Kannada film actor, producer and television host
Shivarajkumar
- Born: 12 July 1962, Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India
- Age: 64
Shivarajkumar, also known as Shiva Rajkumar and fondly as Shivanna, is an Indian actor who is 64 years old and has led more than 125 Kannada films since his 1986 debut Anand. He is the eldest son of the legendary Dr. Rajkumar. Born Nagaraju Shiva Puttaswamy…
Shivarajkumar: films and works
45
2025 · Movie
Actor
Kannada action film directed by the composer Arjun Janya, with Upendra and Raj B Shetty, released on 25 December 2025.[13]
Captain Miller
2024 · Movie
Sengolan
Tamil action film with Dhanush, directed by Arun Matheswaran; an extended cameo and his second Tamil film.[10][13]
Where to watch it
Kabzaa
2023 · Movie
Siddhantha (cameo)
Upendra-led action crime film directed by R. Chandru; he has said his part was only a cameo, though audiences were led to expect more.[1][9]
Where to watch it
Bairagee
2022 · Movie
Shivappa
Folk-artist drama directed by Vijay Milton, with Shivarajkumar as a pulivesha performer drawn into local politics.[1]
Bhajarangi 2
2021 · Movie
Lead role
Fantasy action sequel to Bhajarangi, directed again by A. Harsha.[13]
Ayushman Bhava
2019 · Movie
Krishna
Action drama directed by P. Vasu, with Rachita Ram and Anant Nag.[13]
Rustum
2019 · Movie
Abhishek Bhargav (Rustum)
Action drama directed by K. Ravi Varma, with Vivek Oberoi and Shraddha Srinath.[13]
Tagaru
2018 · Movie
ACP Shivkumar (Tagaru Shiva)
Action film directed by Duniya Suri in which he plays a cop; The Hindu called it one of the biggest hits of his career, and it brought a Filmfare nomination.[1]
The Villain
2018 · Movie
Ramu
Action drama directed by Prem; it was not well received, with one critic saying he was let down by a weak role.[1]
Gautamiputra Satakarni
2017 · Movie
Kalahasteeshwara (cameo)
Telugu historical epic with Nandamuri Balakrishna, directed by Krish; his first film outside Kannada, in a cameo.[1]
Killing Veerappan
2016 · Movie
STF master-strategist
Ram Gopal Varma's film, in which Shivarajkumar plays the STF master-strategist.[13]
Vajrakaya
2015 · Movie
Viraj
Film directed by A. Harsha; nominated for the Filmfare Award South for best Kannada actor.[1]
About Shivarajkumar
Shivarajkumar, also known as Shiva Rajkumar and fondly as Shivanna, is an Indian actor who is 64 years old and has led more than 125 Kannada films since his 1986 debut Anand. He is the eldest son of the legendary Dr. Rajkumar. Born Nagaraju Shiva Puttaswamy in Madras (now Chennai) on 12 July 1962, he trained in Kuchipudi dance and finished a degree at Madras University before taking the lead in Anand, produced by his mother. Anand, Ratha Sapthami and Manamecchida Hudugi were all hits, which earned him the nickname Hat-trick Hero. Upendra's gangster drama Om (1995) made him a superstar in Karnataka and began a run in which, over the next decade, he won four Karnataka State Film Awards for best actor, for Om, Hrudaya Hrudaya, Chigurida Kanasu and Jogi, and Filmfare Awards South for Om, Nammoora Mandara Hoove and A.K.47, with a fourth for Thamassu in 2010. His later hits include Jogi (2005), Bhajarangi (2013), Mufti (2017) and Tagaru (2018). He hosted the Zee Kannada talk show Naaniruvude Nimagagi from 2010, and his wife Geetha has produced his films since his 125th, Vedha (2022). Since 2023 he has reached audiences beyond Karnataka: a short, widely praised cameo as Narasimha in Rajinikanth's Tamil blockbuster Jailer, a part in Dhanush's Captain Miller (2024), and the wrestling mentor Gournaidu in the Telugu hit Peddi (2026). SIIMA named him Entertainer of the Year for 2023. This page is about the actor. TMDB has a different, producer-only person called Geetha Shivarajkumar, who is his wife.
Fun facts about Shivarajkumar
- Fans call him Shivanna, and the media gave him the nickname Hat-trick Hero because his first three films, Anand, Ratha Sapthami and Manamecchida Hudugi, were all hits.
