His real surname is Neelakantapuram, and his family hails from Andhra Pradesh.
He was initially hesitant about filmmaking but was encouraged by family and friends.
Ugramm was his debut film and became a cult hit in Kannada cinema.
He is known for creating strong, rugged protagonists with mass appeal.
He has won multiple awards, including Best Director at SIIMA for KGF: Chapter 1.