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Jiiva

Actor Jiiva at Yaan Meet and Greet Event
Actor Jiiva at Yaan Meet and Greet Event Image: Wikimedia Commons. https://silverscreen.in / CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Jiiva (born Amar Choudary, 4 January 1984) is an Indian actor and film producer who primarily works in Tamil cinema. The youngest son of film producer R. B. Choudary, he began his career as a child actor in 1991 before transitioning to lead roles in the early 2000s. He is known for a wide range of performances in commercially and critically successful Tamil films, and made his Hindi cinema debut in 2021.

Key facts

Birth name Amar Choudary
Date of birth 4 January 1984
Profession Actor, film producer
Industry Tamil cinema; also Hindi cinema
Father R. B. Choudary, film producer
Debut as child actor 1991
Debut as lead actor Aasai Aasaiyai (2003)
Hindi debut 83 (2021)

Background

Jiiva was born into a film family, with his father R. B. Choudary being an established producer in Tamil cinema. He entered films as a child actor in 1991 in productions backed by his father. His launch as a lead actor came with Aasai Aasaiyai (2003), which was the 50th production of his father's banner.

Career

Early work and breakthrough

Following his lead debut in 2003, Jiiva drew wider recognition for his performance in Raam (2005). For this role, he was honoured at the Cyprus International Film Festival; according to available accounts, he is the only Tamil actor after Sivaji Ganesan to have received an award at the festival.

Notable Tamil films

  • E (2006)
  • Katradhu Tamizh (2007)
  • Siva Manasula Sakthi (2009)
  • Ko (2011)
  • Nanban (2012)
  • Mugamoodi (2012)
  • Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012)
  • Endrendrum Punnagai (2013)
  • Kalakalappu 2 (2018)
  • Kalathil Santhippom (2021)

Hindi cinema debut

Jiiva made his Hindi-language film debut with 83 (2021), a sports drama based on India's 1983 Cricket World Cup victory, in which he portrayed the former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth.

Later career

After a stretch of commercial failures, Jiiva returned to box-office success with Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil (2026).

Timeline

  • 1984 – Born on 4 January.
  • 1991 – Began acting as a child artist in his father's productions.
  • 2003 – Lead debut in Aasai Aasaiyai.
  • 2005 – Honoured at the Cyprus International Film Festival for Raam.
  • 2006–2013 – Series of successful Tamil films including E, Katradhu Tamizh, Siva Manasula Sakthi, Ko, Nanban and Endrendrum Punnagai.
  • 2021 – Hindi debut in 83, playing Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
  • 2026 – Box-office comeback with Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil.

Significance

Jiiva's career spans child acting, leading roles in mainstream Tamil films and a crossover to Hindi cinema. His recognition at the Cyprus International Film Festival places him in a small group of Tamil actors to have received honours at that festival. His work across genres — including romance, drama, action and biographical sports films — has made him a recognisable figure in contemporary Tamil cinema.

References