- Om (1995) has a Limca Book of Records entry for being re-released more than 550 times, and was still being re-released in the 2010s.
- In Shiva Mecchida Kannappa (1988) his father, Dr. Rajkumar, appeared as Lord Shiva, echoing his father's own debut lead in Bedara Kannappa (1954).
- He was the second Kannada actor to buy a Maruti 800 when it was launched in 1983.
- Sugreeva (2010), in which he plays a car mechanic who takes a hospital hostage, was shot in just 18 hours.
- He has done only four remakes among more than 60 lead releases, after saying in 2003 that he would stop doing them.
- His Jailer cameo had little screen time and little dialogue, yet was widely praised.
- The residents of Manyata Residency in Bengaluru named a circle after him for his 60th birthday in 2022.
Famous Shivarajkumar quotes
“People pamper heroes and make us believe we look forever young”
Shivarajkumar's career, year by year
1962
Born in Madras
Born Nagaraju Shiva Puttaswamy on 12 July 1962 in Madras (now Chennai), the eldest of the five children of the matinee idol Dr. Rajkumar and the producer Parvathamma Rajkumar. He attends school in T. Nagar and later The New College, Chennai, and appears as a child in Dhoomakethu (1968) and Sri Srinivasa Kalyana (1974), both starring his father.[1][13]
1983
Graduates and trains
Finishes his degree at Madras University, joins an acting school in Chennai and trains in Kuchipudi dance under Vempetti Chinni Sathyam.[1][13]
1986
Debut in Anand
Makes his adult debut in Anand, directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and produced by his mother; the film is a hit and wins him the Cinema Express award for best actor.[1]
1986 to 1987
Hat-trick Hero
Anand, Ratha Sapthami and Manamecchida Hudugi succeed in turn, earning him the nickname Hat-trick Hero from the media and fans.[1][13]
1988
Shiva Mecchida Kannappa
Stars in the fantasy Shiva Mecchida Kannappa, in which his father appears as Lord Shiva, alongside a run of hits including Samyuktha, Ranaranga and Inspector Vikram.[1][9]
1995
Om makes him a superstar
Upendra's gangster drama Om opens on 19 May 1995 and becomes a landmark: it wins him his first Karnataka State and Filmfare best actor awards, and is later re-released more than 550 times.[1][4]
1996 to 1999
Romance and action
Follows with Janumada Jodi, Nammoora Mandara Hoove, Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga, A.K.47 and Hrudaya Hrudaya, collecting further Filmfare and state best actor awards.[1]
2005
Jogi
Prem's Jogi, released on 19 August 2005, is a major hit and earns him his fourth Karnataka State award for best actor; the same year sees the family hit Anna Thangi and the film Rishi.[1][5]
2010
Television host and Thamassu
Hosts the Zee Kannada talk show Naaniruvude Nimagagi, which began on 6 September 2010, and wins a fourth Filmfare Award South for Thamassu.[1][12]
2011
A hundred films
Jogayya, the sequel to Jogi, is released on 19 August 2011 and is counted as his 100th film.[1][5]
2013
Bhajarangi
A. Harsha's fantasy action film Bhajarangi, released on 12 December 2013, earns about 12.5 crore rupees and a SIIMA best actor award.[1][6]
2017
Mufti and a Telugu cameo
Plays the gangster Bhairathi Ranagal in Mufti, a critical and commercial success, and appears in the Telugu epic Gautamiputra Satakarni, his first film outside Kannada.[1]
2018
Tagaru
Duniya Suri's Tagaru is another big hit, and he is nominated for a Filmfare Award South and a SIIMA best actor award.[1]
2022
Vedha, his 125th film
Appears in a cameo in, and dubs part of, his brother Puneeth Rajkumar's posthumous James, then releases Vedha on 23 December, his 125th film and one produced by his wife Geetha.[1][11]
2023
Jailer and the pan-Indian turn
His Tamil debut, a short cameo as Narasimha in Rajinikanth's Jailer, is widely praised; he follows it with Kabzaa and the heist thriller Ghost, and wins SIIMA's Entertainer of the Year and Excellence in Cinema honours in 2024.[1][3][9]
2024 to 2026
Captain Miller to Peddi
Appears in Dhanush's Captain Miller (2024), headlines Bhairathi Ranagal (2024), then 45 (2025), the Telugu hit Peddi (2026) and Bail (2026).[1][7][10]
Awards and festival selections
18 awards won and 11 other nominations and festival selections.
