Top 10 Kannada Actors Of All Time

The Kannada film industry is referred as Sandalwood or Chandanavana. Since the first Kannada film was produced in 1936, the Kannada film industry has had a roller-coaster ride. But the good news is that the Kannada film industry is also a challenging force for the other industries regarding directing, technical expertise and execution. Dr. Rajkumar dominated the Kannada film industry during the early 50s while the late 60s saw the rising of eminent stars like Kalyankumar and Udaykumar. Later Dr. Vishnuvardhan and Ambareesh waved their magic wand during the 70s and 80s. It was virtually Vishnuvardhan’s era at that time, and he went on to act in over 200 films in about five languages of India. Then actors like Anant Nag, Lokes, Srinath, etc. made their presence felt in the Kannada industry.
During the 80s and 90s actors like Shivarajkumar, V Ravichandran and Ramesh Arvind were top notch heroes. After 2000, Puneet Rajkumar seemed to be the undisputed king of Sandalwood, and there was no one to beat his spot. Even talented actors like Sudeep, Darshan and Ganesh who were strong contenders for the position, could not beat Puneeth. Well, when it comes to a list of top ten we can only select ten actors right? So let’s take a look at the top 10 heroes of Kannada cinema. This list is in no specific order.

1. Puneeth Rajkumar

Concerning box office earnings, Power Star Puneeth is definitely the number one. His success ratio is very high, and he has a good fan following too. He is very talented; he is adept at dance, stunt sequences, decent acting and graceful mannerisms. To be precise, he has all the essentials of a good hero. He stole the hearts of the Kannada masses even at his young age and went on to win a National Award. Well, nobody will deny that he is one of the most dependable stars to the distributors and producers of Sandalwood. What say, guys?

2. Vishnuvardhan

Dr. Vishnu Vardhan was undoubtedly the reigning star of his time. He was at the zenith of his success till he breathed his last. Fondly remembered as Dada by his fans Vishnu’s last film Aaptha Rakshaka was a roaring success, and his acting was much applauded. He had an iconic position that was unparallel during his time. His career is a glaring example of slow and steady success. At one time there used to be his Midas touch to his films. He is one actor who carries on any role with equal panache. He was the unquestionable king of Kannada cinema for over three decades. Any second thought guys?

3. Sudeep

Sudeep is a multi-talented hero of Sandalwood. He has to his credit the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for three continuous years. Though Sudeep was the lead hero in most of his films, he never shied away from acting in a negative role in the Telugu movie Eega. Through this film, he attracted appreciation among Telugu and Tamil fans, besides Kannada.

4. Darshan Thoogudeep

Challenging Star Darshan initially had to struggle to carve a niche for himself in the Kannada film industry. At the outset, he did only insignificant roles in TV serials and some films before becoming the lead hero. Eventually, he was considered as a bankable star along with a mass appeal.

5. Upendra Rao

Fondly referred to as Uppi and Real Star by his fans, Upendra is not only a good actor but also a good director. His directorial ventures never failed to strike gold at the box office. His hair style and dressing style is very much appreciated by his fans.

6. Dr.Rajkumar

Rajkumar was a loved hero of Kannada film industry for astonishing five-decades and most of his movies set the cash registers ringing. Rajkumar was the matinee idol of the youth during his time. In fact, this actor never played the onscreen villain in his career.

7. Anant Nag

Anant Nag is best remembered for the soulful numbers that featured him. He is a top-notch actor and is known for his spontaneous style of acting. He has delivered several hits in the box office too. He has had a good time in his career of over four decades.

8. V. Ravichandran

There is no doubt that Ravichandran is a multi-faceted personality of Kannada cinema. He is popularly called as Crazy Star. Ravichandran is remembered for his attractive looks and elegant style. He has a good number of hit films to his credit.

9. Shiva Rajkumar

Shjvrajkumar is active in the industry for over 25 years. Poplularly known as Shivanna, he has donned various types of roles in his career. He has been embraced by the Kannada audiences with open arms.

10. Yash

Well, is there any doubt that Yash is the ruling king of Kannada cinema at present? He has strived hard to gain this position and has had back-to-back four hits in his career spanning over ten years. Way to go Yash!

Is there anyone missing in this list? Please share your comments.