Shiva Rajkumar

Shiva Rajkumar is a Kannada film actor, producer and television presenter whom fans lovingly call Shivanna. His gangster drama Om (1995) made him a superstar in Karnataka, and he is also widely remembered for Janumada Jodi (1996) and A. K. 47 (1999). His honours include four Karnataka State Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards South. His first lead role came in Anand (1986), a hit with both critics and audiences. Ratha Sapthami (1986) and Manamecchida Hudugi (1987) also did well, and three successes in a row earned him the name Hat-trick Hero. He kept the run going in 1988 with Samyuktha, Inspector Vikram and Ranaranga. Om brought him his first State award and his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor. He won further Filmfare honours for playing the director Manoj in Nammoora Mandara Hoove (1996) and the vigilante Raam in A. K. 47, and Hrudaya Hrudaya (1999) gave him a second State award. Mufti (2017), Shivalinga (2017) and Tagaru (2018) set box office records. He began hosting a television talk show in 2010. His later films include Bhajarangi 2 (2021), Ghost (2023), Bhairathi Ranagal (2024) and 45 (2025), and Vedha (2023) earned him a Filmfare nomination. Across more than three decades he has acted in over 125 Kannada films and has also won six South Indian International Movie Awards.