It's been almost 40 years—38 to be exact—since Shiva Rajkumar made his debut in the film industry with Anand back in 1986. Even now, his passion for acting and respect for filmmaking remain as strong as ever. The celebrated star is thrilled about the massive success of his latest action-packed film, Bhairathi Ranagal, which serves as a prequel to 2017’s Mufti. The movie is also being released in dubbed versions in Tamil and Telugu.

Packed with moments that get the audience cheering, the 62-year-old actor, who is the son of the late Kannada legend Rajkumar, has truly poured his heart into this project. You’d never guess that seven years have passed since his last film; he seems to have seamlessly picked up right where Mufti left off, maintaining the same energy and intensity in his fight scenes. He attributes this to what he calls a “God-given gift.”

Shiva has a full slate of upcoming films, including Arjun Janya’s 45 and Hemanth M Rao’s Bhairavana Kone Paata, but he plans to take a month off to address a health issue. Before anyone could start worrying, he was open about his condition and mentioned he was seeking treatment. “Why stress out the fans? It’s better to be honest, right?”

In a phone chat while driving home from a promotional event, Shivanna (as his fans affectionately call him) shares insights about his extensive career in Kannada cinema, his childhood, his experiences in Tamil films, and his aspirations for the future of cinema. Here are some edited highlights from that conversation.

Your film career is pretty diverse — you blend action-packed roles with more emotional themes. You made your mark in Tamil cinema with a cameo in Jailer long after you became a star in Kannada, winning over a fresh audience. What drives you to keep at it?

Honestly, I’m not trying to be humble, but I really love what I do. Cinema is everything to me, and I get excited for every workday. The industry has its ups and downs; you’ll land some amazing roles and some that are just okay. Some films turn out to be hits from the get-go, while others you can tell aren’t going to work halfway through, but once you’re in, you just roll with it. You can’t fake your performance. Thankfully, even my less successful films have done decently at the box office, so producers haven’t taken a huge hit.

Over the years, I’ve switched up my look based on the character I’m playing, and even if I take on a gangster role again, I make sure it’s different from the last one. So, the key is to do your job with passion; the rewards will come in time.

You’ve shifted from being Shiva Rajkumar the superstar to becoming the beloved Shivanna for the audience. How did you navigate that change from a distant celebrity to a relatable brother figure?

I think it all started after Thavarige Baa Thangi (2002). That’s when people began calling me that. But honestly, I never let anyone put me on a pedestal. I treat my fans with respect; they’re not just a group of admirers or followers. They’re people just like me, right? It’s like running a factory—sure, you pay your employees, and they rely on you, but that doesn’t give you the right to look down on them.

In this case, fans show their love. But I do get a bit frustrated when they try to dictate what I should do or limit me to certain types of films. I often joke that they should join me for script discussions (laughs). But that frustration doesn’t last long. I’m genuine; if I mess up, I’ll apologize. Makeup is for the movies, not for real life.

You seem to have a very philosophical outlook, living in the moment. How did you come to this mindset?

I think everyone experiences suffering along with the joys of life. And death is the one undeniable truth. I was aware of this even before my brother Puneeth passed away suddenly, but it hit home even harder after that. It was a tough time, but acceptance is key.

We might want to savor certain moments, but it’s important to understand the reasons behind that enjoyment. You can’t go overboard with anything. Life is a fantastic teacher, constantly offering lessons. You just have to be mindful enough to notice them.

You had a pretty typical childhood in Madras, far from the glitz of your father's superstar life. Do you think that’s part of what keeps you grounded?

I believe it’s more about how we were brought up. Both Appaji and Amma raised us in a big family setting, and we didn’t get any special treatment.

We lived with my dad’s sister’s kids and Amma’s relatives, so there were around 40 people in our Madras home. Growing up under that tree taught us a lot. We learned about humility, culture, and logic, and that money isn’t just there for the taking. We figured out how to spend wisely. I took the bus to school and later to college (12B and 25C to New College and FTTI). Even though my friends knew I was Rajkumar’s son, they treated me just like everyone else. My dad’s fame didn’t really affect our lives. We never learned to show off; there was no need for it. I truly think this upbringing is why I have a practical mindset.

