Shiva Rajkumar

Some Lesser Known Facts About Shiva Rajkumar

• Shiva Rajkumar is an Indian actor, film producer, and television presenter who primarily appears in Kannada films and television shows. He is known for playing the titular role in the Kannada film Vedha (2022).

• He is the eldest son of Dr. Rajkumar, a famous actor who worked in Kannada cinemas. Dr. Rajkumar was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1983 and Dadasaheb Phalke Awards in 1995.

• Inclined towards acting since childhood, Shiva made his acting debut in 1974 as a child artist with a Kannada-language Hindu mythological film Sri Srinivasa Kalyana, wherein he played the role of Master Puttaswamy.

• After making his film debut as a child actor in 1974, Shiva took a sabbatical break from acting. Later, in 1986, after attending an acting school in Chennai, he made his film debut as an actor with the Kannada film Anand, produced by his mother, Dr.Parvathamma Rajkumar.

  

• On 19 May 1986, Shiva Rajkumar got married to Geetha, who is the second daughter of the former chief minister of Karnataka, Sarekoppa Bangarappa.

  

• In the late 1980s, Shiva was featured in many Kannada films like Manamecchida Hudugi (1987), Shiva Mecchida Kannappa (1988), and Ade Raaga Ade Haadu (1989).

  

• Between 1990-2000, Shiva appeared in more than 50 Kannada films. He was featured in a lead role in films like Aralida Hoovugalu (1991), Mavanige Thakka Aliya (1992), Gandhada Gudi Part 2 (1994), Nammoora Mandara Hoove (1996), Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga (1998), and Yare Nee Abhimani (2000).

• In 2010, Shiva was featured in a self-titled role in the Kannada film Sugreeva. The film, Sugreeva, was directed by ten directors and was shot in 18 hours.

• In 2011, Shiva Rajkumar was the brand ambassador of Royal Challenges Bangalore for their 11th season of the Indian Premier League.

• In 2012, Shiva Rajkumar’s family on his 50th birthday organised a charitable programme for needy people from backward areas of Hyderabad and Karnataka. Ramesh, an assistant to Shiva Rajumar, during an interview, talked about this and said,
  

  We had fans celebrating Shivanna’s birthday by having blood donation camps. But coming August 8, the brothers – Shivarajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar along with Shivanna’s wife Geetha will come together to donate 3 to 4 ambulances, 20 autos to unemployed youth, tailoring machines to young ladies and donating money to drought affected areas.”

• In 2016, Shiva Rajkumar suffered a mild heart attack during his workout session at his gym. In an interview, cardiologist Dr V.K. Srinivas, who was responsible for Shiva’s treatment, talked about this and said,
  

  An angiogram was conducted as there were fluctuations in his heart beat. It was a ten-minute surgery and he is stable and fine. He will be under observation at the hospital for another three days and then he will be discharged.”

• In 2021, Shiva’s younger brother, Puneeth Rajkumar, a famous actor in Kannada cinemas, died from a heart attack. During an interview in 2021, Shiva talked about this and said he was still in denial about his brother’s demise. Shiva said,
  

  It goes without saying that I’m still in denial, just like the other family members. There are moments when I feel life is so uncertain and try to accept the truth; then there are moments where I refuse to believe that this has happened and feel like he’s still around, calling me ‘Shivanna.’ Frankly, I don’t know how I’m even going through the days.But again, what do I do when, at every corner, there is an image of my Appu with a garland staring down at me? I just turn my head and refuse to look at those pictures. I know that death is inevitable and one day, all our images will be similarly placed. But somewhere, the heart refuses to accept that it’s my little brother’s image that is placed there”

• Besides acting, Shiva Rajkumar is a playback singer. In 1988, he made his playback debut with the Kannada song O Meghave from the film Ranaranga. He has lent his voice to many Kannada-language songs like Thandana Thandana and Bombato Bombato from the film Aasegobba Meesegobba (1990), Andaman Andaman from the film Andaman (1998), Hayya Hayya from the film Killing Veerappan (2016), and Pushpa Pushpa from the film Vedha (2022).

  

• Reportedly, in 2021, Rajkumar and four other people from Karnataka including BT Lalitha Naik, a journalist, and a politician received a death threat. At a Bengaluru event, Lalitha claimed she got the threat letter. ^[8]The Times of India

• In 2022, he worked as a producer and actor for the film Vedha, wherein he played the titular role.

  

• According to Shiva Rajkumar, he shares a good bond with the famous actor and politician Rajinikanth. In an interview, he talked about this and said,
  

  It’s a great opportunity for anybody to act along with Rajinikanth, and I’m glad that this project has made it possible for me. He has known me since my childhood, and I share a special bond with him

• In 2023, he was featured in the film Kabzaa, wherein he played the role of Siddhantha.

• In an interview in 2023, Rajkumar said that had he been a girl, he would have married Kamal Hassan.

• In an interview, Shiva said that the Kannada film Om (1995) was one of his best movies. Shiva said,
  

  I enjoy each and every movie I do. I have learned to strike a balance between success and failure hence it is difficult to choose. Still, I will go with ‘Om’ as the role was really unforgettable. With less technology, we were able to make such film.”

• In 2023, Shiva Rajkumar declined an offer from D. K. Shivakumar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In an interview, Rajkumar expressed his commitment to working solely as an actor. He further mentioned that neither his wife nor his brother-in-law, Madhu Bangarappa, had encouraged him to enter politics. ^[9]India Today Shiva Rajkumar said,
  

  The gift my father gave was to put on colours and act and impress you all. That’s where my line ends. I’ll stay with you and act. There are people specifically for politics who are doing good work.”