{{short description|Indian actor and comedian}} {{for|the Indian athlete|Kartik Kumar}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox person | image = | caption = | name = Karthik Kumar | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|11|21}} | birth_place = Chennai, India | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|Stand-up comedian}} | module = {{Infobox comedian|embed=yes | medium = Stand-up comedy | genre = Observational comedy, improvisational comedy, physical comedy, political satire }} | years_active = 2000–2016<br>2022–present | website = [https://www.evamstanduptamasha.in/ www.evamstanduptamasha.in] | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Suchitra|2005|2017}} * {{marriage|Amrutha Srinivasan|2021}} }} }}
'''Karthik Kumar''' (born 21 November 1977) is an Indian stand-up comedian and actor who works in Tamil films and television.
== Early life and education == He studied chemical engineering in Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering.<ref name="bells">{{Cite web |date=6 October 2005 |title=Wedding bells for 'Mirchi' Suchi! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/wedding-bells-for-mirchi-suchi-news-tamil-kkfvzugfjff.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519094731/http://www.sify.com/movies/wedding-bells-for-mirchi-suchi-news-tamil-kkfvzugfjff.html |archive-date=19 May 2011 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=Sify}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 February 2005 |title=All fun and adventure |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005021102370500.htm&date=2005/02/11/&prd=fr& |url-status=usurped |access-date=7 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606133018/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005021102370500.htm&date=2005%2F02%2F11%2F&prd=fr& |archive-date=6 June 2011}}</ref> After earning his Bachelor's degree, Karthik and his friend Sunil Vishnu quit their jobs and started the event management company "Evam", which today is a theatre company.
== Career == Karthik made his acting debut with ''Alaipayuthey'' (2000) portraying a small role as the female lead character's prospective suitor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 September 2003 |title=Their world's a STAGE |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/their-worlds-a-stage/article28448179.ece |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715100706/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/their-worlds-a-stage/article28448179.ece |archive-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> He was first tested for the role of R. Madhavan in the film but was rejected as he was too young with no acting experience at the time.<ref name="wasn't" /> He went on to portray supporting roles notably in films like ''Yaaradi Nee Mohini'' (2008) and ''Poi Solla Porom'' (2008).
In November 2016, Karthik lamented getting typecast in particular roles, especially as the American mappillai, and announced his retirement from the film industry.<ref name="wasn't">{{Cite news |date=14 November 2016 |title=The Madhavan who wasn't |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/The-Madhavan-who-wasn%E2%80%99t/article16445253.ece |url-status=live |access-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712120807/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/The-Madhavan-who-wasn%E2%80%99t/article16445253.ece |archive-date=12 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 November 2016 |title=Actor Karthik Kumar's confessions are a refreshing take on the film industry |work=The News Minute |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/actor-karthik-kumars-confessions-refreshing-take-film-industry-52223 |url-status=live |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613234213/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/actor-karthik-kumars-confessions-refreshing-take-film-industry-52223 |archive-date=13 June 2018}}</ref> However, he returned with a role in ''Rocketry: The Nambi Effect'' (2022).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Muthalaly |first=Shonali |date=6 July 2022 |title=Karthik Kumar's latest show, Aansplaining, is therapy disguised as stand up comedy |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/karthik-kumars-latest-show-aansplaining-is-therapy-disguised-as-stand-up-comedy/article65602619.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=14 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814072712/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/karthik-kumars-latest-show-aansplaining-is-therapy-disguised-as-stand-up-comedy/article65602619.ece |archive-date=14 August 2022}}</ref>
