Srikanth (actor, born 1979)


Srikanth is an Indian actor known for his works predominantly in Tamil and Telugu films. He is credited as Sriram in Telugu films. He debuted in K. Balachander's tele serial Jannal – Marabu Kavithaigal. His film debut was in the romantic film Roja Kootam and went on to star in more such films including April Maadhathil, Parthiban Kanavu, Okariki Okaru and Kana Kandaen. He subsequently went on to portray action roles in Drohi. He starred in Nanban, remake of 3 Idiots directed by S. Shankar.

Personal life

Srikanth was born to a Telugu-father and Tamil-mother in Chennai. His family hailed from Tirupati and he was raised in Hyderabad. His father worked in State Bank of India. Srikanth had an elder brother who died due to dengue after he returned from United States. Srikanth uses the name Sriram in Telugu films to avoid confusion with his contemporary Srikanth.
He married Vandana secretly and lived together for three months. They both later went to court after allegations against Vandana. The court ruled in favor of Vandana. He remarried Vandana on 7 September 2008, who had completed her MBA in Australia. The couple has two children.
On 23 June 2025, Srikanth was arrested by Tamil Nadu Police for possession of cocaine.

Career

2002–2009: Debut and breakthrough

Looking to step into an acting career after beginning as a model, Srikanth was coached acting skills by then-assistant directors such as Vetrimaaran and Mysskin in the early 2000s. Srikanth was selected to play the lead role in Kathir's Kadhal Virus and spent a year preparing for the film, before being replaced by fellow newcomer Richard. He was then considered to make his acting debut through Jeeva's 12B, but the role went to another newcomer Shaam. Further potential projects directed by Bharathiraja and K. Balachander also did not work out, before he was cast by Sasi in Roja Kootam, after the original lead actor had opted out. After the film's success, he became popularly known as Roja Kootam Srikanth for a while.
Srikanth then featured in another successful venture April Madhathil alongside Sneha followed by Manasellam. He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his role in Parthiban Kanavu opposite Sneha, directed by Karu Pazhaniappan. Srikanth's straight Telugu film was Rasool Ellore's directorial debut Okariki Okaru under the stage name of Sriram to avoid confusion with established star Meka Srikanth. The film received positive reviews upon release with one critic noting that "He did a sensible portrayal of the role". His first release of 2004 was Varnajalam, followed by Bose, in which he was paired with Sneha for the third time after April Maadhathil and Parthiban Kanavu. Kana Kandaen directed by K. V. Anand, with the Malayalam actor Prithviraj in his first Tamil role. Srikanth and Prithviraj gave a good performance also. The film was followed by Oru Naal Oru Kanavu and Bambara Kannaley. In 2006, he acted in the film Mercury Pookkal, and Uyir. Behindwoods wrote: "Sri has come up with an excellent performance of a man lost in this juggernaut of emotions." TSV Hari at Rediff.com responded negatively to Kizhakku Kadarkarai Salai, noting a thin script and "meaningless songs". This was the third film and last collaboration between the director S. S. Stanley and Srikanth after April Maadhathil and Mercury Pookkal. His next film was Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule, a Telugu film directed by Tamil director Selvaraghavan. Srikanth play the second lead role after Telugu actor Venkatesh. This was followed by Vallamai Tharayo, Poo and Indira Vizha.

2010–2017: Setbacks and success

In 2010, Srikanth released Rasikkum Seemane, Police Police and Drohi. Srikanth co-starring with the new Tamil actor Vishnu Vishal in this film. Mandhira Punnagai was last released as guest appearance. In 2011, he began in Malayalam film Uppukandam Brothers: Back in Action, a Telugu film, Dhada and Sadhurangam. The film was completed in 2006 but the film remained unreleased for five years. The project was released on 2011. These three movies were box office failures. In 2012, he was first seen in S. Shankar's comedy-drama Nanban, which featured him as part of an all-star cast including Vijay, Jiiva, Ileana D'Cruz and Sathyaraj. The movie is released to positive reviews. It was dubbed and released in Telugu as Snehitudu. He also started in Telugu film Nippu, a Malayalam film Hero and comedy film Paagan. Later, he acted in Buddy and Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam as guest appearance directed by R. Parthiepan. In 2015, he played in the supernatural drama film Om Shanthi Om. The following year, he acted in the horror film Sowkarpettai and comedy Nambiyaar. He appeared in the Telugu action thriller Lie.