| Year | Festival or award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Cinema Express AwardsAnand | WonBest actor for his debut film[1] |
| 1995 | Karnataka State Film AwardsOm | WonBest actor, 1995 to 96[1][4] |
| 1995 | Filmfare Awards SouthOm | WonBest actor, Kannada (43rd Filmfare Awards South)[1][4] |
| 1996 | Filmfare Awards SouthNammoora Mandara Hoove | WonBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 1999 | Filmfare Awards SouthA.K.47 | WonBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 1999 | Karnataka State Film AwardsHrudaya Hrudaya | WonBest actor, 1999 to 2000[1] |
| 2003 | Karnataka State Film AwardsChigurida Kanasu | WonBest actor, 2003 to 04[1] |
| 2005 | Karnataka State Film AwardsJogi | WonBest actor, 2005 to 06[1][5] |
| 2005 | Filmfare Awards SouthJogi | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2010 | Filmfare Awards SouthThamassu | WonBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2011 | NTR National AwardCareer | WonHonour for 2011[1] |
| 2012 | South Indian International Movie AwardsCareer | WonAward for Social Responsibility[1] |
| 2013 | South Indian International Movie AwardsShiva | WonBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2013 | Filmfare Awards SouthBhajarangi | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2014 | South Indian International Movie AwardsBhajarangi | WonBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2014 | Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya UniversityCareer | WonHonorary doctorate, Ballari[1] |
| 2015 | Filmfare Awards SouthVajrakaya | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2016 | Filmfare Awards SouthSantheyalli Nintha Kabira | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2016 | British South India Council of Commerce and Visionnaire EntertainmentCareer | WonKohinoor of South India honour, London[1] |
| 2017 | South Indian International Movie AwardsShivalinga | WonBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2017 | Filmfare Awards SouthMufti | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2018 | South Indian International Movie AwardsMufti | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2018 | Filmfare Awards SouthTagaru | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2019 | South Indian International Movie AwardsTagaru | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2024 | South Indian International Movie AwardsKabzaa, Jailer and Ghost | WonEntertainer of the Year[1] |
| 2024 | South Indian International Movie AwardsCareer | WonExcellence in Cinema Award[1] |
| 2024 | Filmfare Awards SouthGhost | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2025 | Filmfare Awards SouthBhairathi Ranagal | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
| 2025 | South Indian International Movie AwardsBhairathi Ranagal | NominatedBest actor, Kannada[1] |
Frequent collaborators
Dr. Rajkumar
His father, the matinee idol of Kannada cinema; he appeared as Lord Shiva in Shiva Mecchida Kannappa (1988), and Shivarajkumar appeared alongside him as a child in Dhoomakethu (1968) and Sri Srinivasa Kalyana (1974).[1][2][9]
Puneeth Rajkumar
His youngest brother, also a star; Shivarajkumar appeared in and dubbed part of Puneeth's last film, James (2022).[1][3]
Upendra
Directed him in Om (1995), the film that made him a superstar, and acts with him in Kabzaa (2023) and 45 (2025).[4][13]
A. Harsha
Director of Bhajarangi, Vajrakaya, Bhajarangi 2 and Vedha, four collaborations with Shivarajkumar.[6][11][13]
Duniya Suri
Directed Kaddi Pudi (2013) and Tagaru (2018), his second hit together.[1][13]
Rajinikanth
Star of Jailer (2023), in which Shivarajkumar made his Tamil debut as Narasimha.[1][9]
Dhanush
Co-star of Captain Miller (2024); at the pre-release event Dhanush thanked Shivarajkumar for calling himself a fan.[10]
Ram Charan
Leads the Telugu sports drama Peddi (2026), in which Shivarajkumar plays his wrestling mentor.[3][7]
Singeetham Srinivasa Rao
Directed Anand (1986), Shivarajkumar's debut as a leading man.[1][13]
Style, technique and reception
He built his name as an action and romance star and trained in Kuchipudi under Vempetti Chinni Sathyam while still a student; TMDB's biography adds that he was among the first Kannada stars to dance in a western style. The media called him the Hat-trick Hero after his first three films were all hits, and the fans' pet name for him is Shivanna.[1][13]
Critics tend to praise his restraint: a retrospective on Om noted that he showed the change in Satyamurthy through attitude rather than appearance, and a review of Bairagee likened his folk-artist role to his earlier classics Om, Jogi and Kaddi Pudi. Reviews of Peddi singled him out as the film's strongest supporting presence even with limited screen time.[1][4][7]
Not every film has worked. Wikipedia records that The Villain (2018) was poorly received and that Bail (2026) had mixed reviews and underperformed. In 2003 he said he would stop doing remakes and has since done only four remakes among more than 60 lead releases; in 2024 producers credited his steady annual output with guaranteeing a minimum return at the box office.[1]
