P. Ravi Shankar

orn into an illustrious family of artists, Ravi Shankar is the son of veteran actor and dubbing artist P. J. Sarma and the younger brother of acclaimed actor and dubbing legend Sai Kumar. Following his family's legacy, he began dubbing in the late 1970s and grew into an industry titan. He has lent his voice to over 2,600 films, including more than 1,000 films each in Telugu and Tamil, as well as over 150 films each in Kannada and Malayalam. He voiced iconic antagonists and leading stars across languages, famously dubbing for Sonu Sood in the blockbuster *Arundhati* (2009), which coined his popular moniker "Bommali Ravi Shankar." His extraordinary vocal contributions earned him seven Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards for Best Male Dubbing Artist and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award.

Beyond voice artistry, Ravi Shankar wrote dialogues for more than 75 Telugu films and 150 Tamil films. He made his feature film directorial debut in Kannada cinema with the Malashri starrer *Durgi* (2002). Later, he directed the Kannada romantic action drama *College Kumar* (2017) and its subsequent Tamil and Telugu remakes. He has also showcased his musical talents as a playback singer for films such as Ram Gopal Varma's *Rakta Charitra* and *Bejawada*.

While he appeared in sporadic on screen roles from the late 1980s, his acting career experienced an explosive, career defining renaissance with Sudeep's action blockbuster *Kempe Gowda* (2011). His performance as the ruthless crime boss Armuga won critical acclaim, widespread fan adoration, and the **Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada**. The monumental success of the role instantly catapulted him into becoming the most sought after villain and character actor in the Kannada film industry.

Over the ensuing decades, Ravi Shankar delivered memorable antagonistic and powerhouse character roles in a series of major blockbusters, including *Manikya* (2014), *Bahaddur* (2014), *Adyaksha* (2014), *Ranna* (2015), *Aatagara* (2015), *Kotigobba 2* (2016), *Hebbuli* (2017), *Bharaate* (2019), *Roberrt* (2021), *Kranti* (2023), and *Bhairathi Ranagal* (2024). He has also featured in major Telugu films, such as *Dhamarukam* (2012) and *Krack* (2021). With a rare mastery of voice modulation, screen charisma, and multifaceted filmmaking skills, he remains a towering figure across South Indian cinema.