Overview
Koththuru Chikkarangappa Raghunath (born 17 April 1965), known by his screen name Rangayana Raghu, is an Indian film and stage actor associated chiefly with Kannada cinema. He has received multiple Filmfare Awards South, SIIMA Awards, and two Karnataka State Film Awards over the course of his career.
Raghu was born in Koththuru, a village in the Tumkur district of the erstwhile Mysore State (now Karnataka), to a Bayalaata artist. Drawn to performance as a teenager, he began his career in theatre and worked as a stage actor with B. V. Karanth's theatre group Rangayana from 1988 to 1999, from which he derives his screen name. His first feature film, Suggi, was shelved, and Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga (1998) became his first release.
In the initial phase of his film career, Raghu typically appeared in supporting roles, often portraying comedic or negative-shaded characters. His first major break came with an antagonist role in Dhumm (2002). He is widely noted for his performance in Duniya (2007), which earned him his second Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Other notable appearances during this period include Ranga SSLC (2004), Suntaragaali (2006), Cyanide (2006), Raam (2009), Olave Mandara (2011) and Jayammana Maga (2013).
Raghu later progressed to character and lead roles, while continuing to take on comedic parts. He has been recognised for his versatility, with noted performances in films such as Badava Rascal (2021), Family Pack (2022), Rangasamudra (2024) and Shakhahaari (2024). He has appeared in more than 400 films.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on English Wikipedia page for Rangayana Raghu