Karthik Kumar is also a stand-up comedian who has done three stand-up specials. His first special, "#PokeMe" has more than half a million views on YouTube. His second special was titled "Second Decoction" followed by "Blood Chutney" streaming on Amazon Prime. He has performed over 1000 shows across India, USA, UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. He is managed by Evam Standup Tamasha, a stand-up movement in South India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=U |first=Chandini |date=24 October 2015 |title=A Socially Awkward Stand-up Comic Who Loves Being Goofy |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2015/Oct/24/a-socially-awkward-stand-up-comic-who-loves-being-goofy-833574.html |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Karthik Kumar married Suchitra, an RJ and singer, in 2005.<ref name="bells" /> The couple divorced in 2017. In December 2021, he married actress Amrutha Srinivasan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2021 |title=Karthik Kumar and Amrutha Srinivasan tie the knot! |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/karthik-kumar-and-amrutha-srinivasan-tie-the-knot-news-tamil-vmnfwadgdddag.html |website=Sify |access-date=18 December 2021 |archive-date=13 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213220907/https://www.sify.com/movies/karthik-kumar-and-amrutha-srinivasan-tie-the-knot-news-tamil-vmnfwadgdddag.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2024, Suchitra alleged that the reason for her divorce was that Karthik had homosexual encounters with his co-star Dhanush during the filming of ''Yaaradi Nee Mohini'' and even with Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2024 |title=Karthik Kumar had gay encounter with Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan: Singer Suchitra makes scandalous allegations |work=Onmanorama|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/05/17/singer-suchitra-scandalous-allegations-karan-johar-shah-rukh-khan-karthik-kumar.html|access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2024 |title=VIDEO: Singer Suchitra's ex-husband Karthik Kumar responds to 'gay' allegations with Dhanush|work=Pinkvilla|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/video-singer-suchitras-ex-husband-karthik-kumar-responds-to-gay-allegations-with-dhanush-1305695|access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref>
== Filmography == ===Actor=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;" ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Language !Notes |- | 2000 || ''Alaipayuthey'' || rowspan="2" | Shyam || Tamil | |- | 2002|| ''Saathiya'' || Hindi | |- | 2004|| ''Vaanam Vasappadum'' || Karthik || Tamil | |- | 2004 || ''Yuva'' || Vishnu || Hindi | |- | 2005 || ''Kanda Naal Mudhal'' || Aravind || Tamil | |- | rowspan="2"|2007 || ''Framed'' || Sanjay || English |Dubbed in Hindi as ''Sapno Ke Desh Mein'' |- |''Chaurahen'' || Nandu || English | |- |rowspan="2"| 2008 || ''Yaaradi Nee Mohini'' || Cheenu || Tamil | |- | ''Poi Solla Porom'' || Uppilinathan || Tamil | |- |rowspan="2"| 2009 || ''Ninaithale Inikkum'' || Vasu ||Tamil | |- | ''Edhuvum Nadakkum'' || Naga ||Tamil | |- |2010 | ''Kola Kolaya Mundhirika'' || Krish ||Tamil | |- |rowspan="2"| 2011 || ''Deiva Thirumagal'' || Karthik || Tamil | |- | ''Veppam'' || Vishnu || Tamil | |- |rowspan="2"|2015 || ''Pasanga 2'' || Akhil || Tamil | |- | ''Vellaiya Irukiravan Poi Solla Maatan'' || Dr. Raghu || Tamil | |- | 2017 ||''Ticket'' || Athif Hussain || Tamil | |- | 2018 || ''Mannar Vagaiyara'' || Arivazhagan || Tamil | |- |2022 |''Rocketry: The Nambi Effect'' |P. M. Nayar |Tamil/Hindi | |- |2023 |''Annapoorani'' |Chef Aswin |Tamil | |- |2026 || ''Carmeni Selvam'' || || Tamil || <ref>{{Cite web |date=3 April 2026 |title=Carmeni Selvam – Review |url=https://newstodaynet.com/2026/04/03/carmeni-selvam-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260406151547/https://newstodaynet.com/2026/04/03/carmeni-selvam-review/ |archive-date=6 April 2026 |access-date=6 April 2026 |website=News Today |language=en}}</ref> |}
===Director=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Notes |- |2022||''Super Senior Heroes''||Direct Television release in Sun TV |- |}
=== Discography === {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;" ! Year !! Film !! Song !! Language !! Composer !! Co-singers |- | rowspan=2|2010 || ''Manmadan Ambu'' | "Oyyale" || Tamil || rowspan=2|Devi Sri Prasad || rowspan="2"|Mukesh Mohamed, Suchitra |- | ''Manmadha Banam'' '''(D)''' || "Uyyala" || Telugu |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Language !! Channel |- | 2012 || ''Dharmayutham'' || Arjun || Tamil ||Vijay TV |- | 2025–present || ''Heart Beat'' ||Dr. Vijay || Tamil ||JioHotstar |}
=== Voice artist === * For Atul Kulkarni in ''Aval'' (2017, Tamil)
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|2275012}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Karthik}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Tamil male television actors Category:Tamil television presenters Category:Television personalities from Tamil Nadu Category:Male actors from Chennai Category:Male actors from Tamil Nadu Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema Category:Indian male film actors Category:Indian male comedians Category:Indian LGBTQ actors Category:Indian LGBTQ comedians Category:Indian LGBTQ broadcasters Category:21st-century Tamil male actors Category:21st-century Indian comedians Category:21st-century Indian LGBTQ people