SHIVARAJ KUMAR

SHIVARAJ KUMAR – Film Actor

Shivaraj Kumar (born Putta Swamy on 12 July 1962). Born on 12 July 1962 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He is the son of Kannada thespian actor Dr. Rajkumar and Parvatamma. He has two sisters and two brothers; his younger brother, Raghavendra Rajkumar is a film producer and a film actor, his youngest brother, Puneet Rajkumar is also a Kannada film actor. 

After his graduation from Madras University in 1983, Shivaraj Kumar, on the insistence of Dadasaheb Phalke Award-winner K. Balachander (a veteran Tamil director), joined an acting school in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. After training in Kuchupudi dance at Vempetti Chinni Sathyam in Chennai during his college days, he made an entry into the Kannada film industry with the hit Anand.

He started his acting career with the film Anand in 1986, which was a silver jubilee hit. In his career spanning over 25 years, he acted in a variety of roles. A number of his movies completed silver jubilee. The most notable movies of his career are Janumada Jodi, Jogi, Anand, Rathasapthami, Nammoora Mandara Hoove, Om, and Chigurida Kanasu. He also acted in Sugreeva, which was shot in 18 hours. His Om, directed by Upendra, set a trend of gangster movies in Kannada and other film industries in India. It is one of the biggest hits and most popular movies in the industry, which manages a re-release every year with housefull shows even now. 

Shivaraj Kumar has won four Filmfare and four state awards in the best actor category. He has also won numerous Cine-Express, Sirigannada, ETV awards. He has been conferred titles like 'Hatrick Hero', 'Century Star', Shivanna, "NaTya Sarvabhowma", "Sandalwood King" among others.

Shivaraj Kumar married Geeta, the daughter of late former chief minister of Karnataka, S.Bangarappa. The couple have two daughters: Niveditha and Nirupama