Nikhil Siddhartha (born 1 June 1985) is a Telugu film actor from India.
Nikhil Siddhartha (born 1 June 1985) is a Telugu film actor from India. He had minor roles in several films before being cast as one of the four male leads in Happy Days (2007). The film was a success, and it gave him his breakthrough role. Later in his career, he starred in films such as Yuvatha (2008), Swamy Ra Ra (2013), Karthikeya (2014), Surya vs Surya (2015), Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada (2016), Kesava (2017), Arjun Suravaram (2019), Karthikeya 2 (2022), and 18 Pages (2022).
Early years
Nikhil Siddhartha was born in Begumpet, a Hyderabad neighborhood in modern-day Telangana, India. Kavali Shyam Siddhartha^/s father is from Mahbubnagar, Telangana. He attended Hyderabad Public School before graduating from Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology. His father died on April 28, 2022, after an eight-year battle with a rare disease called corticobasal degeneration.
Career
Nikhil began his career as an assistant director on the film Hyderabad Nawabs (2006). Before being cast in Happy Days, he had minor roles in several films (2007). Nikhil played one of the four leads in the film, which was directed by Sekhar Kammula. He received a remuneration of $25,000 for his role in the film, and he still has the check. Happy Days was one of the few low-budget films released in 2007 that went on to become one of the year^/s most successful films.
Ankit, Pallavi & Friends was his first film as a solo lead (2008). Following that, he appeared in films such as Yuvatha (2008), Kalavar King (2010), Aalasyam Amrutham (2010), and Veedu Theda (2011). (2011).
His 2013 film Swamy Ra Ra was a commercial success, ushering in a new era in his career in which he began choosing unique scripts over standard commercial fare. Karthikeya (2014), his next film, was a critical and commercial success. It grossed more than 20 crore at the box office despite being made on a budget of 4-6 crore.
In 2017, Nikhil reunited with Swamy Ra Ra director Sudheer Varma for Keshava, a revenge drama in which Nikhil plays a character with the rare congenital disorder Dextrocardia who wants to avenge his family^/s death. The film was released on May 19, 2017, and it received positive reviews for Nikhil^/s performance, musical score, visuals, and plot backdrop.
Kirrak Party (2018), a remake of Kannada Kirik Party (2016), starred Samyuktha Hegde and Simran Pareenja and was directed by Sharan Koppisetty. The film did poorly at the box office. Sudheer Varma wrote the screenplay for the film, and Chandoo Mondeti wrote the dialogue. Arjun Suravaram, his next film, was a commercial success. Nikhil entered the 100 Crore Club with the 2022 film Karthikeya 2.
Private life
On May 14, 2020, Nikhil married Pallavi Varma.
Filmography
 | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
- All films are in Telugu, unless otherwise noted.
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Sambaram | Driver | Uncredited |
| 2006 | Hyderabad Nawabs | College Boy | Also assistant director |
| 2007 | Happy Days | Rajesh | |
| 2008 | Ankit, Pallavi & Friends | Ankit | |
| Yuvatha | Babu | ||
| 2010 | Kalavar King | Rajesh | |
| Om Shanti | Teja | ||
| Aalasyam Amrutam | Ram | ||
| 2011 | Veedu Theda | ^/Katthi^/ Seenu | |
| 2012 | Disco | Disco | |
| 2013 | Swamy Ra Ra | Surya | |
| 2014 | Karthikeya | Karthikeya "Karthik" Kumaraswamy | |
| 2015 | Surya vs Surya | Surya | |
| Sankarabharanam | Gautham | ||
| 2016 | Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada | Arjun | |
| Donga Police | Bobby | ||
| 2017 | Keshava | Keshava | |
| 2018 | Kirrak Party | Krishna | |
| 2019 | Arjun Suravaram | Arjun Lenin Suravaram | |
| 2022 | Karthikeya 2 | Karthikeya "Karthik" Kumaraswamy | |
| 18 Pages | Siddhu | ||
| 2023 | Spy | TBA | Completed |
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Chewi |
| Profession | Actor |
| Famous role | Playing the role of Karthikeya Karthik Kumaraswamy in the Telugu film Karthikeya (2014) and its 2022 sequel |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 178 cm in meters- 1.78 m in feet & inches- 5’ 10” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms- 75 kg in pounds- 165 lbs |
| Body Measurements (approx.) | - Chest: 42 Inches - Waist: 33 Inches - Biceps: 16 Inches |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Career | |
| Debut | Film (Telugu; as a supporting actor): Hyderabad Nawabs (2006) as a college boy Film (Telugu; as a lead actor): Happy Days (2007) as Rajesh |
| Awards | • 2017: Youth Magical Award at the 49th Cinegoers Association Film Awards • 2022: 50 Days Shield Award for the film Karthikeya 2 |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 1 June 1985 (Saturday) |
| Age (as of 2022) | 37 Years |
| Birthplace | Begumpet, Hyderabad, India [2]The Times of India |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Signature |  |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Begumpet, Hyderabad, India |