In his Variety India interview he said that his Jailer scene worked despite little dialogue, and that the film industry flatters stars into believing they stay young; he now wants roles that explore rather than protect an image. He has also spoken against inflated box-office figures (2025) and first opposed, then accepted, dubbed films in Karnataka.[1][3]
Where to watch Shivarajkumar's films in Australia
Bail (2026)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Peddi (2026)
- Subscription: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
45 (2025)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Bhairathi Ranagal (2024)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Captain Miller (2024)
- Subscription: Prime Video
Ghost (2023)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Jailer (2023)
- Subscription: Amazon Prime Video, Sun Nxt, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Kabzaa (2023)
- Subscription: Prime Video
Vedha (2022)
- Free with ads: Zee5
Bairagee (2022)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
James (2022)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Bhajarangi 2 (2021)
- Free with ads: Zee5
Ayushman Bhava (2019)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Rustum (2019)
- Subscription: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Tagaru (2018)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
The Villain (2018)
- Subscription: Zee5
Mufti (2017)
- Subscription: Zee5
Gautamiputra Satakarni (2017)
- Rent: Amazon Video
- Buy: Amazon Video
Santheyalli Nintha Kabira (2016)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Killing Veerappan (2016)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
- Rent: YouTube
- Buy: YouTube
Shivalinga (2016)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
- Free with ads: Zee5
Vajrakaya (2015)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt, Zee5
Weekend with Ramesh (2014)
- Free with ads: Zee5
Bhajarangi (2013)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Kaddi Pudi (2013)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
Shiva (2012)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Jogayya (2011)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Thamassu (2010)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Sugreeva (2010)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Jogi (2005)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Chigurida Kanasu (2003)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
A.K.47 (1999)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
Hrudaya Hrudaya (1999)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga (1998)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
Nammoora Mandara Hoove (1996)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Janumada Jodi (1996)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Om (1995)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
Shiva Mecchida Kannappa (1988)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
Manamecchida Hudugi (1987)
- Subscription: Eros Now Select Apple TV channel
Ratha Sapthami (1986)
Not streaming, and not for rent or sale, in Australia.
Anand (1986)
- Subscription: Sun Nxt
Where to watch: JustWatch, checked 5 November 2026. Services change their catalogues often.
Questions about Shivarajkumar
How old is Shivarajkumar?
Shivarajkumar is 64 years old. He was born on 12 July 1962 in Madras (now Chennai), and Variety India gave his age as 64 in July 2026. Some sites, including Wikidata, give 1961, but Wikipedia, TMDB and the press coverage of his 60th birthday in 2022 all point to 1962. He is also written Shiva Rajkumar, Shivaraj Kumar and Shivrajkumar.
What is Shivarajkumar's net worth?
There is no reliable published figure for Shivarajkumar's net worth, in dollars or in rupees, and CompareTV does not quote net worth websites. What is documented: he has led more than 125 Kannada films since 1986, starred in Vedha (2022) and Bhairathi Ranagal (2024), both produced by his wife Geetha, and is a regular lead whom producers credit with guaranteeing a minimum return at the box office. He has also been a brand ambassador for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and for Nandini milk products, and a television host. In 2024 he won SIIMA's Entertainer of the Year for 2023, the year of Jailer, Kabzaa and Ghost.
How tall is Shivarajkumar?
There is no reliable published height for Shivarajkumar: Wikipedia and Wikidata do not give one, and he has not stated it in a reputable interview. Fan and profile sites quote figures that disagree with each other, so we do not publish one.
What are Shivarajkumar's best-known movies?
His best-known films are Om (1995), Jogi (2005), A.K.47 (1999), Nammoora Mandara Hoove (1996), Chigurida Kanasu (2003), Bhajarangi (2013), Mufti (2017) and Tagaru (2018). A wider audience knows him from his Tamil cameos in Jailer (2023) and Captain Miller (2024), and from the Telugu film Peddi (2026).
