Indian cinema is completing 100 years on 3rd May, 2013. List of tollywood number one heroes and their tenures is as follows.
* CHITTOOR V.NAGAIAH: He made his debut through 'Gruhalakshmi( 1938). He occupied the number one throne through the movie 'Bhakthapothana( 1942). He continued in number one position for four to five years.
* AKKINENI NAGESWARA RAO: He was first seen as a child artist in 'Dharmapatni'(1941). Later he played an important role in 'Seetharamajananam'( 1944). He acquired the super stardom through 'Balaraju(1948) and 'Keelugurram'( 1949). There after, he remained to be the solo number one hero of tollywood upto 1956 through the movies, 'Devadasu', 'Brathukuderuvu', 'Rojulumarayi', 'Arthangi'. etc. From 1957 onwards, he shared number one position jointly with NTR upto mid 70s.
* NT RAMARAO: His debut movie 'Manadesam' was released in the year, 1949. He got stardom through the movie 'Pathalabhairavi'. However, due to ANR's factor, he had to wait for number one position upto 1957. From 'Mayabazar(1957) release onwards, NTR started enjoying the status of number one position. He continued in this position till his retirement in 1982. However, he had to share number one position with ANR till mid 70s.
* CHIRANJEEVI: He made his debut through the movie 'Pranam Khareedu( 1978). He got the number one status unofficially through the movie 'Khaidi'. However, from 'Pasivadi Pranam'( 1987) onwards, he was treated the official number one of tollywood. He enjoyed the status of solo number one hero of tollywood till 2007, until his retirement.
NB: Sorry for not revealing the name of a number one hero from 2008 onwards.