Pudipeddi Sai Kumar (born 27 July 1960) is an Indian actor, dubbing artist and television presenter who works predominantly in

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...

Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...

, in addition to a few

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...

films. He has received three state

Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by the Filmfare magazine of The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Indian film industry encompassing ...

, two

Nandi Awards The Nandi Awards are the awards that recognise the excellence in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre and Telugu television, and Lifetime achievements in Indian cinema. Presented annually by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the award is named after ...

and two SIMA Awards for his work in

and

. His performance in '' Prasthanam'' (2010) featured in the list of the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by ''

Film Companion Anupama Chopra () is an Indian author, journalist, film critic and director of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. She is also the founder and editor of the digital platform Film Companion, which offers a curated look at cinema. She has written sev ...

.''

Early and personal life

Sai Kumar was born to

P. J. Sarma Pudipeddi Jogeswara Sarma was an Indian film dubbing artist, turned actor and writer, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has worked for over 500 films as an actor and dubbing artist. He is the father of actors Sai Kumar (Ka ...

and Krishna Jyothi, as one of five children. Sarma moved from

Vizianagaram Vizianagaram is a city and the headquarters of Vizianagaram district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is central Eastern Ghats, about west of the Bay of Bengal and north-northeast of Visakhapatnam. The city has a population of 228,02 ...

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

and established himself as an actor and dubbing artist while Jyothi, hails from Bagepalli,

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

and has acted in several

films. Kumar's brothers

P. Ravi Shankar Pudipeddi Ravi Shankar (born 28 November 1966), also known as Sai Ravi, is an Indian actor, dubbing artist, director and writer. He predominantly appears in Kannada films, in addition to Telugu language, Telugu and Tamil language, Tamil films. ...

and Ayyappa Sharma are also actors. They have two sisters. Kumar has a master's degree in Arts from Presidency College, Chennai and completed

M.Phil. The Master of Philosophy (MPhil; Latin ' or ') is a postgraduate degree. In the United States, an MPhil typically includes a taught portion and a significant research portion, during which a thesis project is conducted under supervision. An MPhil m ...

Madras Christian College Madras Christian College (MCC) is a liberal arts and sciences college in Chennai, India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. The college is affiliated to the University of Madras but functions as an autonomous institu ...

, where he also taught briefly. Sai Kumar's son Aadi is also a well known actor in Telugu cinema.

Film career

He started his career at an early age as a dubbing child artist. His father,

was a leading dubbing artist. Sai Kumar followed in his father's footsteps, having dubbed for Suman and Rajasekhar for many of their films. As a child actor, he appeared in ''Devudu Chesina Pelli'' (1975) and ''Sneham'' (1977). He resumed acting as an adult, appearing in ''

Challenge Challenge may refer to: * Voter challenging or caging, a method of challenging the registration status of voters * Euphemism for disability * Peremptory challenge, a dismissal of potential jurors from jury duty Places Geography *Challenge, C ...

'' (1984), '' Major Chandrakanth'' (1993), ''

Kalikalam Kalikalam (Telugu: కలికాలం) is a 1991 Telugu movie starring Chandra Mohan, Jayasudha. The story revolves around the difficulties of a typical middle-class family, unable to earn money to lead a satisfied life. The film was remad ...

'' (1991), and others. He started in Tamil movies like '' Thaiyalkaran'' (1991), ''

Kaaval Geetham ''Kaaval Geetham'' () is a 1992 Tamil-language romantic action film directed by S. P. Muthuraman, starring Vikram and Sithara. The film was released on 14 February 1992. Plot Priya is a crime journalist. She is investigating the rape and mu ...

'' (1992), ''

Vaettiya Madichu Kattu ''Vaettiya Madichu Kattu'' () is a 1998 Indian Tamil-language film written and directed by K. Bhagyaraj. The film stars himself in lead role with his real-life son Shanthanu portraying his son with Nagma and Saikumar playing supporting roles. T ...

'' (1998) and then the action roles such as '' Aathi'' (2006), ''

Thenavattu ''Thenavattu'' () is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by V. V. Kathir, starring Jiiva and Poonam Bajwa, whilst Ganja Karuppu, Ravi Kale, Shafi, Saikumar, and Rajan P. Dev play pivotal roles. The music was composed by ...

