# Karan (actor)

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Karan_(actor)
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Karan_(actor).md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karan_(actor)
> Source revision: 1357030546
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Indian actor

Karan Born (1967-08-19) 19 August 1967 (age 58) Erode, Tamil Nadu, India Other names Shashi Karan, Master Raghu Occupation Actor Years active 1972–2016

**Karan** (born 19 August 1967) is an Indian former actor who appeared predominantly in [Tamil](/source/Tamil_language) and [Malayalam](/source/Malayalam) films. He started his career as a child actor (under the stage name **Master Raghu**). In the 1990s he started to act in leading and villain roles. In the mid-2000s, after a sabbatical, Karan chose to prioritise appearing in films where he would portray the lead role following the relative success of *[Kokki](/source/Kokki_(film))* (2006).

## Career

Karan started his career as child artist under the name Master Raghu for more than 70 films in Malayalam and Tamil. In 1992, he made his Tamil debut as an adult in *[Annaamalai](/source/Annaamalai)* starring alongside [Rajinikanth](/source/Rajinikanth) in an uncredited role, before making a breakthrough with his performance as a rogue college student in *[Nammavar](/source/Nammavar)* (1994) alongside [Kamal Haasan](/source/Kamal_Haasan).

In 2004, Karan became a solo hero with the Malayalam film *Isra*. He has continued with films like *[Kokki](/source/Kokki_(film))* (2006), *[Karuppusamy Kuththagaithaarar](/source/Karuppusamy_Kuththagaithaarar)* (2007) and *[Kathavarayan](/source/Kathavarayan_(2008_film))* (2008).[1] His recent films are *[Sooran](/source/Sooran_(film))* (2014) and *[Uchathula Shiva](/source/Uchathula_Shiva)* (2016).

In 2018, a clip from his film *[Coimbatore Mappillai](/source/Coimbatore_Mappillai)* went viral online, prompting internet users to associate the word "Shroov" with the actor.[2][3]

## Other work

Karan made his advertisement debut in a 45-second Mahindra Duro advertisement with [Bollywood](/source/Bollywood) actress [Kareena Kapoor](/source/Kareena_Kapoor).[4][5]

## Personal life

Karan's father died in 2014, aged 90.[6]

## Awards

**[Kerala State Film Awards](/source/Kerala_State_Film_Awards)**

- 1974 – [Best Child Artist](/source/Kerala_State_Film_Award_for_Best_Child_Artist) – *Rajahamsam*

- 1975 – Best Child Artist – *[Prayanam](/source/Prayanam_(1975_film))*, *[Swami Ayyappan](/source/Swami_Ayyappan_(1975_film))*

**[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards](/source/Tamil_Nadu_State_Film_Awards)**

- 2009 -[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor](/source/Tamil_Nadu_State_Film_Award_for_Best_Actor) – *[Malayan](/source/Malayan_(film))*

## Filmography

### As child artist

- *Note: Credited as Master Raghu. All films are in Malayalam, unless otherwise noted.*

Year Title Role Notes 1972 Achanum Bappayum Young Devadas Pulliman Punarjanmam Young Aravindan 1973 Thekkan Kattu Joy 1974 Rajahamsam Rajan Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist 1975 Prayanam Appu Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist Kannappanunni Ambu Swami Ayyappan Manikandan Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist Babumon Babu Mattoru Seetha Manishada Young Kareem Pravaham Chandru Ayodhya Gopi Kalyaanappanthal Chattambikkalyaani Young Vaasu Ashtamirohini Enga Pattan Sothu Murugan Tamil Film 1976 Panchami Chinnan Themmadi Velappan Young Velappan Ammini Ammaavan Agnipushpam Mallanum Mathevanum Chennaaya Valarthiya Kutty Aayiram Janmangal Young Rajan 1977 Sreemurukan Sridevi Aparaadhi Raju Anugraham Young Rajan Murugan Adimai Saravana Achaaram Ammini Osharam Omana Raghu Jagadguru Aadisankaran Young Aadisankaran Tholkan Enikku Manassilla Oonjaal Rajan Vezhambal 1978 Velluvili Pappan Raghuvamsham Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil Reghu Avalude Ravukal Sudhakaran 1979 Choola Puthiya Velicham Kochu Govindan 1980 Avan Oru Ahankaari Chandrahasam Theenalangal Ramu

