Age, Biography, and Wiki
Karthi was born on May 25, 1977, making him 48 years old as of 2025. He is known for his impactful performances in a variety of films. Karthi's brother, Suriya Sivakumar, is also a renowned actor in the Tamil film industry. Karthi began his career as an assistant director under the acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam before transitioning to acting. His debut film was Paruthiveeran in 2007, which gained him instant recognition.
| Occupation | Actors |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 25 May 1977 |
| Age | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | Madras, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | India |
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm)
- Weight: 75 kg (165 lbs)
- Body Measurements: Not specifically documented, but he maintains a fit physique suitable for his acting roles.
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches |
| Weight | 165 lbs |
| Body Measurements | |
| Eye Color | |
| Hair Color |
Dating & Relationship Status
Karthi is married to Ranjani Chinnaswamy, and they have two children together. He keeps his personal life relatively private, focusing more on his professional career.
When Karthi returned to Chennai, he met director Mani Ratnam and got a chance to work as an assistant director in Aayutha Ezhuthu, because he wanted to become a film director and preferred directing to acting, though he did appear as an extra in Aayutha Ezhuthu. He continued to receive acting offers and his father convinced him to take up acting, telling him " ... one can always direct films, but one will not get a chance to act once you grow older". He accepted his first acting assignment with Priyamani as female lead in April 2005. When director Ameer approached him to play the titular character in the film Paruthiveeran, he accepted the offer because the film was " ... so compelling". The filming started in July 2005 and experienced financial difficulties, and was almost abandoned by mid–2006. It was released in January 2007, to critical acclaim and became commercially successful.
Karthi's third film in 2010 was Suseenthiran's action thriller Naan Mahaan Alla, in which he played a middle class youth from Chennai whose life is disrupted when his father is targeted by a gang of killers. It received good reviews, was very popular, and Karthi's performances was praised by critics. Sreedhar Pillai wrote for Sify: "[Karthi] nails the character to perfection" ... He is one good reason to see the film." Bhama Devi Ravi of Times of India wrote: " ... what a pleasure to see Karthi deliver his best performance to date ... ". Rediff wrote that "Karthi has simply had a ball ... " and "It's been a long time since you saw an actor who can be as convincing in sadness and rage, as in happiness." Naan Mahaan Alla was dubbed into Telugu and released as Naa Peru Shiva in 2011; it was very successful and earned Karthi some Telugu film offers.
Next, he was seen in the rural family drama, Viruman, directed by M. Muthaiah, his second collaboration with him after Komban. It too turned out to became commercially successful. Post Viruman, he was seen in the magnum opuses, Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), directed by Mani Ratnam. He essayed Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan in the films, in which his performances received several accolades. In between the two films, he also played a dual role, as a father and son in Sardar, which released in 2022. It opened to generally positive reviews from both the critics and audience, alike. It was a huge commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of his career (solo).
During his stay in New York, Karthi worked as a part-time graphic designer. He then decided to pursue a career in filmmaking; he attended two courses in basic filmmaking at State University of New York. He stated: "I always knew I wanted to be in films, but I did not know exactly what I wanted to do. I loved movies and watched a lot of them. But my father insisted that I get a good education before I joined the film industry".
| Parents | |
| Husband | Ranjani Chinnasamy (m. 2011) |
| Sibling | |
| Children |
Net Worth and Salary
Karthi's net worth is estimated at about $13 million, which translates to INR 90 crores. His annual income is approximately INR 18 crores, primarily from acting and brand endorsements. He charges around INR 8 crores per movie.
Career, Business, and Investments
Karthi's career spans over a decade with notable films like Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru, for which he won a Filmfare Award, and Kaithi, which became the highest-grossing film of his career. Besides acting, Karthi is involved in various business ventures, though specific details are not widely documented. His primary focus remains on acting and promoting regional cinema.