'' (2008) and '' Thiruvannamalai'' (2008). He appeared in the 1996 Kannada film '' Police Story'', which was also voice dubbed in Telugu and Tamil. His Kannada films ''

Agni IPS ''Agni IPS'' is a 1997 Indian Kannada-language action film directed by Anand P. Raju, written by R. Selvaraj and produced by Rockline Venkatesh. The film stars Saikumar and Ranjitha, with B. Saroja Devi playing a supporting role. The film has m ...

'' (1997), ''Central Jail'' (1997), '' Police Story 2'' (2007) were all major hits at the box office and Sai Kumar became a household name in Karnataka. Sai Kumar says, 'I am indebted to Karnataka for making me a star and giving me ''Police Story'' during my struggling days.' His Kannada film ''

RangiTaranga ''RangiTaranga'' (English: ''Colourful Wave'') is a 2015 Indian Kannada-language mystery thriller film written and directed by Anup Bhandari in his debut, and produced by H. K. Prakash, under Shree Devi Entertainers. It features debutantes Nirup ...

'' was one of the 300 films eligible to be nominated for the Oscars in 2016 and his performance in the film was not only praised by the critics, but also earned him an IIFA Utsavam and

SIIMA Award South Indian International Movie Awards, also known as the SIIMA Awards, rewards the artistic and technical achievements of the South Indian film industry. It was launched in 2012 by Vishnu Vardhan Induri and Brinda Prasad Adusimilli to appreci ...

Television career

In addition to his films, he also hosted ''

Deal or No Deal ''Deal or No Deal'' is the name of several closely related television game shows, the first of which (launching the format) was the Dutch ''Miljoenenjacht (Netherlands), Miljoenenjacht'' (''Hunt/Chase for Millions''). The centerpiece of this f ...

'' on

Gemini TV Gemini TV is an Indian Telugu language general entertainment pay television channel. It was launched on 9 February 1995 by Gemini Group, owned by A. Manohar Prasad (grandson of L. V. Prasad), in association with Sun TV Network. In 1996-97, Sun ...

and Etv Kannada in Telugu and Kannada respectively. He also hosted ''WOW-Sakkhath Kick Kodo'' game show on ETV Kannada and ''WOW S1 - Manchi Kick Ichche, WOW S2'' game shows on

ETV ETV may stand for: Television * e.tv, a South African terrestrial television channel * Educational Television (Hong Kong), a television series * Educational television, the use of television in education * Enhanced TV, an interactive television a ...

. He hosted a game show, ''Manam'' on

Awards

;

* Nandi Award for Best Villain – ''

Samanyudu ''Samanyudu'' () is a 2006 Indian Telugu-language political action film produced by R. R. Venkat on R.R. Movie Makers banner and directed by Ravi C Kumar. The film stars Jagapati Babu, Kamna Jethmalani, while Sai Kumar, Ranganath, Archana, ...

'' (2006) *

Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor The Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award presented at the Nandi Awards, instituted since 1981. Winners See also * Nandi Awards * Cinema of Andhra Pradesh References {{DEFAULTSORT:Nandi Award For Best Supporting Actor Supportin ...

– '' Prasthanam'' (2010) ;

Filmfare Awards The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Hindi-language film industry of India.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were first introduced by th ...

* Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu - ''

'' (2006) * Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu - '' Prasthanam'' (2010) *

Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada The Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award is and award presented annually by the '' Filmfare'' magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Kannada films. It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance ...

- ''

'' (2015) ;

IIFA Awards The International Indian Film Academy Awards, popularly known as IIFA, is an annual awards ceremony for Bollywood. Produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, the winners of the awards are decided by fans, who vote online for th ...

* IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor (Kannada) – ''

'' (2015) ; CineMAA Awards * CineMAA Award for Best Supporting Actor – '' Prasthanam'' (2010) ; SIMA Awards * SIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – '' Bharaate'' (2019) * SIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – ''

'' (2015) ;Other Awards * TSR – TV9 Award for Best Villain (2010) - '' Prasthanam'' *

Santosham Best Villain Award The Santosham Best Villain Award is given by ''Santosham Film'' as part of its annual Santosham Film Awards for Telugu film Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion picture ...

