Mahesh Babu and Nandi awards have always gone together. Even in 1999, Raja Kumarudu fetched him the Best Male Debut award. He won the Special Jury awards for Murari and Takkari Donga. Continuing the spree, he won the same award for Arjun in 2004. Year 2005 brought him glory when he won the Best Actor award for Athadu.

Six years later, a Nandi award has graced him again for his audacious Dookudu act. Excelling in his comic timing, showing ease in action scenes and an improvised dialogue delivery, he was a whole new Mahesh in that film.

Nayanatara, who won all the accolades from industry biggies for her portrayal of Sita in Sri Rama Rajya, has predictably won the Nandi award for Best Leading Actress. The film was released in November 2011, and she carried the film on her shoulders for 3/4th of the film. It definitely is a big boost to her, especially as she has just begun her second innings.