Pudipeddi Sai Kumar (born 27 July 1960) is an Indian actor, dubbing artist, and television presenter who works primarily in Telugu and Kannada cinema. He has received three Filmfare Awards, two Nandi Awards, and two South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA). His performance in Prasthanam (2010) was included in the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by Film Companion. In addition to acting, he has worked extensively as a dubbing artist.
Early and personal life Sai Kumar was born to P. J. Sarma and Krishna Jyothi, as one of five children. Sarma moved from Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh to Chennai and established himself as an actor and dubbing artist while Jyothi, hails from Bagepalli, Karnataka and has acted in several Kannada films.
Kumar's brothers P. Ravi Shankar and Ayyappa P. Sharma are also actors. They have two sisters. Kumar has a master's degree in Arts from Presidency College, Chennai and completed M.Phil. at Madras Christian College, where he also taught briefly.
Sai Kumar's son Aadi is also an actor in Telugu cinema.
Film career He started his career at an early age as a dubbing child artist. His father, P. J. Sarma was a leading dubbing artist. Sai Kumar followed in his father's footsteps, having dubbed for Suman and Rajasekhar for many of their films. As a child actor, he appeared in Devudu Chesina Pelli (1975) and Sneham (1977). He resumed acting as an adult, appearing in Challenge (1984), Kalikalam (1991), Major Chandrakanth (1993) and others. He appeared in Tamil movies like Thaiyalkaran (1991), Kaaval Geetham (1992), Vaettiya Madichu Kattu (1998) and portrayed action roles in films such as Aathi (2006), Thenavattu (2008) and Thiruvannamalai (2008).
He appeared in the 1996 Kannada film Police Story, which was also voice dubbed in Telugu and Tamil. His Kannada films Agni IPS (1997), Central Jail (1997), Police Story 2 (2007) were all major hits at the box office and Sai Kumar became a household name in Karnataka. Sai Kumar says, 'I am indebted to Karnataka for making me a star and giving me Police Story during my struggling days.' His Kannada film RangiTaranga was one of the 300 films eligible to be nominated for the Oscars in 2016 and his performance in the film was not only praised by the critics, but also earned him an IIFA Utsavam and SIIMA Award. He produces his son's film Aadi titled Garam (2016).
In 2019, the brothers Sai Kumar, Ravi Shankar and Ayyappa to play a major role in Sriimurali starrer Bharaate. After essaying a number of amazing roles as a male protagonist and a character artiste, Sai Kumar makes OTT debut with Gaalivaana (2022).
Television career In addition to his films, he also hosted Deal or No Deal on Gemini TV and Etv Kannada in Telugu and Kannada respectively. He also hosted WOW-Sakkhath Kick Kodo game show on ETV Kannada and WOW S1 - Manchi Kick Ichche, WOW S2 game shows on ETV. He hosted a game show, Manam on ETV.
Awards
Nandi Awards Nandi Award for Best Villain – Samanyudu (2006) Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor – Prasthanam (2010)
Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu - Samanyudu (2006) Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu - Prasthanam (2010) Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada - RangiTaranga (2015)
IIFA Utsavam IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor (Kannada) – RangiTaranga (2015)
CineMAA Awards CineMAA Award for Best Supporting Actor – Prasthanam (2010)
SIMA Awards
SIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Bharaate (2019) SIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – RangiTaranga (2015)
Other Awards TSR – TV9 Award for Best Villain - Prasthanam (2010) Santosham Best Villain Award – Yevadu (2014)
Television Awards (As anchor) TV Award 2009 for Best Male Anchor presented by Delhi Telugu Academy in Hyderabad on 8 August 2010. 'Best Male Anchor Award' was presented at the AP Cinegoers' 6th Annual TV Awards – 2009 on 28 December 2010 for his anchoring of Wow on ETV Telugu.
