{{Short description|Indian cricketer and actor}} {{for|the singer|Dhruv (singer)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Dhruv Sharma | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1982 | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|8|1|1982|8|1|df=yes}} | death_place = | nationality = | other_names = Dhruva Sharma<ref name="S">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/sudeep-on-dhruva-sharmas-film-kichchu/articleshow/63999153.cms|title=I wish Kichchu brings all the accolades that Dhruva Sharma truly deserves: Sudeep |website=The Times of India|date=3 May 2018 |access-date=15 October 2023|archive-date=2022-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131094210/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/sudeep-on-dhruva-sharmas-film-kichchu/articleshow/63999153.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> | occupation = Actor, cricketer | years_active = 1994; 2002–2018 | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Dhruv Sharma''' (1982 – 1 August 2017) was an Indian Kannada-language actor and cricketer.
== Career == === Acting career === Dhruv Sharma played a small role in ''Yahoo'' (2004).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deepak |first1=S. N. |title=Yahoo |url=http://deccanherald.com/deccanherald/sep122004/mr4.asp |work=Deccan Herald |accessdate=9 October 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060304125939/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/sep122004/mr4.asp |archivedate=4 March 2006 |date=12 September 2004 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> He made his debut as a lead actor with ''Snehanjali'' (2007), which won the Guinness Book of World Record for the first film to have a deaf-mute person in the lead role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vijayasarathy |first=R. G. |author-link=R. G. Vijayasarathy |date=8 November 2007 |title=Kannada film with deaf-dumb hero in Guinness Book |url=https://www.nowrunning.com/news/kannada/kannada-film-with-deaf-dumb-hero-in-guinness-book/12668/story.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601112930/http://www.nowrunning.com/news/kannada/kannada-film-with-deaf-dumb-hero-in-guinness-book/12668/story.htm |archive-date=1 June 2013 |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=IANS |via=Nowrunning}}</ref> The film received mixed reviews but Dhruv's performance was praised.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vijayasarathy |first=R. G. |author-link=R. G. Vijayasarathy |date=10 November 2007 |title=Watch Snehanjali for Dhruv |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/nov/10sne.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225083225/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/nov/10sne.htm |archive-date=25 February 2008 |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=Rediff.com}}</ref> His next film was the Malayalam-Kannada film ''The Hitlist'' (2012) in which he played the antagonist. The film had a low-key release and notably featured Mohanlal in a voiceover.<ref>{{cite news|last=K.|first=Aswathy|title='Direction is pure destiny'|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2012/oct/13/direction-is-pure-destiny-414975.html|access-date=30 August 2022|work=The New Indian Express|date=13 October 2012}}</ref> The film released to negative reviews with a critic opining that his performance was one of the saving graces.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 December 2012 |title='Hitlist' Review: This Malayalam film is disappointing |work=Indiaglitz |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/hitlist-review-this-malayalam-film-is-disappointing-526785.html |access-date=15 October 2023 |via=CNN-News18 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014223545/https://www.news18.com/news/india/hitlist-review-this-malayalam-film-is-disappointing-526785.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2013, he co-starred Soumya Bollapragada and Venkatesh Prasad in the romantic comedy ''Neenandre Ishta Kano''. A critic felt that Dhruv was good but that Venkatesh Prasad outshone him.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Neenandre Ishta Kano Movie Review |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/neenandre-ishta-kano/movie-review/18891930.cms |access-date=15 October 2023 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> He played a minor role opposite Neha Patil and co-starring his father in ''Thippaji Circle'' (2015), a film based on the life of a devadasi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thippaji Circle Movie Review |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/thippaji-circle/movie-review/49616606.cms |work=The Times of India |date=14 May 2016|archive-date=30 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930154556/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/Thippaji-Circle/movie-review/49616606.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> He played one of the leads in the cricket film ''Bangalore 560023'' (2015) co-starring Karthik Jayaram, Chandan Kumar, Rajeev and Chikkanna.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-08-01 |title=Looking back at Dhruv Sharma's films |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/looking-back-at-dhruv-sharmas-films/articleshow/59860878.cms |access-date=2023-10-15 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=4 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804162037/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/looking-back-at-dhruv-sharmas-films/articleshow/59860878.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, he starred posthumously in ''Kicchu'' (2018), which was based on the issue of deforestation and featured Sudeep in a cameo.<ref name="S"/> The film was notable for also featuring Abhinaya, another deaf-mute actor.