Prashanth Neel

Prashanth Neelakantapuram^[1] was born on 4 June 1980^[2] in a Telugu family settled in Bangalore.^[1][3][4] His parents are Subhash and Bharathi,^[4] and their family hails from Neelakantapuram village, near Madakasira in Andhra Pradesh. He regularly visits his native place, Neelakantapuram, where his father's tomb is located.^[4][1][3] He shortened his eponymous surname to Neel.^[1]

Neel married Likitha in 2010. The couple has a daughter and son.^[5] Neel's sister is married to actor Sriimurali, who eventually starred in Neel's directorial debut Ugramm.^[6] Neel is a first cousin of former Andhra Pradesh state minister, Raghu Veera Reddy and is also a cousin of Telugu film actor, Aadarsh Balakrishna.^[1][7][8]

In an interview with a Kannada weekly magazine, Neel said he took to filmmaking initially for the need of money, following which he completed a course in the same, eventually developing interest in it. After having completed the course, he decided to cast his brother-in-law and actor Sriimurali in Aa Hudugi Neene, a screenplay that he had written during the time. After the latter expressed his concerns due to his inexperience, Neel changed his mind and began observing Srimurali's mannerisms over a period of time, and came up with the project Ugramm, an action film.^[9] The film turned out to be a massive commercial success and emerged as one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of 2014.^[10]

Reports emerged in late 2014 and early 2015 of Neel having been signed to direct three films. The first is a sequel to Ugramm, entitled Ugramm Veeram, which would feature Srimurali reprise his role from Ugramm, but due to unknown circumstances it was shelved. His next film KGF: Chapter 1 which stands for Kolar Gold Fields has Yash playing the role of Rocky, an orphan who becomes a don. The sequel KGF: Chapter 2, was scheduled for a release in July 2021, but was delayed due to the second wave of the COVID pandemic in India and was subsequently released in April 2022.^[11][12]

In December 2020, Hombale Films announced the film Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire starring Prabhas. The film's shoot began in January 2021 and was released in December 2023. The film's sequel Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryanga Parvam has commenced shooting in October 2024.^[13]

In May 2021, Mythri Movie Makers and N. T. R. Arts have announced a film in collaboration with Neel and N. T. Rama Rao Jr.^[14] The film was officially began in August 2024,^[15][16] with title reported as Dragon.^[17]