I also focus on living in the moment because tomorrow is unpredictable. Life experiences have only strengthened that belief.

What was it like making your Tamil debut in your 50s with a cameo in a film featuring Rajinikanth?

The offer for Jailer came up so casually, but the way Nelson (the director) pitched it made it impossible to say no. Plus, there’s Rajini Uncle—how could I refuse? He’s known me since I was 14 and has always been close to our family.

I was filming for Bairagee (2022) when I visited Vijay on the set of Beast, directed by Nelson. He later mentioned he loved the way I walked in, calling it “gangster maadhiri.” I was taken aback that someone who hadn’t seen my films saw me that way. I agreed to do the cameo.

We’ve always kept in touch with people in the Tamil film industry. I really enjoy working with Dhanush, who I acted alongside in Captain Miller (2024). In fact, back in 2015, he even sang ‘No Problem’ for my film Vajrakaya.

When did you first notice that people were fans of your eyes? Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz about how striking they are…

(laughs shyly) Honestly, it makes me a bit shy when people say that. Growing up, my grandfather used to tell my mom that my eyes were special and that I could convey a lot just with them. I only found out about this from my mom, since my grandfather never directly complimented us. He would just give us a kiss on the forehead, a hug, and then move on.

Later on, Upendra mentioned that he loved my eyes and the spark they had. That’s actually how Om (1995) came to be.

These days, I do see comments on social media about my eyes, and it makes me feel a bit awkward. I’ve always had the same eyes, so what’s the big deal now?

But honestly, I’m glad I didn’t hear this earlier. If I had, it might have held me back. You can’t always rely on your eyes to express everything. The material has to call for that kind of expression. There needs to be something to convey, right? This works especially well in emotional scenes — like in Mufti, Jailer, Bhairathi Rangal, and Thavarige Baa Thangi. In Thavarige, there’s a moment with Radhika, who plays my younger sister, where she refuses to go back to her maternal home until she fixes a mistake. I have to look at her in disbelief at how much she’s grown. Sometimes, these moments just happen. You can’t really question it; that’s the beauty of cinema..

Cinema still has that magic for you, right? But at 62, you're still nailing those stunt scenes and action sequences?

I see this energy I have as a blessing from above, and I think it’s meant to be used, not saved up. As we age, our energy naturally dips, so why regret not doing something when you had the chance? Energy is a precious gift, so make the most of it.

On another note, I really admire the fresh talent coming into the scene. If we only focus on the old guard, how do we pave the way for the next generation of stars? The industry needs to evolve, and everyone deserves a shot. Everything in life is replaceable and should be. Directors, actors… no one stays forever. So, let’s show some respect for one another.

You recently shared that you're heading overseas for surgery since you haven't been feeling well. What made you choose to be open about it with your fans?

There have been all kinds of rumors floating around on social media for a while now. We figured it was best to clear the air since all those questions came from a place of care. There's really no reason to hide or sugarcoat things. I've already started some treatment, and I don’t want to add to anyone's worries. Plus, I could really use their prayers for a speedy recovery.

The doctor mentioned I might experience some side effects, but I kept pushing through with work. My teammates have been super supportive, adjusting their schedules so we can finish the shoot a bit earlier.

My friends and colleagues—Sudeep, Yash, Dhruv Sarja, Ganesh, Vijay, and Dhananjaya—have all been really encouraging.

Bhairavana Kone Paata, I’m really excited about teaming up with Hemanth M Rao. His films take a unique approach that I can’t wait to explore.

I’ve always admired Hemanth’s creativity and the compelling stories he tells. This one dives into the morals a person stands for and fights for. I’m really into the depth of the characters and can’t wait to start working on this project along with my other films.

After all these years, what does cinema mean to you, starting as a child actor and now as a leading man?

To me, cinema is life itself. It’s an amazing realm where we can embody countless characters and experience lives we could never live in reality. The coolest part? You can leave those characters behind when the day’s done. I get to be an actor while also being Rajkumar’s son, Geetha’s husband, and the father of Nirupama and Nivedita. I step out as a character and come back home as myself.

Read Also: Ghaati is set to hit theaters soon, featuring Anushka Shetty in an action-packed drama directed by Krish Jagarlamudi.

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