Ananda Rao | Aatma Bandhuvulu | |
| 1986 | Krishnam Raju | Tandra Paparayudu | Tandra Paparayudu | |
| 1985 | Chiranjeevi | Madhusudhana Rao / Chinna Babu | Vijetha | |
| 1984 | Krishnam Raju | Brahmanna Ravi | Bobbili Brahmanna | |
| 1983 | Kamal Haasan | Balakrishna | Saagara Sangamam | |
| 1982 | Chiranjeevi | Narasimha Murthy | Subhalekha | |
| 1981 | Kamal Haasan | Sundaram Ranga | Aakali Rajyam | |
| 1980 | J. V. Somayajulu | Sankarabharanam Sankara Sastry | Sankarabharanam | |
| 1979 | Sobhan Babu | Sridhara Rao Raja | Karthika Deepam | |
| 1978 | Chandra Mohan | Gopalakrishna | Padaharella Vayasu | |
| 1977 | Krishnam Raju | Hari Krishna | Amara Deepam | |
| 1976 | Sobhan Babu | Sobhanadri | Soggadu | |
| 1975 | Sobhan Babu | Narain | Jeevana Jyothi | |
| 1974 | Sobhan Babu | Raja | Khaidi Babayi | |
| 1973 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao | Abbi | Marapurani Manishi | |
| 1972 | Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao | Raghava Rao | Badi Panthulu |
Nominations
1970s
- 1972: N. T. Rama Rao - Badi Panthulu
- 1973: Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Marapurani Manishi
- 1974: Sobhan Babu - Khaidi Babayi
- *Krishna - Alluri Seetarama Raju
- *N. T. Rama Rao – Nippulanti Manishi
- 1975: Sobhan Babu - Jeevana Jyothi
- *N. T. Rama Rao - Teerpu
- *Rao gopalrao – Mutyala Muggu
- 1976: Sobhan Babu - Soggadu
- *Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Mahakavi Kshetrayya
- *Krishnam Raju – Bhakta Kannappa
- *N. T. Rama Rao - Aradhana
- *Narasimha Raju - Thoorpu Padamara
- 1977: Krishnam Raju - Amara Deepam
- *Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Raja Ramesh
- *Ananth Nag – Prema Lekhalu
- *N. T. Rama Rao - Adavi Ramudu
- *Rajinikanth - Chilakamma Cheppindi
- 1978: Chandra Mohan - Padaharella Vayasu
- *Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Devadasu Malli Puttadu
- *Kamal Haasan – Maro Charitra
- *Krishnam Raju - Mana Voori Pandavulu
- 1979: Sobhan Babu - Karthika Deepam
- *Gokina Rama Rao - Punadhirallu
- *N. T. Rama Rao - Vetagaadu
1980s
- 1980: J. V. Somayajulu - Sankarabharanam
- *Chiranjeevi - Punnami Naagu
- *M. Prabhakar Reddy - Yuvatharam Kadilindi
- *Krishnam Raju – Sita Ramulu
- *Sai Chand - Maa Bhoomi
- 1981: Kamal Haasan - Aakali Rajyam
- *Akkineni Nageswara Rao – Premabhishekam
- *N. T. Rama Rao - Kondaveeti Simham
- *J. V. Somayajulu - Saptapadi
- *M. Prabhakar Reddy - Palle Pilichindi
- 1982: Chiranjeevi - Subhalekha
- *Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Meghasandesam
- *Bhanuchander - Nireekshana
- *N. T. Rama Rao – Bobbili Puli
- *Sobhan Babu - Devata
- 1983: Kamal Haasan - Sagara Sangamam
- *Krishnam Raju - Dharmaatmudu
- *Krishna – Adavi Simhalu
- *Chiranjeevi - Khaidi
- *Sobhan Babu - Mundadugu
- 1984: Krishnam Raju - Bobbili Brahmanna
- *Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Vasantha Geetam
- *Chiranjeevi - Challenge
- *Naresh – Srivariki Premalekha
- *Sobhan Babu - Sampoorna Premayanam
- 1985: Chiranjeevi - Vijetha
- *Murali Mohan - O Thandri Teerpu
- *Krishna – Agni Parvatam
- *Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Bharyabhartala Bandham
- *Rajendra Prasad - Preminchu Pelladu
- 1986: Krishnam Raju - Tandra Paparayudu
- *Rajasekhar - Repati Pourulu
- *Chiranjeevi – Chantabbai
- *Kamal Haasan - Swati Mutyam
- *Venkatesh - Kaliyuga Pandavulu
- 1987: Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Aatma Bandhuvulu
- *Balakrishna - Muvva Gopaludu
- *Chiranjeevi - Swayam Krushi
- *Rajasekhar – Sruthilayalu
- *Rajendra Prasad - Aha Naa-Pellanta!
