Karthi was born as Karthik Sivakumar on 25 May 1967 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India to actor Sivakumar and his wife Lakshmi. He completed his elementary and secondary school education at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan and St. Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai. He gained a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Crescent Engineering College, Chennai. After graduation, he worked as an Engineering consultant in Chennai and considered higher studies abroad. „I was earning about ₹ 5000 per month and found the work monotonous. That was when I thought, I should do something more”, he recalled in an interview. Karthi got a scholarship for his higher studies in the United States, and enrolled at Binghamton University, New York, where he earned his Master of Science in industrial engineering. While pursuing his master’s degree, he also took elective courses on filmmaking.
Filmográfia:
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Aayutha Ezhuthu | Michael’s friend | Uncredited role; also assistant director |
| 2007 | Paruthiveeran | Paruthiveeran | Won—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Special Prize[citation needed] Won—Vijay Award for Best Male Debut[66] |
| 2010 | Aayirathil Oruvan | Muthu | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil |
| Paiyaa | Shiva | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil | |
| Naan Mahaan Alla | Jeeva Prakasam | Nominated—Vijay Award for Best Actor[67] | |
| 2011 | Siruthai | DSP Rathnavel Pandian and Rocket Raja[b] | |
| Ko | Himself | Guest appearance in song „Aga Naga” | |
| 2012 | Saguni | Kamalakannan | |
| 2013 | Alex Pandian | Alex Pandian | |
| All in All Azhagu Raja | Azhagu Raja and Young Muthukrishnan[b] | ||
| Biriyani | Sugan | ||
| 2014 | Madras | Kaali | Won—Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Tamil[68] Won—SIIMA Critics Award for Best Actor[69] |
| Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil Nominated—Vijay Award for Best Actor |
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| 2015 | Komban | Kombaiah Pandian (Komban) | |
| 2016 | Oopiri / Thozha | Seenu | Simultaneously shot in Telugu |
| Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu | |||
| Kaashmora | Kaashmora and Raj Nayak[b] | ||
| 2017 | Kaatru Veliyidai | Varun Chakrapani (VC) | |
| Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru | DSP Theeran Thirumaran | Won—Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Tamil Won—Edison Award for Best Actor |
|
| 2018 | Kadaikutty Singam | Perunazhi Gunasingam (Kadaikutty Singam) | |
| 2019 | Dev | Dev Ramalingam | |
| Kaithi | Dilli | Won—Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Actor[70] | |
| Thambi | Saravanan (Vicky) | ||
| 2021 | Sulthan | Vikram (Sulthan) | |
| 2022 | Vikram | Dilli | Voice-over |
| Viruman | Viruman | ||
| Ponniyin Selvan: I | Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil | |
| Sardar | Inspector Vijayaprakash and Chandra Bose „Sardar” | ||
| 2023 | Ponniyin Selvan: II | Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan | |
| Mark Antony | Narrator | Voice-over | |
| Japan | Japan Muni | 25th Film[71] | |
| 2024 | Meiyazhagan | Meiyazhagan | |
| Kanguva | Rathaangasan & Commander Ryan | Cameo appearance, Dual Roles | |
| 2025 | Vaa Vaathiyaar † | Inspector Rameshwaran | Post-Production |
| Sardar 2 † | Inspector Vijayaprakash and Chandra Bose „Sardar” | Filming |
A Moziverzum oldalán megtekinthető filmjei: