Vinod Rajkumar (born 5 July 1967, Age: 56 years old) is a well-known actor, dancer, and singer in the Kannada film industry. According to some media sources, he is also the illegitimate son of the legendary actor Dr. Rajkumar, who was one of the most popular and influential stars in South Indian cinema.
Raj has worked with many prominent actors and directors in Kannada films, such as Ambareesh, Arjun Sarja, Ramesh Arvind, Srinivas Murthy, Girish Karnad, and Mani Ratnam. He has also released an album named Bhaktanjali in 2009, which consists of devotional songs.
Early Life and Family
Vinod Rajkumar was born on 5 July 1967 in Chennai, India. His father was Mahalinga Bhagavathar, a renowned actor and director who founded the Sri Sahitya Samrajya Drama Company. His mother was Leelavathi, a beautiful actress who worked predominantly in Kannada films. Vinod had a happy childhood with his parents and siblings.
Vinod Rajkumar Wiki/Bio
| Name | Vinod Rajkumar |
| Aka | Vinod Raj |
| Date of birth | 5 July 1967 |
| Place of birth | Chennai, India |
| Occupation | Actor, dancer, singer |
| Spouse | Shalini Shetty (m. 2010) |
| Children | Aryan (son) and Ananya (daughter) |
| Father | Mahalinga Bhagavathar (d. 2009) |
| Mother | Leelavathi (d. 2023) |
| Siblings | Unknown |
| Debut film | Dance Raja Dance (1987) |
| Notable films | Nanjunda (1993) Mahabharata (1997) Om Shakthi (1999) Brahma Vishnu (2001) Pandava (2004) Kannadada Kanda (2006) Shukra (2007) Yaaradu (2009) |
| Awards and recognitions | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada for Kannadada Kanda in 2006 Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 from the Karnataka Government |
| vinodraj | |
| Wikipedia | Vinod_Raj |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Who is Vinod Rajkumar’s Father?
Vinod Raj did not know about his father’s identity until he was 18 years old. He had always admired Dr. Rajkumar from afar and wanted to meet him someday. He got his chance when he auditioned for a role in a film called Nanjunda (1993), directed by Girish Karnad and starring Dr. Rajkumar as the lead character. Vinod Rajkumar impressed Dr. Rajkumar with his talent and resemblance to him and got selected for the role of Nanjunda’s son.
Raj revealed that he was Dr. Rajkumar’s son to the media after he completed his role in Nanjunda. He said that he felt honored and privileged to work with his father and learn from him. He also said that he had a close bond with his mother Leelavathi, who supported him throughout his career.
How did Popular Kannada Actress, Leelavathi Die?
Leelavathi, one of the most celebrated and versatile actresses in Kannada cinema, died on December 8, 2023, at the age of 85. She was suffering from a prolonged age-related illness and was confined to her bed at a private hospital in Nelamangala, near Bengaluru. Her son, actor Vinod Rajkumar, confirmed her demise and paid tribute to her legacy.
Leelavathi was born as Leela Kiran in Mangalore in 1937. She lost her parents at a young age and grew up in her aunt’s home. She had a passion for acting since her childhood and joined the troupe of Mahalinga Bhagavathar’s Sri Sahitya Samrajya Drama Company. She made her screen debut in 1949 with the film Bhakta Prahlada, directed by Shankar Singh.
She rose to fame with films like Mangalya Yoga, Dharma Vijaya, and Raja Malaya Simha in Kannada cinema. She also acted in several Tamil and Telugu films alongside Dr Rajkumar, who was her mentor and co-star in many films. Some of their memorable films together are Santha Thukaram, Mana Mecchida Madadi, and Veera Kesari.
Leelavathi played a variety of roles in her career spanning over six decades. She acted as a heroine, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a mother-in-law, and even as herself in some films. She won several awards for her performances, including the Karnataka State Award for Gejje Pooje and Doctor Krishna. She also received the Dr Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award from the Karnataka government in 2000 and an honorary doctorate from Tumkur University in 2008.
