Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, better known by his stage name Dr. Rajkumar, was an Indian actor and singer who worked in Kannada cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema and a versatile actor, he is considered a cultural icon and holds a matinée idol status in the Kannada diaspora, among whom he is popularly called as Nata Saarvabhouma, Bangarada Manushya, Vara Nata, Gaana Gandharva, Rasikara Raja, Kannada Kanteerava and Rajanna/Annavru. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1983 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995. He is the only lead actor to win National Award for singing. His 39 movies have been remade 62 times in 9 languages by 34 actors making him the first actor whose movies were remade more than fifty times and the first actor whose movies were remade in nine languages. He was the first actor in India to enact a role which was based on James Bond in a full-fledged manner. The success of his movie Jedara Bale is credited to have widely inspired a Desi bond genre in other Indian film industries. On the occasion of the "Centenary of Indian Cinema" in April 2013, Forbes included his performance in Bangaarada Manushya on its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Upon his death, The New York Times had described him as one of India's most popular movie stars.
Kannada cinema, also known as Sandalwood, or Chandanavana, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Kannada language widely spoken in the state of Karnataka. The 1934 film Sati Sulochana directed by Y. V. Rao was the first talkie film in the Kannada language. It was also the first film starring Subbaiah Naidu and Tripuramba, and was the first motion picture screened in the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom. The film was produced by Chamanlal Doongaji, who in 1932 founded South India Movietone in Bangalore.
Upendra is an Indian actor, filmmaker, producer, screenwriter and politician who worked primarily in Kannada films. He has also worked in a few Telugu films. Upendra was known for his thematic representation of Indian politics and society in his films. In 2017, He joined the political party Karnataka Pragnyavanta Janata Paksha, before quitting the party in 2018 due to internal differences and formed another party named Uttama Prajaakeeya Party (UPP), which was based on the principles of Prajakiya. He received an Honorary Doctorate from Angkor University in 2015.
Sampath Kumar, known by his stage name Vishnuvardhan, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Kannada cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam language films. Vishnuvardhan has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 220 films. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, and holds the status of a matinée idol amongst the Kannada diaspora. He is popularly called as Sahasa Simha, Dada and The Angry Young Man of Kannada Cinema. Vishnuvardhan's contributions to Kannada cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of Karnataka honoured him with the Rajyothsava Prashasthi in 1990 and the Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his contributions to Kannada cinema. He was called The Phoenix of Indian Cinema. In 2008, a poll conducted by CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan as the most popular star in the Kannada film industry.
Srinivasa Sarja, better known by his stage name Arjun, is an Indian actor, producer, and director who works predominantly in Tamil cinema in addition to Telugu and Kannada films and a few Malayalam and Hindi films. Referred to by the media and his fans as "Action King" for his roles in action films, Arjun has acted in more than 160 films, most of them being lead roles. He is one of few South Indian actors to attract fan following from multiple states of India. He has directed 12 films and also produced and distributed a number of films.
Veeraswamy Ravichandran is an Indian actor, director, producer, music director, lyricist and editor in the Kannada Film Industry. He is the son of film producer N. Veeraswamy. As producer, Ravichandran continues to run his father's production house, Sri Eswari Productions. He is popularly known as "Crazy Star", a title fans have prefixed to his name. He is famous for bringing innovations to Kannada film industry beginning with Premaloka (1987).
Sudeep Sanjeev, also known as Sudeepa or Kichcha Sudeep, is an Indian actor, director, producer, screenwriter, television presenter and singer, who primarily works in Kannada films. He has also worked in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil films. He is one of the highest paid actors of Kannada Cinema and is one of the first Kannada actors to be listed in the Forbes list of top 100 celebrities of India since 2013. He has received several awards including four Filmfare Awards South and one Karnataka state award
Ramesh Aravind is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter and television presenter who works in Kannada films and television. Aravind has appeared in over 140 films including several Tamil-language films. He has won and been nominated for numerous awards. He has won Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Karnataka State Awards for Best Actor. He received Best Story Award for his script for Hoomale. He has won Udaya TV award and Suvarna TV awards.
Janardhan, known by his stage name Bank Janardhan is an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry. He is well-known for his comedy and drama roles in various Kannada films and television series. Some of the notable films of Janardhan as an actor include News (2005), Shhh! (1993) and Tharle Nan Maga (1992). He acted in kannada television serials such as Paapa Pandu.
Vijay Kashi is an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry. Some of his notable films are Undu Hoda Kondu Hoda (1992), Mangalyam Tantunanena (1998), Suryavamsha (1999).
Hirannaiah or Hirannayya, known by his stage name Master Hirannaiah, was an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry and a theatre artist in Karnataka, India. His films include ...Re (2016), Care of Footpath 2 (2015), No. 73, Shanthi Nivasa (2007).
Rekha Das is an Indian actress in the Kannada film industry. Some of the notable films of Rekha Das as an actress include Shwethaagni (1991), Shanthi Kranthi (1991), and Hoovu Hannu (1993).
Bhargavi Narayan was an Indian actress in the Kannada film industry, and a theatre artist in Karnataka, India. Her notable films include Eradu Kanasu, Hanthakana Sanchu, Pallavi Anupallavi, and Baa Nalle Madhuchandrake.
Sudha Belawadi is an Indian actress in the Kannada film industry, and a theatre artist in Karnataka, India. Some of the notable films of Sudha Belawadi as actress include Mathadana (2001), Mungaru Male (2006), Moggina Manasu (2008), Kaadu (1973).
Keerthiraj is an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry. Some of the notable films of Keerthiraj as an actor include Gajanura Gandu (1996), Bhanda Nanna Ganda (1992), and S. P. Bhargavi (1991).
Sihi Kahi Geetha is an Indian actress and voice-over artist known for her work in Kannada cinema and television. She is noted for performances in Nishyabda (1998), Surya Vamsha (1999), Maleyali Jotheyali (2009) and Actor.
Kunigal Nagabhushan was an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry. His films include S.P. Sangliyana 2 (1990), C.B.I. Shankar (1989), Daari Tappida Maga (1975).
Nirmala Chennappa or Nirmala Sathya is an Indian film director, actress, producer and technician in the Kannada film industry. She was participated as contestant in BIGG BOSS Kannada season 8.
Venkataraju known by his professional name Rajanand (1927-2004), was an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry. Some of the notable films of Rajanand as an actor include Operation Diamond Racket (1978), Mayura (1975), and Eradu Kanasu (1974).
R. Vijaykumar, known by his stage name Sarigama Viji, is an Indian actor and television personality known for his work in Kannada cinema. He is also a theatre artist, and is based in Karnataka.