### As actor

#### Films

Year Film Role Language Notes 1982 Ina Vinod Malayalam credited as Raghu, first lead role 1983 Kuyiline Thedi Shyam Malayalam credited as Raghu 1985 Idanilangal Malayalam Uncredited 1987 January Oru Orma Appu Malayalam credited as Raghu 1990 Chuvanna Kannukal Malayalam credited as Raghu 1990 Mridula Anirudh Malayalam credited as Raghu 1991 Neelagiri Malayalam credited as Raghu Mahassar Suresh Malayalam credited as Raghu Theechatti Govindhan Henchman (uncredited role) Tamil 1992 Annaamalai Deepak, Ashok's son Tamil Apaaratha Hari Malayalam 1994 Nammavar Ramesh Tamil First film credited as Karan 1995 Thottil Kuzhandhai Murali Tamil Chandralekha Jamal Tamil 1996 Coimbatore Mappillai Mahesh Tamil Vaikarai Pookkal Shankar Tamil Kadhal Kottai Siva Tamil Gokulathil Seethai Mohan Tamil 1997 Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen Raja Tamil Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga Prakash Tamil Love Today Peter Tamil Kaadhali Tamil Raman Abdullah Abdullah Tamil Nerukku Ner Muthukumaraswamy Tamil Kaduva Thomas Malayalam 1998 Suswagatham Peter Telugu Ponmanam Kumar Tamil Kangalin Vaarthaigal Tamil Kaadhal Mannan Ranjan Tamil Color Kanavugal Bharani Tamil Thulli Thirintha Kalam Raghu Tamil Sollamale Vikram Tamil Kannedhirey Thondrinal Shankar Tamil Kannathal Chinna Durai Tamil Kaadhal Kavidhai Tamil 1999 Unnaithedi Prakash Tamil Ullathai Killathe Col. Major Prakash Tamil Poovellam Kettuppar Director Tamil Sneha Vijay Kannada Minsara Kanna Ashok Tamil Maravathe Kanmaniye Marudhu Tamil Kannupada Poguthaiya Subramaniyam Tamil Manam Virumbuthe Unnai Chandru Tamil 2000 Thirunelveli Varadappan Tamil Rajakali Amman Seemadorai / Kannayiram Tamil Vallarasu Seshadri Tamil Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai Sivaraman Tamil Ilayavan Tamil Budget Padmanabhan Abishek Tamil 2001 Nageswari Easwar Tamil Engalukkum Kaalam Varum Ramesh Tamil Paarvai Ondre Pothume Manoj Tamil Sonnal Thaan Kathala Inspector Inbaraj Tamil Kunguma Pottu Gounder Siva Tamil Kabadi Kabadi Sivaprakash Tamil Hoo Anthiya Uhoo Anthiya Karan Kannada Kottai Mariamman Eashwar Tamil 2002 Alli Arjuna Kishore Tamil Sri Bannari Amman Vaanamaalai Tamil 2003 Nee Varum Paathaiyellam Tamil 2004 Arasatchi Prakash Tamil Isra Mukthi Muhammed Isra/Aravindan Malayalam Dubbed and released in Tamil as Kombu 2006 Kokki Kokki Tamil 2007 Karuppusamy Kuththagaithaarar Karuppusamy Tamil Thee Nagar Murugan Tamil 2008 Kathavarayan Kathavarayan Tamil 2009 Malayan Malayan Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor 2010 Kanagavel Kaaka Kanagavel Tamil Irandu Mugam Parthasarathy Tamil 2011 Thambi Vettothi Sundaram Sundaram Tamil 2013 Kantha Kantha Tamil 2014 Sooran Sooran Tamil 2016 Uchathula Shiva Shiva Tamil

