Rao (Indian surname)

Not to be confused with Rao (Chinese surname).

Rao is a title awarded to influential landlords/jagirdars native to India. It is awarded to Yadavs in Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan and to Brahmins in Goa and Karnataka. In Telangana it is used by Velama (known as doras) , Mudhiraj (Known as Kings) caste falls under kshatriya. In Maharashtra it is used by Marathas castes .

As a surname

Notable people with this surname or title include the following:

• Ayyagari Sambasiva Rao (1914–2003), an Indian scientist, founder of the Electronics Corporation of India Limited
• Adinarayana Rao, Telugu film director and founder of Anjali pictures.
• K. Jagan Mohan rao, Telangana Mudhiraj Sangam President.
• Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Telugu film actor and founder of Annapurna studios. He received Padma Bhushan for his contribution to film industry.
• Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (1920-), Indian-born American mathematician and statistician
• Chennamaneni Hanumantha Rao, Indian economist and writer
• Chintapenta Satyanarayana Rao, Indian writer, actor, director and producer
• Chittajallu Srinivasa Rao (1924–2004), an Indian film actor, writer and director
• Dabeeru C. Rao, Indian-American statistical geneticist
• Dasari Narayana Rao, Telugu film director and Actor.
• Dileep Rao (1973–), American actor
• Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Indian Politician, Ex Lok Sabha Member
• Gundu Hanumantha Rao, Indian actor
• Gnaneshwara Rao, Indian cricketer
• Joginder Singh Rao, Indian cricketer
• Karri Narayana Rao, Indian lawyer, Ex Member of Lok Sabha and Indian Politician
• Kemburi Ramamohan Rao, Indian Politician, Ex Member of Lok Sabha
• Kimidi Kalavenkata Rao, Indian Politician, Ex Minister, Ex Member of Rajya Sabha
• K. Keshava Rao, Member of Rajya Sabha
• K. R. Rao, professor of electrical engineering at the University of Texas and co-inventor of the discrete cosine transform
• K. S. Rama Rao, Telugu cinema producer
• Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly
• Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao, Chief minister of Telangana
• Michael Rao (1967–), president of Virginia Commonwealth University since 2009
• Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, Indian Politician, Ex Member of Lok Sabha and Minister in Andhra Pradesh Cabinet
• N. T. Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), film personality and former chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh
• Narla Tata Rao, Engineer and recipient of Padma Shri award
• Neomi Rao, American attorney and government official
• Nirmala Rao, British academic, present VC of Asian University for Women.
• Pappala Chalapathi Rao, Indian Politician
• P. V. Narasimha Rao - 9th Prime Minister Of India
• Rajkummar Rao, Indian film actor.
• Amrita Rao, Indian Film actress
• Panje Mangesh Rao (22 February 1874-1937) Indian writer and poet
• Aditi Rao Hydari, Indian film actress
• Preetika Rao, Indian television actress
• Ramoji Rao, Telugu businessman, owner of Ramoji group
• Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (3 July 1918 – 18 July 1974), Telugu film actor and recipient of Rashtrapati Award and International Award.
• Thummala Nageswara Rao, Telangana minister
• Udupi Ramachandra Rao - Indian Space Scientist and Director of ISRO
• V. Hanumantha Rao, Ex Member of Rajya Sabha, Indian Politician
• Vandana Rao, Arjuna Awardee who represented India in 1984 and 1988 Olympics in 4 × 400 m women relay race
• Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao (known as Ranga; July 4, 1947 – December 26, 1988) was an Indian National Congress politician
• Vanama Venkateshwara Rao, Ex. Minister in Andhra Pradesh
• Swami Ramdas (born Vittal Rao), a saint from Kanhangad, Kerala
• Gitanjali Rao (scientist) – high achiever in science at STEM School Highlands Ranch, Colorado, USA

As a title

Pre-independence

• Sir Madhava Rao Thanjavurkar (1829–1891) - Diwan of Travancore from 1857 to 1872.
• Sir R. Raghunatha Rao (c. February 1831 – May 3, 1912) - Diwan of Indore from 1875–1888
• Sir R. Venkata Rao - Diwan of Travancore from 1821–1829.
• Thanjavur Subha Rao - Diwan of Travancore from 1830–1837.
• V. P. Madhava Rao - 17th Diwan of the Mysore kingdom
• T. Ananda Rao - 18th Diwan of the Mysore kingdom
• N. Madhava Rao - 23rd Diwan of the Mysore Kingdom
• K. Krishnaswamy Rao - Diwan of Travancore from 1898–1904
• T. Rama Rao (administrator) - Diwan of Travancore from 1887–1892

See also

• Rao (Chinese surname)
• Rao (title)