– ''

Yevadu ''Yevadu'' () is a 2014 Indian Telugu-language action thriller film co-written and directed by Vamsi Paidipally. The film stars Ram Charan, Shruti Haasan, and Amy Jackson while Allu Arjun and Kajal Aggarwal in cameo roles with Jayasudha, Sai ...

'' (2014) ;Television Awards (As anchor) * TV Award 2009 for Best Male Anchor presented by Delhi Telugu Academy in

Hyderabad Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...

on 8 August 2010. * Tata Docomo Media Award – Most Popular Male Anchor was given on 15 August 2010 for anchoring the TV show ''Wow'' on ETV Telugu. * 'Best Male Anchor Award' was presented at the AP Cinegoers' 6th Annual TV Awards – 2009 on 28 December 2010 for his anchoring of ''Wow'' on ETV Telugu.

Filmography

As actor

Telugu

Kannada

* '' Prema Sangama'' (1992) * '' Kumkuma Bhagya'' (1993) * ''

Lockup Death ''Lockup Death'' is a 1994 Indian Kannada-language action film directed and written by Om Prakash Rao starring Devaraj, Nirosha and Saikumar. The film was produced by Ramu for his Ramu Enterprises production banner. It was the first Kannada ...

'' (1994) * ''Hettha Karulu'' (1994) * '' Muthinantha Hendathi'' (1995) * ''Thavaru Beegaru'' (1995) * '' Thaliya Sowbhagya'' (1995) * ''Puttmalli'' (1995) * ''Emergency'' (1995) * ''Hetthavaru'' (1996) * ''Circle Inspector'' (1996) * ''Saakida Gini'' (1996) * ''Sowbhagya Devathe'' (1996) * ''Mane Mane Ramayana'' (1996) * ''Aayudha'' (1996) * '' Police Story'' (1996) * ''

Muddina Kanmani ''Muddina Kanmani'' is a 1997 Indian Kannada-language drama film, directed and produced by Ravi Kottarakara The film stars Shiva Rajkumar, Sai Kumar, Shilpa and Maathu. The film was a remake of director Rajasenan's Malayalam film '' Aadyathe K ...

'' (1997) * ''

'' (1997) * ''Police Bete'' (1997) * ''Central Jail'' (1997) * ''Dhairya'' (1997) * ''Jagadeeshwari'' (1998) * ''

Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...

'' (1999) * ''Om Namah Shivaya'' (1999) * '' Naga Devathe'' (2000) * '' Mahatma'' (2000) * ''Ticket Tickets'' (2000) * ''Paapigala Lokadalli'' (2000) * '' Durgada Huli'' (2000) * ''

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Man ...

'' (2000) * '' Khadga'' (2000) * '' Rashtra Geethe'' (2001) * ''

Grama Devathe ''Grama Devathe'' () is a 2001 Indian Kannada-language Hindu devotional film written and directed by Sai Prakash. It stars Meena, Prema, Sai Kumar and Roja. The film was dubbed in Tamil as ''Angala Parameswari'', in Telugu as ''Grama Devatha' ...

'' (2001) * ''Law and Order'' (2002) * ''Anka'' (2003) * ''Vijaya Dashami'' (2003) * ''Monda'' (2004) * ''The City'' (2004) * ''Srirampura Police Station'' (2004) * ''

Bhagawan Bhagavan ( sa, भगवान्, Bhagavān; pi, Bhagavā, italics=yes), also spelt Bhagwan (sometimes translated in English as "Lord"), is an epithet within Indian religions used to denote figures of religious worship. In Hinduism it is us ...

'' (2004) * ''

Mahasadhvi Mallamma ''Mahasadhvi Mallamma'' is a 2005 Indian Kannada-language biographical film, based on the life of Hemareddy Mallamma, produced by A. Sanjeev Kumar, N. S. Eliwala, N. S. Jayawadagi on N. S. Productions banner and directed by Renuka Sharma. Starri ...

'' (2005) * '' Police Story 2'' (2007) * ''Rakshaka'' (2007) * ''Sri Kshetra Kaivara Thathaiyya'' (2007) * ''Citizen'' (2008) * ''Aa Marma'' (2012) * '' Kalpana'' (2012) * '' Angulimala'' (2012) * '' Samsaradalli Golmal'' (2012) * ''

Brindavana ''Brindavana'' is a 2013 Indian Kannada romantic comedy film starring Darshan, Karthika Nair (in her first and only Kannada film to date) and Milana Nagaraj and also featuring Saikumar and Sampath Raj. A remake of the 2010 Telugu film '' Brin ...

