[4] Director Ravi Raja Pinisetty, seeking an actor with a distinct appearance described as "Dosakai Mokham" (cucumber face), cast Narayana, who was then working as a writer, after an assistant suggested his name.

[6][5] Narayana dabbled in theatre initially while working as a lecturer at KGRL College, Bhimavaram, and entered the film industry as a writer before being introduced as an actor.

[citation needed][7] He made his debut as a writer in the film Alexander starring his son Vikram.

During the promotion of Dileep Kumar and Priyal Gor starrer film Saheba Subramanyam, he claimed that he started his career in 1997, at the age of 46.

[8] Narayana won five Nandi Awards presented by Andhra Pradesh Government as Best Male Comedian.