- 1988: Venkatesh - Brahma Puthrudu
- *Akkineni Nagarjuna - Aakhari Poratam
- *Krishnam Raju - Antima Teerpu
- *Chiranjeevi – Rudraveena
- *Kallu Chidambaram - Kallu
- 1989: Kamal Haasan - Indrudu Chandrudu
- *Venkatesh - Prema
- *Akkineni Nagarjuna – Siva
- *Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Sutradharulu
- *Chiranjeevi - Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu
1990s
- 1990: Rajasekhar - Magaadu
- *Chiranjeevi – Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari
- *Mohan Babu - Alludugaru
- *Rajendra Prasad - Mama Alludu
- *Venkatesh - Bobbili Raja
- 1991: Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu
- *Balakrishna - Aditya 369
- *Chiranjeevi - Gang Leader
- *Rajendra Prasad - Yerra Mandaram
- *Venkatesh – Kshana Kshanam
- 1992: Chiranjeevi - Aapathbandavudu
- *Akkineni Nagarjuna - Antham
- *Chiranjeevi - Gharana Mogudu
- *Mammootty - Swathi Kiranam
- *Venkatesh – Chanti
- 1993: Chiranjeevi - Muta Mesthri
- *Jagapathi Babu - Gaayam
- *Rajendra Prasad - Mister Pellam
- *Rajasekhar - Allari Priyudu
- *Venkatesh – Abbaigaru
- 1994: Rajasekhar - Anna
- *Akkineni Nagarjuna - Hello Brother
- *Akkineni Nageswara Rao - Bangaru Kutumbam
- *Jagapathi Babu – Shubhalagnam
- *Venkatesh - Muddula Priyudu
- 1995: Mohan Babu - Peddarayudu
- *Akkineni Nagarjuna - Gharana Bullodu
- *J. D. Chakravarthy - Gulabi
- *Kamal Haasan – Subha Sankalpam
- *Naresh - Sogasu Chuda Taramaa?
- 1996: Venkatesh - Dharma Chakram
- *Jagapathi Babu - Maavichiguru
- *Akkineni Nagarjuna - Ninne Pelladata
- *Srikanth - Pelli Sandadi
- *Venkatesh – Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya
- 1997: Akkineni Nagarjuna - Annamayya
- *Chiranjeevi - Master
- *Jagapathi Babu - Chilakkottudu
- *Vadde Naveen - Pelli
- *Venkatesh – Preminchukundam Raa
- 1998: Venkatesh - Ganesh
- *Akkineni Nagarjuna - Chandralekha
- *Chiranjeevi – Bavagaru Bagunnara?