Karthik Sivakumar (born 25 May 1977), known professionally as Karthi, is an Indian actor who is known for his works in Tamil Cinema. The youngest son of veteran actor Sivakumar and the younger brother of actor Suriya, he began his career with roles in films such as an uncredited cameo role in Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004). He then achieved his breakthrough role in his debut film Paruthiveeran (2007). After a three-year hiatus from acting, he then return to star in films such as Aayirathil Orvuan, Paiyaa and Naan Mahaan Alla, all three of which were released in 2010. He then continued to star in films such as Siruthai (2011), Saguni (2012), Alex Pandian (2013), All In All Azhagu Raja (2013) and Biriyani (2013).
Karthi's next film was the action–masala Siruthai (2011), a remake of the 2006 Telugu film Vikramarkudu. He played two roles; a thief and a police officer. Karthi's performances received favourable reviews. Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote: "Karthi looks and performs better with every film. Siruthai exemplifies the observation". Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff wrote: "But the film belongs to Rocket Raja (Karthi), the sort of adorable ruffian Tamil cinema has been missing for a while. He picks pockets, slices off handbags, charms women and even bashes (!) them up without a single jolt to his conscience." Despite gaining mixed critical response, the film achieved financial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2011. In 2011, Siruthai became Karthi's biggest commercial success, cementing his position in the Tamil film industry. Sify said that Karthi had become " ... one of the hottest stars in Kollywood". He made a special appearance in a song in K. V. Anand's Ko (2011), alongside other prominent actors from Tamil cinema (Incl. his brother Suriya).
His next release in the same year, Kaithi, was a blockbuster hit and collected more than ₹100 crores at the box office. It became the highest-grossing film of his career. He was next seen in Sulthan, directed by Bakkiyaraj Kannan, of Remo fame. It starred Rashmika Mandanna alongside him. It opened to mixed reviews from both the critics and audience, alike. It became a decent box-office success.
Social Network
Karthi is active on social media platforms, using them to engage with fans and promote his work. Details about his exact follower count are not provided here, but he maintains a strong presence.
Education
Karthi holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Crescent Engineering College in Chennai. He later pursued a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering from Binghamton University in New York, USA. This educational background has influenced his disciplined approach to his acting career.
Karthi has starred in several well-known Indian films, portraying an impulsive and short-tempered working-class man in Madras (2014), a paroled convict-turned-caretaker in Tamil-Telugu bilingual comedy-drama film Oopiri / Thozha, and in dual roles as the titular protagonist and the antagonist Raj Nayak in Kaashmora (both in 2016). He also starred as Theeran Thumiran in Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (2017), for which he was earned for a Filmfare Award South award, as Dilli in Kaithi (2019), as Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan in Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and its sequel (2023), and in the spy-thriller film Sardar (2022).
He completed his elementary and secondary school education at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan and St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai. He gained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Crescent Engineering College, Chennai. After graduation, he worked as an Engineering consultant in Chennai and considered higher studies abroad. "I was earning about ₹ 5000 per month and found the work monotonous. That was when I thought, I should do something more", he recalled in an interview. Karthi got a scholarship for his higher studies in the United States, and enrolled at Binghamton University, New York, where he earned his Master of Science in industrial engineering. While pursuing his master's degree, he also took elective courses on filmmaking.
On 3 July 2011, Karthi married Ranjani Chinnasamy, who graduated with a master's degree in English literature from Stella Maris College, Chennai. They were engaged on 29 April 2011 at Ranjani's native village, Goundampalayam in Erode district, and the wedding was held in a traditional Kongu culture at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex in Coimbatore. The wedding was arranged by the elders of the family. They have two children, a daughter and a son.
Karthi has been involved in several charities and social service activities. On his 31st birthday, he inaugurated the Makkal Nala Mandram, in order to encourage his fans to become involved in welfare activities. During the event, Karthi donated blood, donated bicycles to handicapped people, sewing machines to women and schoolbags to children. He presented a cheque of ₹ 50,000 to YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, which helps AIDS affected children. In 2011, Karthi became a cause ambassador for promoting awareness of lysosomal storage disease. He had also adopted a white tiger cub at Vandalur Zoo and contributed ₹ 72,000 to protect and preserve the animal. On his birthdays, Karthi visits orphanages and donates funds to them.