<ref>{{Cite news |title=It was a dream to act with Dhruv Sharma, and it got fulflled with Kicchu |newspaper=Cinema Express |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/may/02/it-was-a-dream-to-act-with-dhruv-sharma-which-got-fulflled-with-kicchu-5814.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202080129/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/may/02/it-was-a-dream-to-act-with-dhruv-sharma-which-got-fulflled-with-kicchu-5814.html |archive-date=2 February 2022}}</ref> The film released to mixed reviews with a critic writing that the film "might not be a drama that keeps you in the edge of your seat, but it has its heart set in the right place".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Suresh |first=Sunayana |date=4 May 2018 |title=Kichchu Movie Review {3/5}: Go ahead and watch the film |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/kichchu/movie-review/64026596.cms |accessdate=15 October 2023}}</ref> His final film ''Looty'' (2018), which featured him opposite Shweta Pandit, released to highly negative reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharadhaa |first=A. |date=1 December 2018 |title=Beware! Looty can loot your money |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/dec/01/beware-looty--can-loot-your-money-1905580.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201115534/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/dec/01/beware-looty--can-loot-your-money-1905580.html |archive-date=1 December 2018 |access-date=15 October 2023 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
=== Cricket career === In 2005, he played for India at the Deaf Cricket World Cup.<ref name="T"/> In 2011, he joined the Karnataka Bulldozers of the Celebrity Cricket League after being noticed by Salman Khan.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/actor-cricketer-dhruv-sharma-no-more/articleshow/59856791.cms |title=Actor-cricketer Dhruv Sharma no more |newspaper=The Times of India |date=August 2017 |access-date=15 October 2023 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014034337/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/actor-cricketer-dhruv-sharma-no-more/articleshow/59856791.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013, he was the vice captain of the team, which was headed by Sudeep.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PIX: Bipasha, Genelia, Venkatesh at CCL finals |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-pix-venkatesh-loses-sudeep-wins-ccl-finals/20130311.htm |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=Rediff}}</ref> He was named the Man of the Tournament in a 2016 game that his team won against the Telugu Warriors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.india.com/sports/celebrity-cricket-league-ccl-2016-final-live-score-updates-telugu-warriors-vs-karnataka-bulldozers-946739/ |title=CCL 2016 Winner: Telugu Warriors Beat Karnataka Bulldozers To Win Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) 2016 Final – As It Happened|access-date=15 October 2023 |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206090336/https://www.india.com/sports/celebrity-cricket-league-ccl-2016-final-live-score-updates-telugu-warriors-vs-karnataka-bulldozers-946739/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Personal life == Dhruv Sharma was born to businessman and actor Suresh Sharma.<ref name="T">{{Cite news |date=10 June 2007 |title=Deaf-mute but still a hero |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/deaf-mute-but-still-a-hero/articleshow/2112100.cms |url-status=live |access-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515051228/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Deaf-mute-but-still-a-hero/articleshow/2112100.cms |archive-date=15 May 2021}}</ref> He is deaf-mute in Bangalore and found it difficult to follow college lectures after taking some computer science classes.<ref name="T"/> Dhruv died on 1 August 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 August 2017 |title=Kannada actor Dhruv Sharma dies after suffering cardiac arrest, celebs mourn loss |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/kannada-actor-dhruv-sharma-dies-after-suffering-a-cardiac-arrest-industry-shocked/story-2vVVUH0I68HlmdmJdGs3yO.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027032915/https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/kannada-actor-dhruv-sharma-dies-after-suffering-a-cardiac-arrest-industry-shocked/story-2vVVUH0I68HlmdmJdGs3yO.html |archive-date=27 October 2020 |access-date=15 October 2023 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/dhruv-sharma-consumed-poison/articleshow/59860336.cms |title=Dhruv Sharma consumed poison |newspaper=The Times of India |date=August 2017 |access-date=15 October 2023 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014075009/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/dhruv-sharma-consumed-poison/articleshow/59860336.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Film ! Role ! Notes |- | 1994 || ''Prema Simhasana'' || || Child artist |- | 2002 || ''Joot'' || || |- | 2004 || ''Yahoo'' || Sneha's lover || |- | 2007 || ''Snehanjali'' || Prem || |- | 2012 || ''The Hitlist'' || Dhruv || Malayalam-Kannada film |- | 2013 || ''Neenandre Ishta Kano'' || Sanjay || |- | rowspan="2"|2015 || ''Thippaji Circle'' || || |- |''Bangalore 560023'' || Dhruva || |- | rowspan="2"|2018 || ''Kicchu'' || Suri || Posthumous film |- |''Looty'' || Jaggi || Posthumous film |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Dhruv}} Category:1982 births Category:2017 deaths Category:Indian male film actors Category:Actors from Bengaluru Category:21st-century Indian male actors Category:Indian male deaf actors Category:Actors in Kannada cinema Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema Category:Actors from Karnataka Category:Indian deaf people Category:Mute people