Filmography
As actor Telugu + List of P. Sai Kumar Telugu films and roles Year Title Role Notes 1975 Devudu Chesina Pelli 1977 Sneham 1979 Gorintaku 1981 Maa Voori Pedda Manushulu 1984 Challenge Prakasam Rustum 1985 Agni Parvatam Vande MataramMaharajuPratighatanaJwala Sarvottama Rao's son1987YugakarthaluBharatamlo ArjunuduIda Prapancham1990Doctor Bhavani Kartavyam Neti DowrjanyamS.P. Ranjith AayudhamChina Venkatarayudu 1991 Kalikalam Amma Rajinama 1992LaatiPrithvi Rowdy Inspector Narasimham NaniValu Jada Tolu BeltuBangaru Mama Prema Vijetha 1993 Major Chandrakanth Paruvu Prathishta1994Pacha Thoranam 1996Police Story 1998 Rowdy Durbar Swarnamukhi Kodukulu Anthahpuram Prakash 1999 A. K. 47 Ramu Also dialogue writer for Tamil dubbed version 2001 Narahari Sivanna Khaki Chokka Pratap Athanu 2002 Seema Simham Simbhu Prasad Janam Jeeva 2004 Sivaram Sivaram 2005 Slokam 2006 Samanyudu Bhagavan Raj 2007 Vijayadasami Durga Prasad 2008 Indrajith 2009 Dhee Ante Dhee 2010 Prasthanam Loknath Naidu 2011 Ayyare Gajapathi 2012 Uu Kodathara? Ulikki Padathara? Bujji Shirdi Sai Nanavali 2013 Okkadine Shivaji Rao Pavitra Jagadguru Adi Shankara Mandana Misra Kamina Dharma 2014 Yevadu Dharma Autonagar Surya Sirisha's father Galata 2015 Pataas DGP Murali Krishna Pandaga Chesko Sai Reddy Bhale Manchi Roju Shakti 2016 Sarrainodu Jaya Prakash "J.P." Supreme Narayana Rao Chuttalabbai Babji's father Janatha Garage Police Commissioner K. Chandra Shekar Manalo Okkadu Pratap 2017 Om Namo Venkatesaya Guru Anubhananda Swamy Vaisakham Jai Lava Kusa Kaakha Raja the Great Surya Murthy 2018 Naa Peru Surya Mustafa Subrahmanyapuram Ayushmaan Suvarna Sundari Guna 2019 Maharshi Pallavi's father 2021 Sreekaram Ekambaram Yuvarathnaa Raghav Reddy (Education minister)Ardha Shathabdham RamannaSR Kalyanamandapam DharmaRaja VikramarkaChakravarthy2022Gaalivaana KomarrajuWeb seriesS5 No ExitCM Subrahmanyam Naidu2023 Suvarna SundariSir Pathi Papa RaoDasara Thurpugutta RajannaNatho Nenu Koteswara Rao Jorugaa Husharugaa Santhosh's father 2024 RAM (Rapid Action Mission) Riyaz Ahmad Gangs of Godavari Ratnakar's fatherMercy KillingRamakrishnam RajuCommittee KurrolluPresident Bujji Saripodhaa SanivaaramSankaram Lucky Baskhar CBI Officer Laxman Rao Dhoom Dhaam RamarajuPranaya GodariPedda KapuBachchala Malli 2025Sankranthiki VasthunamP. Manikya RaoCourtMohan RaoAri: My Name is NobodyVipra Narayana PaswanK-RampKrishna Abbavaram 12A Railway ColonyRana Pratap2026Band MelamSaiSuyodhanaPrakashBad Boy KarthikPrakashIrumudiGuruswamy Goparaju
