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Anudeep Katikala Biography/Wiki: Anudeep Katikala is an Indian stand-up comedian based in Hyderabad, Telangana, known for his Telugu-language comedy sets and as the founder of Silly South Comedy Club. A graduate of IIT Bombay, he transitioned from a corporate career in product management to full-time comedy in 2023. He gained national attention in April 2026 after being detained by Andhra Pradesh police in Prayagraj for jokes made during his “Tollywood Roast Show” targeting Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and other Telugu film stars.
Anudeep Katikala Wiki / Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Anudeep Katikala |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Age (as of 2026) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Birthplace | Not publicly disclosed |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Stand-up Comedian, Founder of Silly South Comedy Club, Former Product Manager |
| Education | B.Tech — IIT Bombay |
| Previous Profession | Associate Product Manager at Infinity Learn (2021–2023); Process Analyst at udaan.com (2018–2019) |
| Full-Time Comedy | Since 2023 |
| Notable Show | “The Tollywood Roast Show” — viral controversy (April 2026) |
| Detained | April 14, 2026 — Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh by Kakinada Police (AP) |
| Reason for Detention | Jokes about Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan, Jr NTR, Mahesh Babu, Nandamuri Balakrishna |
| FIR Filed | April 11, 2026 — Kakinada I Town Police Station |
| Residence | Hyderabad, Telangana |
| linkedin.com/in/anudeep-katikala-a494b9b7 | |
| instagram.com/anudeepkatikala/ | |
| YouTube | YouTube channel with Tollywood Roast content |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed (one unverified report claims ₹215 crore — likely erroneous) |
Education
Anudeep Katikala holds a B.Tech degree from IIT Bombay the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai, renowned for its engineering programmes and competitive entrance examination. His specific engineering branch and graduation year are not publicly confirmed in verified sources.
Career
Corporate Career (2018–2023)
Anudeep Katikala began his professional career as a Process Analyst at udaan.com, an Indian B2B e-commerce platform, from August 2018 to May 2019. He subsequently joined Infinity Learn — an e-learning platform as Associate Product Manager from September 2021 to July 2023, working in Hyderabad for approximately two years. This corporate experience preceded his full-time transition to comedy.
Transition to Stand-up Comedy (2023–present)
In 2023, Anudeep Katikala left his corporate job to pursue stand-up comedy full-time. He began hosting small shows at venues in Hyderabad alongside other emerging comics. He also organised regular open mic events called Telugu Stand Up Comedy Show, providing a platform for aspiring Telugu-language comedians.
Silly South Comedy Club
Anudeep is the founder of Silly South Comedy Club — a Hyderabad-based collective focused on Telugu stand-up comedy. The club has become a central hub for developing the Telugu comedy scene through organised shows and open mics. Silly South Comedy has hosted multiple events featuring roast formats and Telugu-language material.
“The Tollywood Roast Show”
Anudeep created and performed “The Tollywood Roast Show”, advertised with the tagline “We’re going all out on Tollywood & We promise to spare none”. The show featured comedy material targeting Telugu film industry celebrities including Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan, Jr NTR, Mahesh Babu, and Nandamuri Balakrishna. Clips from the show went viral on YouTube, generating both audience engagement and significant backlash.
April 2026 Controversy and Detention
Viral Backlash
In early April 2026, clips from Anudeep Katikala’s Tollywood Roast Show began circulating widely on social media platforms. The content, which included jokes about Pawan Kalyan’s marital history, Ram Charan, Jr NTR, Mahesh Babu, and Nandamuri Balakrishna, drew intense criticism from fans of the targeted celebrities. Fans circulated the clips with demands for an apology.
Public Apology
On April 12, 2026, Anudeep posted a public apology video on his YouTube channel. He stated: “My whole intention of the video was to question toxic fan culture, and we saw proof of that over the weekend… I apologise to the individuals who were hurt or mentioned in the video. I will be more mindful of my words going forward”. The apology did not halt the legal proceedings.
FIR and Detention
On April 11, 2026, an FIR was filed against Anudeep at Kakinada I Town Police Station in Andhra Pradesh by Bade Venkata Krishna — a 51-year-old Jana Sena Party (JSP) worker and Joint Secretary of East Godavari District JSP since 2022. The complaint alleged defamatory and obscene remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
On April 14, 2026, Andhra Pradesh police travelled to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where they detained Anudeep at approximately 7 PM. He was transported by train to Kakinada for further legal proceedings. The incident sparked national debate about free speech, satire, and legal limits of comedy in India.
Public Support
Several stand-up comedians expressed support for Anudeep following his detention. The incident highlighted tensions between political figures’ public personas and satirical commentary.
Social Media Handles
| Platform | Handle |
| @anudeepkatikala | |
| linkedin.com/in/anudeep-katikala-a494b9b7 | |
| YouTube | YouTube channel hosting roast show content |
Interesting Facts About Anudeep Katikala
- He is an IIT Bombay graduate who left a corporate career for full-time stand-up comedy
- He worked as Associate Product Manager at Infinity Learn (2021–2023) and Process Analyst at udaan.com (2018–2019)
- He founded Silly South Comedy Club in Hyderabad in March 2023 — a key hub for Telugu stand-up
- His “The Tollywood Roast Show” targeted Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan, Jr NTR, Mahesh Babu, and Balakrishna
- He was detained on April 14, 2026, in Prayagraj by AP police — a distance of over 1,100 km from Kakinada
- The FIR was filed on April 11, 2026, by JSP worker Bade Venkata Krishna
- He issued a public apology on April 12, 2026, citing “toxic fan culture” as his intended satire target
- He hosted Telugu Stand Up Comedy Show open mics for emerging comedians
- His detention sparked national debate on free speech vs political satire
- He is based in Hyderabad, Telangana
FAQ — Anudeep Katikala
Q: Who is Anudeep Katikala?
Anudeep Katikala is a Hyderabad-based stand-up comedian and IIT Bombay graduate who founded Silly South Comedy Club. He gained attention in April 2026 after being detained for jokes about Pawan Kalyan and other Tollywood stars.
Q: What is Anudeep Katikala’s educational background?
He holds a B.Tech from IIT Bombay.
Q: Why was Anudeep Katikala arrested?
He was detained on April 14, 2026, in Prayagraj by Andhra Pradesh police for alleged defamatory jokes about Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan during his Tollywood Roast Show.
Q: What is Anudeep Katikala’s profession?
He is a full-time stand-up comedian who previously worked in product management.
Q: What is Anudeep Katikala’s net worth?
His exact net worth is not publicly disclosed.
Q: Where is Anudeep Katikala from?
He is based in Hyderabad, Telangana.