How many movies has Shivarajkumar acted in?
Wikipedia counts more than 125 films in a career of nearly four decades; his 100th film was Jogayya (2011) and his 125th was Vedha (2022). Since then he has added Ghost, Bhairathi Ranagal, Captain Miller, 45, Peddi and Bail among others. This page lists about forty of the most notable.
Who is Shivarajkumar's wife?
Shivarajkumar is married to Geetha, the daughter of the former Karnataka chief minister S. Bangarappa. She produced Vedha (2022), which was his 125th film, and Variety India reports that she chose his project A for Anand. They have two daughters.
When is Shivarajkumar's birthday?
Shivarajkumar's birthday is 12 July. He was born on 12 July 1962 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, as Nagaraju Shiva Puttaswamy, and in 2022 his 60th birthday was marked by the naming of a circle near his Bengaluru home after him.
Is Shivarajkumar the son of Dr. Rajkumar?
Yes. Shivarajkumar is the eldest son of Dr. Rajkumar, one of the greatest stars of Kannada cinema, and of the producer Parvathamma Rajkumar. His brothers are the producer-actor Raghavendra Rajkumar and the late star Puneeth Rajkumar.
What was Shivarajkumar's first film?
His first film as a leading man was Anand (1986), directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and produced by his mother. He had already appeared briefly as a child in Dhoomakethu (1968) and Sri Srinivasa Kalyana (1974). Anand, Ratha Sapthami and Manamecchida Hudugi were all hits, which earned him the nickname Hat-trick Hero.
Has Shivarajkumar won any awards?
Yes. He has won four Karnataka State Film Awards for best actor (for Om, Hrudaya Hrudaya, Chigurida Kanasu and Jogi) and four Filmfare Awards South for best Kannada actor (Om, Nammoora Mandara Hoove, A.K.47 and Thamassu), plus several SIIMA awards including Entertainer of the Year in 2024. Some sites claim ten Filmfare wins, but Wikipedia lists four.
Was Shivarajkumar in Jailer and Captain Miller?
Yes. He made his Tamil debut as the gangster Narasimha in Rajinikanth's Jailer (2023), a short but widely praised cameo, and played Sengolan in Dhanush's Captain Miller (2024), an extended cameo. He appears in the Telugu film Peddi (2026) as a wrestling mentor.
Why is Shivarajkumar called Dr Shivarajkumar?
Shivarajkumar received an honorary doctorate from Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Ballari in 2014, and he is often styled Dr. Shivarajkumar or Dr Shiva Rajkumar.
Which Shivarajkumar films were remade in other languages?
Several. Om became Omkaram in Telugu, Jogi became Yogi in Telugu and Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram in Tamil, A.K.47 was remade in Hindi (2004), Mufti became Pathu Thala in Tamil (2023) and Nammoora Mandara Hoove became Kangalin Vaarthaigal in Tamil. Chigurida Kanasu is said to have inspired the Hindi film Swades.
Is Geetha Shivarajkumar the same person as Shivarajkumar?
No. Geetha Shivarajkumar is his wife and a film producer (Vedha, Bhairathi Ranagal). TMDB lists her as a separate person with only producing credits; the actor Shivarajkumar is listed as Shiva Rajkumar.
Sources
- [1]Wikipedia: Shiva Rajkumar
- [2]Wikidata: Shiva Rajkumar (Q7499430)
- [3]Variety India, 12 July 2026: Shivarajkumar on Indian stardom
- [4]Wikipedia: Om (1995 film)
- [5]Wikipedia: Jogi (2005 film)
- [6]Wikipedia: Bhajarangi
- [7]Wikipedia: Peddi
- [8]The South First, 12 July 2023: Hit films of Shivanna that were remade in other languages
- [9]The South First, 13 October 2023: Shiva Rajkumar is on a pan-India roll
- [10]The South First, 5 January 2024: Dhanush on Shiva Rajkumar at the Captain Miller pre-release event
- [11]DT Next: Grand opening for Shivarajkumar's 125th movie
- [12]FilmiBeat, 2010: Upendra on Shivanna's show Naaniruvude Nimagaagi
- [13]TMDB: Shiva Rajkumar (credits, dates, biography and posters)
Profile researched from these sources and reviewed 5 November 2026.