Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, better known by his stage name Dr. Rajkumar, is a famous Indian actor and singer who works primarily in the Kannada film industry.
He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and iconic figures in the history of Kannada cinema.
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- Full name: Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj
- Stage Name: Dr. Rajkumar
- Date of birth: April 24, 1929
- Date of death: April 12, 2006 (age: 76)
- Birthplace: Gajanur, India
- Nationality: India
- Occupation: Actor
- Height: 1.75 m
- Parents: Singanalluru Puttaswamayya and Lakshmamma
- Siblings: SP Varadaraj and Sharadamma
- Spouse: Parvathamma Rajkumar
- Children: Puneeth Rajkumar, Dr. Shiva Rajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Lakshmi Rajkumar and Poornima Rajkumar.
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $1.6 billion
Early life and education
Muthuraj was born in Gajanur, India on April 24, 1929. He was brought up by his parents, Singanalluru Puttaswamayya and Lakshmamma. Muthuraj has two siblings, SP Varadaraj and Sharadamma.
Muthuraji’s formal education ended after the third grade as he dropped out of school at a very young age. His ethnicity is Indian and his religion is Hindu.
Profession
Rajkumar started out as a child artist the 1942 film Bhakta Prahlada and the 1952 film Sri Srinivasa Kalyana. However, his breakthrough role came in 1953 when film director HLN Simha spotted him for the lead role in the film ‘Bedara Kannappa.’ Simha renamed him Rajkumar in the film.
Prior to Bedara Kannappa, Rajkumar had acted in only small roles. But his debut film was a huge success and catapulted him to stardom in the Kannada film industry. He has had a fruitful career and has acted in only Kannada films except for a Telugu remake of Bedara Kannappa, Kalahasti Mahatyam.
In a career spanning five decades, Rajkumar starred in 205 films. He owned a production company called Sri Vajreshwari Combines and produced many films. Some of his landmark films include Bhagyada Bagilu (his 100th film), Devatha Manushya (his 200th film) and Shabdavedhi (his last film).
Rajkumar was known for his versatility and had acted in a wide range of roles – from mythological and historical characters to romantic, rural and action roles. He formed the ‘Kumara Trayaru’ trio along with his contemporaries Udaya Kumar and Kalyan Kumar, acting in 36 films with Udaya Kumar and 5 with Kalyan Kumar.
Awards and nominations
- National Film Award for Best Male Singer
- Honorary Doctorate Degree: University of Mysore.
- Kentucky Colonel: An honorary title awarded by the U.S. state of Kentucky.
- NTR National Award: For outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
- Won 11 Karnataka State Film Awards, including 9 Best Actor Awards and 2 Best Singer Awards.
- Eight South Filmfare Awards: For his outstanding acting skills.
Social Media
Rajkumar does not have a social media account.
Personal life
Raj Kumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar got married in 1953 and remained a loving couple till Raj Kumar’s death in 2006. The couple had five children: Puneeth Rajkumar, Dr. Shiva Rajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Lakshmi Rajkumar and Poornima Rajkumar.
The relationship between Raj Kumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar was apparently strong and lasting, lasting for more than 50 years until Raj Kumar’s death.
Filmography
net worth
Raj Kumar is a towering figure in the Indian entertainment industry, having amassed a whopping net worth of $1.6 billion, cementing his status as a true legend.
This giant highlighted his profound impact on the Indian cultural sphere as he mesmerized the audience with his extraordinary talent and versatility.
