Vijay Raghavendra (Actor, Director, Television Presenter, Singer)

Indian film actor Vijay Raghavendra has had a successful career in Kannada films; starting off as a child artist in Chalisuva Modagalu in 1982, he went on to win the National Film Award for Best Child Artist in 1994 for his work in Kotreshi Kanasu and the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor in 2016 for playing Puttaraj Gawai in the biographical film Shivayogi Sri Puttayyajja. His most successful film Ninagagi in 2002 was one of the highest-grossing movies of that year. In 2006, he further enhanced his stardom with two acclaimed films Kallarali Hoovagi and Sevanthi Sevanthi, which was produced under his home production banner. He earned even more fame by winning the first season of the game show Bigg Boss in 2013. His 2018 Kismath was his directorial debut.

Vijay Raghavendra was born in Bangalore, India into a family of well-known film personalities. As a child artist, he had the opportunity to act in several films featuring his uncle, the renowned actor Rajkumar, as the lead actor. After appearing in approximately eight films, Vijay undertook a formal education in acting, relocating to Chennai to do so.

Vijay Raghavendra first appeared in a small role in 1982 in Singeetham Srinivasa Rao's romantic drama Chalisuva Modagalu, starring his uncle Rajkumar, Ambika and his cousin Puneeth Rajkumar. His first adult role was in Ninagagi (2002), followed by many other notable films such as Kallarali Hoovagi, Rishi, Khushi and Kaaranji. His two films released in 2011, Shraavana and Kalla Malla Sulla, earned favourable reviews. In 2012, he starred in the multi-starrer comedy Snehitaru and in 2015, he won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor for the biographical Shivayogi Sri Puttayyajja. In 2013, he was the winner of the first season of the Kannada version of the reality show Bigg Boss, for which he was reportedly paid Rs. 5 million prize money.