Dr. Rajkumar
Known For
Acting
Born
1929-04-24 in Gajanur, Madras Residency
Died
2006-04-12
Biography
Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj (24 April 1929 – 12 April 2006), better known by his stage name Dr. Rajkumar, was an Indian actor and singer who worked in Kannada cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest and versatile actors in the history of Indian cinema, he is considered a cultural icon and holds a matinée idol status in the Kannada diaspora, among whom he is popularly called as Nata Saarvabhouma (Emperor of Actors), Bangarada Manushya (Man of Gold), Vara Nata (Gifted actor), Gaana Gandharva (Celestial singer), Rasikara Raja (King of connoisseurs), Kannada Kanteerava and Rajanna/Annavru (Elder brother, Raj). He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1983 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995. He is the only lead actor to win National Award for Playback singing. His 39 movies have been remade 63 times in 9 languages by 34 actors making him the first actor whose movies were remade more than fifty times and the first actor whose movies were remade in nine languages. He was the first actor in India to enact a role which was based on James Bond in a full-fledged manner. The success of his movie Jedara Bale is credited to have widely inspired an Indian bond genre in other Indian film industries. On the occasion of the "Centenary of Indian Cinema" in April 2013, Forbes included his performance in Bangaarada Manushya on its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Upon his death, The New York Times had described him as one of India's most popular movie stars.
Most Known For
Bhagyavantha
as Cameo
Gange Gowri
as Lord Shiva
Anna Thangi
Jwalamukhi
as Jayasimha
Apoorva Sangama
as Gopi Krishna / Santhosh
Naandi
as Murthy
Devatha Manushya
as Krishna Murthy
Guri
as Kaliprasad
Hrudaya Sangama
as Jamindaar Rajanna / Kumar
Jeevana Chaithra
as Vishwanathaiah
Chalisuva Modagalu
as Mohan
Odahuttidavaru
as Ramanna
Sathya Harishchandra
as Raja Harishchandra
Sandhya Raaga
as Lakshmana
Haavina Hede
as Muthanna
Shabdavedhi
Shruthi Seridaga
as Dr. G. N. Murthy
Bhale Huchcha
as Gopi
Akasmika
as Narasimha Murthy
Immadi Pulikeshi
as Immadi Pulikeshi