Nagaraju Shiva Puttaswamy, later known as Shivarajkumar, was born on July 12, 1962, in the then State of Madras, now known as Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to the renowned couple, Dr. Rajkumar, a matinee idol, and Parvathamma Rajkumar, an acclaimed movie producer.
Shivarajkumar's early life was marked by his interest in the world of movies, even before he decided to make a career out of it. His father and mother were both prominent figures in the film industry, and his younger brother, Puneeth Rajkumar, had already gained recognition as a child artist, winning a national award for his role in the 1985 film "Bettada Hovvu".
Shivarajkumar's journey in the film industry began when legendary director K. Balachander approached him for a movie in Malayalam, which unfortunately did not materialize. However, this incident sparked his interest in acting, and he honed his skills before making his debut in the 1986 film "Anand", directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao.
Throughout his illustrious career, Shivarajkumar has acted in over 130 movies, earning him the title of Hattrick Hero after his first three movies celebrated silver jubilee theatrically. He is known for his versatility and varied story choices, which have earned him the title Natyasaarvabhouma, meaning Emperor of Dance.
Shivarajkumar's notable movies include "OM", "Nammoora Mandara Hoove", "Chigurida Kanasu", "Janumada Jodi", "AK 47", "Jogi", "Kaddipudi", "Mufthi", "Tagaru", "Bhoomi Thayiya Chochala Maga", "Ranaranga", "Ade Raaga Ade Haadu", "Inspector Vikram", "Dhore", "Samyukta", "Assegobba Meesegobba", "Mruthyunjaya", "Modada Mareyali", "Midida Shruthi", "Mutthanna", "Samara", "Simhada Mari", "Kurubana Rani", "Andaman", "Hrudaya Hrudaya", "Rishi", and many others.
Shivarajkumar has also gained fame nationwide for his cameos in Rajinikanth's "Jailer" and Dhanush's "Captain Miller". He has won four state awards for best actor in a leading role (Kannada) for his performances in "Om", "Hrudaya Hrudaya", "Chugurida Kanasu", and "Jogi", and has won 10 Filmfare awards for best actor in a leading role (Kannada).