- *Pawan Kalyan - Tholi Prema
- *Prakash Raj - Antahpuram
- 1999: Chiranjeevi - Sneham Kosam
- *Balakrishna – Samarasimha Reddy
- *Pawan Kalyan - Thammudu
- *Ravi Teja - Nee Kosam
- *Venkatesh - Raja
2000s
- 2000: Venkatesh - Jayam Manadera
- *Mohan Babu - Rayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary
- *Venkatesh - Kalisundam Raa
- *Nagarjuna - Azad
- 2001: Uday Kiran - Nuvvu Nenu
- *Balakrishna - Narasimha Naidu
- *Pawan Kalyan - Kushi
- *Mahesh Babu - Murari
- 2002: Chiranjeevi - Indra
- *Uday Kiran - Nee Sneham
- *Jr. NTR - Aadi
- * Nagarjuna - Santosham
- 2003: Mahesh Babu - Okkadu
- *Mahesh Babu - Nijam
- *Jr. NTR - Simhadri
- *Chiranjeevi - Tagore
- 2004: Chiranjeevi - Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.
- *Rajendra Prasad - Aa Naluguru
- * Allu Arjun - Arya
- * Nagarjuna - Mass
- *Prabhas - Varsham
- 2005: Siddharth – Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana
- *Venkatesh – Sankranti
- *Nagarjuna – Super
- *Mahesh Babu – Athadu
- *Prabhas – Chhatrapati
- 2006: Mahesh Babu - Pokiri
- *Siddharth - Bommarillu
- *Nagarjuna - Sri Ramadasu
- *Jr. NTR - Rakhi
- 2007: Jr. NTR – Yamadonga
- *Rajendra Prasad – Mee Sreyobhilashi
- *Srikanth – Operation Duryodhana
- *Venkatesh – Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule
- *Allu Arjun-Desamuduru
- 2008: Allu Arjun – Parugu
- *Ram – Ready
- *Pawan Kalyan – Jalsa
- *Jr. NTR – Kantri
- *Ravi Teja – Krishna
- 2009: Ram Charan – Magadheera
- *Ravi Teja – Kick
- *Allu Arjun – Arya 2
- *Kamal Haasan – Eenadu
- * Prabhas – Ek Niranjan
2010s
- 2010: Allu Arjun – Vedam
- *Balakrishna – Simha
- *Jr. NTR – Adhurs
- *Rana Daggubati – Leader
- *Naga Chaitanya – Ye Maaya Chesave
- 2011: Mahesh Babu – Dookudu
- *Balakrishna – Sri Rama Rajyam
- *Nagarjuna – Rajanna
- *Prabhas – Mr. Perfect
- *Ram – Kandireega
- 2012: Pawan Kalyan – Gabbar Singh
- *Mahesh Babu – Businessman
- *Ram Charan – Racha
- *Nagarjuna – Damarukam
- *Nitin – Ishq
- 2013: Mahesh Babu - Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
- *Nitin - Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde
- *Pawan Kalyan - Attarintiki Daredi
- *Prabhas - Mirchi
- *Ram Charan - Naayak
- 2014: Allu Arjun- Race Gurram
- *Venkatesh - Drushyam
- *Nagarjuna - Manam
- *Sharwanand - Run Raja Run
- *Mohan Babu - Rowdy
- 2015: Mahesh Babu - Srimanthudu
- * Allu Arjun – S/O Satyamurthy
- *Nani - Bhale Bhale Magadivoy
- *Jr. NTR - Temper
- *Prabhas - '
- 2016:Jr. NTR - Nannaku Prematho
- *Allu Arjun - Sarrainodu
- *Nagarjuna - Oopiri
- *Naga Chaitanya - Premam
- *Nani - Gentleman
- *Ram Charan - Dhruva
- 2017:Vijay Devarakonda - Arjun Reddy
- *Prabhas - '
- *Jr. NTR - Jai Lava Kusa
- *Chiranjeevi - Khaidi No. 150
- *Balakrishna - Gautamiputra Satakarni
- *Venkatesh - Guru
- 2018:Ram Charan - Rangasthalam
- *Vijay Devarakonda - Geetha Govindam
- *Mahesh Babu - Bharat Ane Nenu
- *Dulquer Salman - Mahanati
- *Jr. NTR - Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava