Raghavendra Rajkumar
Raghavendra Rajkumar | |
|---|---|
 Raghavendra Rajkumar in late 90s | |
| Born | 15 August 1965 |
| Other names | Raganna[1] |
| Occupations | Actor, dancer, film producer |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse | Mangala |
| Children | Vinay Rajkumar, Yuva Rajkumar |
| Parent(s) | Dr. Rajkumar (father) Parvathamma (mother) |
| Relatives | See Rajkumar family |
Raghavendra Rajkumar (born 15 August 1965) is an Indian actor, singer and producer of Kannada cinema. He is the son of actor Dr. Rajkumar and film producer Parvathamma Rajkumar. He made his debut as a lead in the film Chiranjeevi Sudhakar (1988) before appearing in the successful 1989 film Nanjundi Kalyana. He went on to star in films such as Gajapathi Garvabhanga (1989), Anukoolakkobba Ganda (1990), and Geluvina Saradaara (1996).[2] His last prominent film was Upendra's Swasthik (1998), a box office failure. He starred in Pakkadmane Hudugi (2004) before taking a fifteen-year sabbatical from acting.[3] Since then he has produced television serials under Poornima Productions and films under Sri Vajreshwari Combines.[2]
His comeback film as a villain, Chillum, was dropped.[4] In 2019, when he went to act in a lead role in the movie Ammana Mane, the Prime Minister of Singapore heard about it and watched the movie.[5]
Career
[edit | edit source]1970s: Early Years as Child Artist
[edit | edit source]Raghavendra Rajkumar began his journey in Kannada cinema as a child actor in mythological and family dramas produced under his home banner. He appeared in films such as Sri Srinivasa Kalyana (1974) and Daari Tappida Maga (1975), both starring his father, Dr. Rajkumar.
1980s: Lead Actor Debut and Breakthrough
[edit | edit source]After years behind the scenes, Raghavendra made his debut as a lead actor in Chiranjeevi Sudhakar (1988). His real breakthrough came with the romantic comedy Nanjundi Kalyana (1989), which became a superhit and established him as a bankable star. The same year, he starred in Gajapathi Garvabhanga, further cementing his popularity. These films showcased his ability to handle light-hearted roles with ease, and he often collaborated with directors like M. S. Rajashekar and co-stars such as Malashri, Shruti and Ananth Nag.
1990s: Success and Peak Stardom
[edit | edit source]The 1990s marked Raghavendra’s most prolific phase. He delivered a string of successful films, including Anukoolakkobba Ganda (1990) – A family entertainer, Kalyana Mantapa (1991) and Bharjari Gandu (1992): both romantic dramas. Anuragada Alegalu (1993) and Navibbaru Namagibbaru (1993) that showcased his comic timing, Geluvina Saradara (1996) and Sutradhara (1996) earned praise for emotional depth.
He also experimented with thrillers like Swasthik (1998), directed by Upendra, though it was a box-office failure despite critical appreciation for its bold narrative. His collaborations during this decade included directors like Relangi Narasimha Rao and Singeetham Srinivasa Rao.
2000s: Transition to Production
[edit | edit source]After Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi (1999) and Pakkadmane Hudugi (2004), Raghavendra gradually stepped away from acting to focus on production under Sri Vajreshwari Combines, assisting his mother Parvathamma Rajkumar. He managed major projects featuring his brothers Shiva Rajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar, such as Vamshi (2008), Aakash, and Yaare Koogadali (2012). He also produced television serials under Poornima Productions, marking his successful transition to a behind-the-scenes role.
2010s: Comeback and Critical Acclaim
[edit | edit source]After a 15-year hiatus, Raghavendra returned to acting with Ammana Mane (2019), a family drama that earned him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor. He followed this with Thrayambakam (2019), showcasing his ability to handle mature, layered characters. His comeback was widely appreciated for its emotional authenticity and simplicity.
2020s: Character Roles and Legacy
[edit | edit source]In recent years, Raghavendra has appeared in supporting and character roles in films like Rajatantra (2021), Pogaru (2021), James, and Raaji (2022). He continues to be involved in production and occasionally lends his voice as a playback singer.
Personal life
[edit | edit source]
Raghavendra Rajkumar was born on 15 August 1965 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, to legendary Kannada actor Dr. Rajkumar and film producer Parvathamma Rajkumar. He is the second son in the Rajkumar family, with elder brother Shiva Rajkumar and younger brother Puneeth Rajkumar, both prominent actors in Kannada cinema.[6][7] His sons Vinay Rajkumar and Yuva Rajkumar are both actors.[8] He also has two sisters, Poornima and Lakshmi. The family is deeply rooted in Karnataka’s cultural and cinematic heritage, and Raghavendra was named after Raghavendra Swami, reflecting his parents’ devotion.