#### Television

Year serials Role Language Notes 1995 Balachander in Chinnathirai - Mutham Tamil [7] 1995 Balachander in Chinnathirai - Oppanai Tamil [8]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Behindwoods : Karan & Vindhya come together"](https://www.behindwoods.com/News/7-4-05/karan_vindhya.htm). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231101063956/https://www.behindwoods.com/News/7-4-05/karan_vindhya.htm) from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Something like 'Shroov' now trending really shows power of cinema: Karan"](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/oct/09/something-like-shroov-now-trending-really-shows-power-of-cinema-karan-1882816.html). *The New Indian Express*. 9 October 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190908021542/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/oct/09/something-like-shroov-now-trending-really-shows-power-of-cinema-karan-1882816.html) from the original on 8 September 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Wherever I go, people say, Shroov, Shroov"](https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/wherever-i-go-people-say-shroov-shroov/article25121610.ece). *The Hindu*. 4 October 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181004131423/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/wherever-i-go-people-say-shroov-shroov/article25121610.ece) from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2020 – via www.thehindu.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Kareena Kapoor has no ego hassles: Karan"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Kareena-Kapoor-has-no-ego-hassles-Karan/articleshow/11485438.cms). *[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)*. 14 January 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053311/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-14/news-interviews/30627063_1_ego-hassles-ad-films-karan-shot) from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Why South Indian characters are replacing Punjabi Mundas in ads"](http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/advertising-marketing/why-south-indian-characters-are-replacing-punjabi-mundas-in-ads/impact-of-the-media-from-south/slideshow/19379862.cms). *[The Economic Times](/source/The_Economic_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180922175219/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/advertising-marketing/why-south-indian-characters-are-replacing-punjabi-mundas-in-ads/impact-of-the-media-from-south/slideshow/19379862.cms) from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Selvaraj, A (17 December 2014). ["Decomposed body of Tamil film actor Karan's father recovered in Chennai"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/decomposed-body-of-tamil-film-actor-karans-father-recovered-in-chennai/articleshow/45534812.cms). *[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220925222727/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/decomposed-body-of-tamil-film-actor-karans-father-recovered-in-chennai/articleshow/45534812.cms) from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Mutham | Balachandarin Chinnathirai | Kavithalayaa - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=813WagHxkz4). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220410141838/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=813WagHxkz4) from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Oppanai | Episode-01 | Balachandarin Chinnathirai | Kavithalayaa - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXcm_ZTchAk). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220410141839/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXcm_ZTchAk) from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.

## External links

- [Karan](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1093959/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

v t e Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor 1967–1980 A. V. M. Rajan (1967) M. G. Ramachandran (1968) Sivaji Ganesan (1969) Gemini Ganesan (1970) — (1971) — (1972) — (1973) — (1974) — (1975) — (1976) Kamal Haasan (1977) Srikanth (1978) Sivakumar (1979) Kamal Haasan (1980) 1981–2000 Kamal Haasan (1981) Sivakumar (1982) — (1983) — (1984) — (1985) — (1986) — (1987) Vijayakanth (1988) Kamal Haasan (1989) Karthik (1990) Prabhu (1991) Kamal Haasan (1992) Arjun (1993) R. Sarathkumar (1994) Rajinikanth (1995) Kamal Haasan (1996) Vijay & Parthiban (1997) R. Sarathkumar (1998) Rajinikanth (1999) Murali (2000) 2001–present Suriya (2001) R. Madhavan (2002) Vikram (2003) Ravi Mohan (2004) Vijay & Rajinikanth (2005) Kamal Haasan (2006) Rajinikanth (2007) Kamal Haasan (2008) Karan (2009) Vikram (2010) Vimal (2011) Jiiva (2012) Arya (2013) Siddharth (2014) R. Madhavan (2015) Vijay Sethupathi (2016) Karthi (2017) Dhanush (2018) R. Parthiban (2019) Suriya (2020) Arya (2021) Vikram Prabhu (2022)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Karan (actor)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karan_(actor)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karan_(actor)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.