2019–present

In 2019, his next film was Rocky: The Revenge, a Tamil action crime thriller centered on dogs. The film was a box office failure. He also appeared in the Telugu film Raagala 24 Gantallo, where he played the cop.
Srikanth plays serial killer in the action thriller Mirugaa, followed by three Telugu films Y, Asalem Jarigindi and 10th Class Diaries. Then he plays the role of a cop who investigates the case in the crime Maha. However, the film was a failure to critics. Later, he was cast in multi-stars in Coffee with Kadhal, Bagheera, Kannai Nambathey and Ravanasura. After that, he returns as the main hero in Echo, Amala and Pindam. Srikanth, who plays the lead role in the film Operation Laila, portrays two characters. In 2025, he was seen in the romantic comedy Dinasari and Konjam Kadhal Konjam Modhal.

Awards

Filmography

  • Note: He is credited as Sriram in Telugu.
YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
2002Roja KootamIllangoTamilITFA Best New Actor Award
2002April MadhathilKathirTamil
2003ManasellamBalaTamil
2003Parthiban KanavuParthibanTamilTamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize
2003Parthiban KanavuParthibanTamilAlso singer for "Aalanguyil Koovum Rayyil"
2003Okariki OkaruKameswara Rao Jr. / Kameswara Rao Sr.TeluguDual roles
2003JootEashwaranTamil
2004VarnajaalamSakthivel Tamil
2004BoseBoseTamil
2005Kana KandaenBhaskarTamil
2005Oru Naal Oru KanavuCheenuTamil
2005Bambara KannaleyArumugamTamil
2006Mercury PookkalKarthikTamil
2006UyirSundarTamil
2006Kizhakku Kadarkarai SalaiGaneshanTamil
2007Adavari Matalaku Ardhalu VeruleVasuTelugu
2008Vallamai TharayoSekarTamilCameo appearance
2008PooThangarasuTamil
2009Indira VizhaSanthosh SrinivasanTamil
2010Rasikkum SeemaneNandhuTamil
2010Police PoliceSP Ranadhir IPSTelugu
2010DrohiSami SrinivasanTamil
2010Mandhira PunnagaiHimselfTamilGuest appearance
2011Uppukandam Brothers Back in ActionBobbyMalayalam
2011DhadaRajivTelugu
2011SadhurangamThirupathisamyTamilDelayed release; Filmed in 2003
2012NanbanVenkat RamakrishnanTamil
2012NippuSriramTelugu
2012HeroPremanandMalayalam
2012PaaganSubramaniTamil
2013BuddyNeil FernandezMalayalam
2014Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam IyakkamHimselfTamilGuest appearance
2015Om Shanti OmVasuTamil
2016SowkarpettaiShakthi / VetriTamilDual roles
2016NambiarRamachandranTamil
2017LieAadiTelugu
2019Rocky: The RevengeACP SanthoshTamil
2019Raagala 24 GantalloNarasimha IPSTelugu
2021Jai SenaSriramTeluguCameo appearance
2021MirugaaJohn Tamil
2021YRaghuramTelugu
2021Asalem JarigindiShivaTelugu
202210th Class DiariesSomuTelugu
2022MahaVikramTamil
2022Coffee with KadhalRaviTamil
2023BagheeraMuraliTamil
2023Kannai NambatheyIlamaranTamil
2023RavanasuraSekharTelugu
2023EchoPrakashTamil
2023AmalaACP Akbar AliMalayalam
2023PindamAnthonyTelugu
2024Operation LailaSurya / RaviTamilDual roles
2024Aanandhapuram DiariesProf. Paul SundarajMalayalam
2024Sathamindri Mutham ThaVigneshTamil
2024ValariNaveen NaiduTelugu
2024Maya PuthagamYoga NarasimhaTamil
2025DinasariShakthivelTamil
2025Konjam Kadhal Konjam ModhalKarthikTamil
2025MathruProfessor VishwanathanTelugu
2025BlackmailAshokTamil
2026The BedVeluTamil
2026ErracheeraTBATeluguCompleted