Haranath was born on 2 September 1936 in Raparthi near Pithapuram and Gollaprolu in East Godavari district.

Mukkmamala Krishna Murthy, director and producer, cast him as a lead actor in the film Rushyasrunga.

[1] He acted in classic films like Amarasilipi Jakkana, Letha Manasulu, Chitti Chellelu, Aada Janma, Maa Inti Devatha, Bhishma, Pandava Vanavasam, Abhimanyu and several others in lead roles.

He was the hero of the first film shot at Saradhi Studios in Hyderabad, Ma Inti Mahalakshmi (1959).

Rama Rao under the banner, National Art Theatres, in which NTR acted as Ravana.