'' (2013) * '' Angulimala'' (2014) * ''

Rose A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus ''Rosa'' (), in the family Rosaceae (), or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be ...

'' (2014) * ''

'' (2015) * ''Raj Bahaddur'' (2016) * ''Mahaveera Machideva'' (2016) * ''

Run Antony ''Run Antony'' is a 2016 Indian Kannada action thriller film written and directed by Raghu Shastri, making his debut. Produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar and Guru Rajkumar under Vajreshwari Hospitality banner, the film stars V ...

'' (2016) - Special appearance * '' Madamakki'' (2016) * ''

Nagarahavu ''Naagarahaavu'' () is a 1972 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal, based on T. R. Subba Rao's three novels ''Nagarahavu'', ''Ondu Gandu Eradu Hennu'' and ''Sarpa Mathsara'', and starring Vishnuvardhan, Aarathi , K. S. A ...

'' (2016) * ''

Santhu Straight Forward ''Santhu Straight Forward'' is a 2016 Indian Kannada-language romantic action comedy film directed by Mahesh Rao and produced by K. Manju. The film features Yash and Radhika Pandit. The music is composed by V. Harikrishna. The film was dub ...

'' (2016) * ''Real Police'' (2017) * ''

Pataki Pataki may refer to: * Pataki (surname) * Hungarian name of Potoky, Slovakia * '' Hayden v. Pataki'' * ''Pataki'' (film), a 2017 Indian Kannada Language film See also * Patakí stories * Potaki (disambiguation) * Potok (disambiguation) * Po ...

'' (2017) * ''

Happy New Year The Christmas season or the festive season (also known in some countries as the holiday season or the holidays) is an annually recurring period recognized in many Western and other countries that is generally considered to run from late November ...

'' (2017) * ''

Bharjari ''Bharjari'' is a 2017 Indian Kannada-language masala film written and directed by Chethan Kumar. The film stars Dhruva Sarja, Rachita Ram and Haripriya. It also features Sudharani, Srinivasa Murthy and Sai Kumar in the supporting roles. The m ...

'' (2017) * ''Women's Day'' (2017) * ''

Brihaspathi Brihaspati ( sa, बृहस्पति, ), also known as Guru, is a Hindu deity. In the ancient Vedic scriptures of Hinduism, Brihaspati is a deity associated with fire, and the word also refers to a rishi (sage) who counsels the devas (gods ...

'' (2018) * '' Kismath'' (2018) - guest appearance * '' Ibbaru BTech Students Journey'' (2019) * '' Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya '' (2019) * '' Bharaate'' (2019) * '' Yuvarathnaa'' (2021) as Raghav Reddy, Central Education Minister * '' Avatara Purusha'' (2022) as Rama Joyeesa * '' Ombattane Dikku'' (2022) as Varadappa

Tamil

* '' Thaiyalkaran'' (1991) * ''

'' (1992) * ''

'' (1998) * '' Anthapuram'' (1999) * '' Aathi'' (2006) * ''

'' (2008) * '' Thiruvannamalai'' (2008) * ''Kotti'' (2010) * '' Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam'' (2010) * '' A1'' (2019) * ''

Anbarivu ''Anbarivu'' is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language family drama film written and directed by Aswin Raam in his directorial debut and produced by Sathya Jyothi Films. The film stars Hiphop Tamizha Aadhi in his first dual role, Kashmira Pardeshi, an ...

'' (2022) * ''Diesel'' (2022)

As dubbing artist

As producer

* '' Garam''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Sai Telugu male actors Indian male voice actors Male actors in Kannada cinema Indian male child actors Living people Filmfare Awards South winners Nandi Award winners Male actors in Telugu cinema Indian male film actors Male actors in Tamil cinema People from Vizianagaram 20th-century Indian male actors 21st-century Indian male actors Telugu film producers Film producers from Andhra Pradesh Male actors from Andhra Pradesh Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2008 Santosham Film Awards winners 1961 births