Kannada Year Title Role Note 1992 Prema Sangama 1993 Kumkuma Bhagya 1994 Lockup Death Kumar Hettha Karulu 1995 Mutthinantha Hendathi Vinod Thavaru Beegaru Thaliya Sowbhagya Puttmalli Emergency 1996 Hetthavaru Circle Inspector Allah Baksh Saakida Gini Sowbhagya Devathe Mane Mane Ramayana Aayudha Police Story Agni 1997 Muddina Kanmani Chandru Agni IPS Agni IPS Police Bete Central Jail Dhairya 1998 Jagadeeshwari 1999 Underworld Om Namah Shivaya 2000 Naga Devathe Mahatma Ticket Tickets Shiva Paapigala Lokadalli Durgada Huli Independence Day Khadga 2001 Rashtra Geethe Grama Devathe 2002 Law and Order 2003 Anka Vijaya Dashami 2004 Monda The City Srirampura Police Station Bhagawan Devudu 2005 Mahasadhvi Mallamma 2007 Police Story 2 Agni Rakshaka Sri Kshetra Kaivara Thathaiyya 2008 Citizen Bharat 2012 Aa Marma Kalpana Kalpana Samsaradalli Golmal 2013 Brindavana Madhu's Father Angulimala Angulimala 2014 Rose Jailer 2015 RangiTaranga Thenkabail Ravindra "Kalinga" Bhat 2016 Raj Bahaddur Mahaveera Machideva Run Antony Intelligence Journalist Special appearance Madamakki Shivashankar Nagarahavu Shivaiyya Santhu Straight Forward 2017 Real Police Pataki DGP Agni Happy New Year Venkatramana Bhat Bharjari Women's Day 2018 Brihaspathi Sudhir's father Kismath Lingaraju Guest appearance 2019 Ibbaru BTech Students Journey Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya Maari Bharaate Ballala 2021 Yuvarathnaa Raghav Reddy 2022 Avatara Purusha Rama Joyeesa Ombattane Dikku Varadappa Made in Bengaluru Mohan Reddy 2025DilmaarBhargav2026ChowkidarPrakash GowdaGhargaGajanana AithalaBailAli
Tamil Year Title Role Note 1991 Thaiyalkaran Jayabal 1992 Kaaval Geetham Ramesh 1998 Vaettiya Madichu Kattu Madurai Muthupandi 1999 Anthapuram Prakash 2000 Independence Day 2006 Aathi RDX 2008 Thenavattu Suryaprakash Thiruvannamalai MLA Poongundran 2010 Kotti Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam Ulakkai 2019 A1 Inspector Jayaraman 2022 Anbarivu Prakasham 2023 Vaathi Muthu Pandian Bagheera Inspector Sai Kumar 2025 Diesel Manoharan
As dubbing artist + List of P. Sai Kumar film credits as dubbing artist Actor Titles Notes Suman Tarangini Neti Bharatam Sitaara Merupu Dhadi America Alludu Bava Bavamaridi Athiradi Padai Rajasekhar Aahuti also dubbed for Tamil versions of his films Ankusam Magaadu Aagraham Allari Priyudu Gangmaster Aavesam Omkaram Subhakaryam Evadaithe Nakenti PSV Garuda Vega Rajinikanth Baashha For Telugu versions PedarayuduVeeraNene Rajinikanth Alludu Tiger Shiva Vijaya Patnam Vachina Monagadu Nam Annayya For Kannada Version Lal Salaam For Telugu versionManoj K. Jayan ThirumalaiSouryamAmitabh Bachchan Khuda GawahFor Telugu dubbed versionArjun Sarja Singakottai Vijayakanth Police Adhikari For Telugu dubbed versions Captain Prabhakaran City Police Raja Simha Raghupathi IPS Mathru Bhoomi Vishnuvardhan Sangathana For Telugu dubbed versions Suresh Gopi Police Commissioner For Telugu dubbed versions Mammootty Chief Minister For Telugu dubbed versions The King Delhi Simham Mohanlal Yoddha For Telugu and Tamil dubbed versions AbhimanyuSathyarajSastriSarathkumarMande SuryuduKabir Bedi Hari Hara Veera Mallu Radha Ravi Chamanthi
As producer Garam
References
External links