Raghavendra married Mangala, and the couple has two sons: Vinay Rajkumar and Yuva Rajkumar, both actors continuing the family legacy. Known for his humility and strong family values, Raghavendra has maintained a low profile compared to his brothers, focusing on production and occasional acting. In 2013, he suffered a severe stroke while in Singapore, which led to prolonged physiotherapy and rehabilitation.[9] He has undergone physiotherapy treatment.[10] In December 2013, he had become victim of death hoax which was proven to be false.[11] Despite health challenges, he made a successful comeback to acting with Ammana Mane (2019), earning critical acclaim.
Filmography
[edit | edit source]As actor
[edit | edit source]| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role(s) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Sri Srinivasa Kalyana | Child artist | [1] | |
| 1975 | Daari Tappida Maga | Kitty | Child artist | |
| 1988 | Chiranjeevi Sudhakar | Sudhakar | Lead debut | [12] |
| 1989 | Nanjundi Kalyana | Raghuchandra | [13] | |
| Gajapathi Garvabhanga | Kishore | |||
| 1990 | Aasegobba Meesegobba | Raghu | Cameo appearance | [14] |
| Anukoolakkobba Ganda | Brahmachari | |||
| 1991 | Kalyana Mantapa | Shankara | ||
| 1992 | Bharjari Gandu | Gopi | ||
| 1993 | Anuragada Alegalu | Priyadarshan | ||
| Navibbaru Namagibbaru | Chandru | Dual role | ||
| 1994 | Sagara Deepa | Kumar | ||
| 1995 | Aata Hudugata | Raj | ||
| 1996 | Shreemathi Kalyana | Anand | ||
| Geluvina Saradaara | Seethapathi | |||
| Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata | ||||
| Sutradhara | Ravindra | |||
| 1997 | Shivaranjani | Shiva | ||
| 1998 | Swasthik | Guru | [15] | |
| 1999 | Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi | Kumar | [16] | |
| 2004 | Pakkadmane Hudugi | Balu | [3][17] | |
| 2019 | Ammana Mane | Rajeeva | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor | [18][19] |
| Thrayambakam | Shiva Rudraiah | [20] | ||
| 2021 | Rajatantra | Captain Rajaram | [21] | |
| Pogaru | Shiva's guru | [22] | ||
| 2022 | Raaji | |||
| James | Santosh's Ashrama Guru | Cameo appearance | [23] | |
| 2024 | Rangasamudra | Philanthropist | [24] | |
| Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe | Music teacher | Guest appearance | ||
| 2025 | Kanna Mucche Kaade Goode | |||
| TBA | Aadisidaatha† | TBA | Delayed | [25] |
As singer
[edit | edit source]| Year | Film | Song(s) | Composer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Nanjundi Kalyana | "Nijava Nudiyale", "Hosa Premadalli" | Upendra Kumar | |
| 1990 | Gajapathi Garvabhanga | All songs except "Jataka Kudure" | ||
| Anukoolakkobba Ganda | All songs | |||
| 1991 | Kalyana Mantapa | All songs except "Ombathu Ombathu" | ||
| 1993 | Anuragada Alegalu | All songs except "Jeeva Kogile" | Hamsalekha | |
| 1995 | Aata Hudugaata | All songs | Sadhu Kokila | |
| 2019 | Ammana Mane | All songs | Sameer Kulakarani |
As producer
[edit | edit source]Film
[edit | edit source]| Film | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Shruthi Seridaaga |
| 1989 | Inspector Vikram |
| 2010 | Jackie |
| 2012 | Anna Bond |
| 2012 | Yaare Koogadali |
| 2016 | Run Antony |
Television
[edit | edit source]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Marali Bandalu Seethe | |
| 2020 | Jeeva Hoovagide | [26] |
References
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- ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/raghavendra-rajkumars-singapore-sojourn-for-health-check-up/articleshow/27240338.cms
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Raghavendra Rajkumar at IMDb
- Fecilitation Ceremony of Raghavendra Raj Kumar organized by Slum Children and Women Development Association in Bangalore [1]
- Plackback Songs by Raghavendra RajKumar (Audio) from Udbhava.com Udbhava.com - Search results for Raghavendra Rajkumar
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