Leelavathi was not only an actress but also a producer, writer and philanthropist. She produced many films under her banner Leela Films and also wrote scripts for some of them. She was involved in various social causes and charitable activities through her foundation Leela Foundation.
Leelavathi’s death has been mourned by millions of fans across India who have expressed their grief and admiration for her on social media platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid homage to her on Twitter and called her “a true icon of cinema”. He wrote: “Deeply saddened by the demise of veteran actress #Leelavathi ji who entertained generations with her brilliant performances & inspired many with her courage & grace.”
Many other celebrities from different fields have also condoled Leelavathi’s passing away. Actor Prakash Raj said: “A great loss to Kannada cinema & Indian cinema as a whole! #Leelavathi ji will always be remembered for her amazing talent & dedication.” Singer S.P Balasubrahmanyam said: “Rest in peace #Leelavathi ji! You were one of my favorite actresses & I always enjoyed watching your movies.” Director Mani Ratnam said: “I am deeply saddened by the demise of #Leelavathi ji who was one of my favorite actresses & I always admired your versatility & charisma.”
Leelavathi is survived by her son Vinod Rajkumar who is also an actor; daughter-in-law Shwetha Raj; grandson Arjun Raj; sister Lakshmi Kiran; brother-in-law Ravi Kiran; nephew Ravi Kiran Jr.; niece Rani Kiran; nephew Ravi Kiran Jr.; niece Rani Kiran; nephew Ravi Kiran Jr.; niece Rani Kiran; nephew Ravi Kiran Jr.; niece Rani Kiran; nephew Ravi Kiran Jr.; niece Rani Kiran; nephew Ravi Kiran Jr.; niece Rani Kiran; nephew Ravi Kiran Jr.; niece Rani
Career
Vinod Rajkumar made his debut as an actor in 1987 with a film called Dance Raja Dance (1987), directed by Girish Karnad and starring himself as a young dancer who idolizes Dr. Rajkumar’s character from Mahabharata (1997). The film was a musical drama that showcased Vinod Raj’s dancing skills and passion for classical arts.
Vinod also ventured into singing and released an album named Bhaktanjali in 2009 under his label Chitratara Records. The album contains 12 devotional songs composed by himself or other artists such as Hamsalekha. Some of the songs are based on famous bhajans or hymns such as “Jai Jai Shri Ram”, “Om Namah Shivaya”, “Har Har Mahadev”, “Sri Krishna Janmashtami”, etc.
Raj also participated in television shows such as Rock n Roll, where he acted as a judge along with other celebrities.
Filmography
| College Hero (1990), Banni Ondsala Nodi (1992), Gili Bete (1992) |
| Captain (1993), Bombat Raja Bandal Rani (1995) |
| Rambha Rajyadalli Rowdy (1995) |
| Mahabharata (1997), Raajanna (1999) |
| Dalavayi (1999), Snehaloka (1999) |
| Om Shakthi (1999), Brahma Vishnu (2001) |
| Vande Mataram (2001), Rashtrageethe (2001) |
| Sri Manjunatha (2001) |
| Namma Samsara Ananda Sagara (2001) |
| Pandava (2004) |
| Kannadada Kanda (2006) |
| Shukra (2007) |
| Yaaradu (2009) |
Net Worth
Vinod Raj’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs. 10 crore as of 2023. He earns his income from his acting career in Kannada films, as well as from his singing and television shows. He also owns a house in Bangalore and a car.
Spouse & Kids
Some media sources claimed that Vinod Raj has been married to actress Shalini Shetty since 2010. They have two children together: a son named Aryan who was born in 2012 and a daughter named Ananya who was born in 2014. Vinod Rajkumar lives with his family in Bangalore. However, the details related to his wife & kids are not confirmed yet.
Vinod Rajkumar is fond of animals and has adopted several dogs from animal shelters over the years. He also supports various social causes such as education, health care, environmental protection, etc.
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