Shiva Rajkumar is an Indian actor, producer, and television presenter who works in the Kannada entertainment industry. He was born in Madras (now Chennai) and is the first of five children of legendary actor and Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar and film producer Parvathamma Rajkumar.

Rajkumar did his schooling in T. Nagar, Chennai, and then studied at New College, Chennai. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Madras University in 1983. On the recommendation by film director K. Balachander, Rajkumar joined an acting school in Chennai after completing his graduation. He also trained in Kuchipudi dance under Vempetti Chinni Sathyam in Chennai during his college days.

Rajkumar’s first appearance was in a small role in the 1974 movie Shri Srinivasa Kalyana (1974). Years later, he debuted in the Kannada film industry with Anand (1986), for which he also won the Cinema Express Award for Best Actor.

Rajkumar got married to Geeta, the daughter of the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sarekoppa Bangarappa, in 1986.

He got the title of ‘hat-trick hero’ from his fans after his first three films, Anand (1986), Ratha Sapthami (1986), and Manamecchida Hudugi (1987), were all superhits.

His other movies, like Janumada Jodi (1996), Nammoora Mandaara Hoove (1996), AK 47 (1999), Jogi the King (2005), Bhajarangi (2013), Shivalinga (2016), Mufti (2017), and Tagaru (2018) were equally successful and were blockbusters at the box office.

His film Om (1995), directed by Upendra, is still shown in cinemas and set the trend for gangster movies in Kannada and other film industries.

His performance in Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga (1998) was highly applauded; Srikanth Srinivasa of the Deccan Herald called it his “best performance to date”. Bhajarangi (2013) was a box-office success that was released in 212 cinema halls in Karnataka alone. It ran successfully for more than 100 days.

In 2010, Rajkumar made his television debut with the talk show Naaniruvude Nimagagi on Zee Kannada. His fans were looking forward to his first film appearance outside of Kannada cinema with the Tamil film Jailer (2023).

Rajkumar has also been involved in the production of the TV serial Manasa Sarovara and the co-production of the web series Hate You and Honeymoon.

Rajkumar won four Filmfare Awards in the Best Actor category for Om in 1996, Nammoora Mandara Hoove in 1997, A.K. 47 in 2000, and Thamassu in 2011. He was also lauded with four state awards for Om, Hrudaya Hrudaya, Chigurida Kanasu, and Jogi.

Besides, he was a recipient of the NTR National Award in 2011, received the SIIMA Award for Social Responsibility in 2012, and was felicitated with the Kohinoor of South India honour by the British South India Council of Commerce and Visionnaire Entertainment in 2016.

Rajkumar received his honorary doctorate from Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University of Bellary in 2014.