Sumukha
Sumukha | |
|---|---|
 Sumukha in 2024 | |
| Born | 9 September 1994 Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Alma mater | The Valley School |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Parent(s) | Shashi Kumar (father) Nanditha Yadav (mother) |
Sumukha (born 9 September 1994) is an Indian actor known for his work in Kannada cinema. He is best known for his performances in films such as Yaanaa (2019), Physics Teacher (2022), and Manada Kadalu (2025). Sumukha is the son of acclaimed theatre and film personalities Shashi Kumar[1] and Nanditha Yadav.[2][3]
Early life and background
[edit]Sumukha was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He began his acting journey at the age of 10, appearing as a child actor in films, television, and theatre productions.[4] Growing up in a family rooted in the performing arts, he developed a strong foundation in acting and storytelling from an early age. After completing his schooling at The Valley School in Bengaluru, he relocated to Bombay, Maharashtra to further develop his acting skills and pursue professional opportunities in theatre and film.
Theatre career
[edit]Sumukha honed his craft through theatre, performing at prestigious venues such as Prithvi Theatre and National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Bombay, as well as Ranga Shankara and Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru.[5]
Film career
[edit]Sumukha made his film debut with the Kannada coming-of-age drama Yaanaa, where he played one of the central roles. His performance was noted in a Bangalore Mirror review, which stated that he "impresses the most" among the cast.[6][7] In 2022, Sumukha starred in Physics Teacher, a philosophical drama that also marked his debut as a writer and director. The film was officially selected for the Bangalore International Film Festival (BIFFES), where it garnered praise for its unconventional narrative and Sumukha's compelling performance.[8][9]
Following his earlier performances, Sumukha was approached by Yogaraj Bhat to audition for Manada Kadalu—an opportunity that led to him being cast in the lead role and marked his transition into mainstream commercial cinema.[10] The 2025 film became a significant milestone in his career, earning him recognition as a leading man in Kannada cinema.[11][12] In an interview, he shared that the project enabled him to embrace a broader audience while continuing to uphold his artistic sensibilities.[13] He will soon be seen playing the central character in the bilingual film Rajasthan Diaries, which is set against the backdrop of the desert state and explores themes of identity and belonging.[14]
Sumukha has also appeared in the Hindi-language teleplays Shobhayatra (2018) and Shadyantra (2022), presented by Zee Theatre.[15][16]
Personal life
[edit]Sumukha's mother, Nanditha Yadav, is a state award-winning director, recognized for her work on the film Raju, which won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Story.[17][18]
Filmography
[edit]| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role(s) | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Raju | Kannada | [4] | ||
| 2019 | Yaanaa | Varun | Kannada | [7] | |
| 2022 | Physics Teacher | Badri | Kannada | Also writer and director | [4] |
| 2025 | Manada Kadalu | Sumukha | Kannada | [11] | |
| TBA | Rajasthan Diaries † | Ved | Kannada, Marathi | Post-production | [2] |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role(s) | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Shobhayatra | Babu Genu | Hindi | Teleplay on Zee Theatre | [15] |
| 2022 | Shadyantra | Shashank | Hindi | Teleplay on Zee Theatre | [16] |
References
[edit]- ^ Sumukha speaks about Physics Teacher at BIFFES. YouTube. BookMyShow. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Shooting for Rajasthan Diaries to kickstart on Ugadi". The New Indian Express. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Sumukha nurtures the writer in him during the lockdown". The Times of India. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "Physics Teacher marks the directorial debut of actor Sumukha". The New Indian Express. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ Yaanaa movie release - Sumukha interview. YouTube. BookMyShow. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Yaanaa movie review: This flick is unusual for a Kannada film". Bangalore Mirror. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Yaanaa movie: Sumukha's debut". Daijiworld. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Physics Teacher explores the subject of reality vs illusion". OTTPlay. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "Physics Teacher trailer: A tale of bonafide science and rationality that turns on its head to become a thriller". OTTPlay. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Sumukha: With Manada Kadalu, there is no looking back". The New Indian Express. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Manada Kadalu review: Yogaraj Bhat's romance marks a slow but sure return to form". The News Minute. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Manada Kadalu review: Yogaraj Bhat's comeback film". The Hindu. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
- ^ "Sumukha: Manada Kadalu has allowed me to enter that commercial space". Cinema Express. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Rajasthan Diaries to be dubbed in Telugu and Hindi". The Times of India. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Experience patriotic fervour with these stirring films and teleplays". Deccan Chronicle. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Hina Khan, Chandan Roy Sanyal and Kunaal Roy Kapur to star in murder mystery Shadyantra". The Times of India. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "Karnataka State Film Awards 2016". The Times of India. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Gorur literary classic now a web series on Katte". Deccan Herald. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2025.