| School | • Hyderabad Public School in Begumpet, Hyderabad • St. Patrick^/s High School in Secunderabad, Hyderabad [3]The Times of India |
| College/University | Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology in Hyderabad |
| Educational Qualification | A bachelor^/s degree in engineering [4]The New Indian Express |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste | Yadava [5]OP India |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Hobbies | Reading books, travelling, and cycling |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Date | 14 May 2020 |
| Marriage Place | A farmhouse in Shamirpet, Hyderabad |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Pallavi Varma (doctor) |
| Parents | Father- Kavali Shyam Siddhartha (professor, died on 28 April 2022) Mother- Veena Siddhartha (former principal of a school) |
| Siblings | Brother- Rohit Siddhartha Sister- Sonali Siddhartha |
| Favourites | |
| Web series | The Family Man, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and Sacred Games |
| Actor(s) | Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Pawan Kalyan, Vijay, Mohanlal, and Puneeth Rajkumar |
| Actress | Bhumika Chawla |
| Film(s) | Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Sholay (1975), and 3 Idiots (2009) |
| Football Club | Arsenal |
| Director(s) | S. S. Rajamouli and Rajkumar Hirani |
| Holiday Destination(s) | Dubai and London |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | • Range Rover • Mercedes-Benz CLA Sports car |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Nikhil Siddhartha
- Nikhil Siddhartha is an Indian actor, who is well known for playing lead roles in the Telugu films Swamy Ra Ra (2013) as Surya, Surya vs Surya (2015) as Surya, and Kirrak Party (2018) as Krishna. In August 2022, Nikhil rose to fame for playing the role of Karthikeya Kumaraswamy in the sequel of the film Karthikeya (2014).
- During his college days, Nikhil aspired to become an actor, and he actively participated in a few dramas and stage plays. In an interview, on being asked about his first experience of acting, Nikhil replied,
In the first year of my BE, I was very diligent and never missed a class but after that, I discovered my calling is elsewhere. I had performed in a skit during one of the cultural events at college and it was well received. I started by visiting the sets often. This gave me an idea of how things actually work in Tollywood.” [7]The New Indian Express
- Nikhil’s father, Kavali Shyam Siddhartha, who hailed from Gadwal in the Jogulamba district of Telangana, suffered from a rare disease, corticobasal degeneration, and he passed away after battling it for almost eight years. [8]News18
- Nikhil and his wife, Pallavi, who hails from Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh, met through a mutual friend. Nikhil, in an interview, revealed that Pallavi’s parents were against her decision of marrying a man from the film industry, but Nikhil’s mother, Veena Siddhartha, assured her parents and eventually Pallavi’s parents approved their marriage. Nikhil announced his engagement to Pallavi on 3 February 2020.
- Nikhil, in an interview, revealed that he is an ardent believer of Lord Krishna and said,
Being from a Yadava Community, my family would always celebrate Krishnashtami in a very big way as it was the main festival in our family.” [9]OP India
- Nikhil has a tattoo dedicated to his parents on his upper back with the names Shyam and Veena.
- In an interview, Nikhil expressed his gratitude to the casting directors of the Telugu film Happy Days for trusting him and giving him an opportunity to play the lead role of Rajesh despite having zero connection with any film associate in the industry. He said,
It was in 2007 that director Sekhar Kammula gave me a break. It’s very difficult for an outsider to get a break, especially in the Telugu film industry. Either you need to be a star kid, or a movie family associate. But, Kammula is such a genuine person that he auditioned all newcomers, gave four people a break, and the movie turned out to be a blockbuster. It gave life to so many actors. I was lucky because 1.2 lakh people auditioned for that movie and only four of us were selected to play the lead roles. It was like being 1 in 25,000 or more. [10]The Times of India
- Nikhil acted in a few Telugu films like Ankit, Pallavi & Friends (2008) as Ankit, Aalasyam Amrutam (2010) as Ram, Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada (2016) as Arjun, Keshava (2017) as Keshava, Arjun Suravaram (2019) as Arjun, and Karthikeya 2 (2022) as Karthikeya Kumaraswamy.
- In an interview, Nikhil revealed that he received a cheque of Rs 25,000 as his salary for the film Happy Days and said,
He gave me a cheque of Rs 25,000/- which I remembered till now, and still I am keeping the cheque with me.”
- In an interview, Nikhil talked about his childhood memories in his hometown, Begumpet and said,
I was born in a nursing home in Begumpet and went to HPS, my grandmother also lives there and I still live there. I am pretty much made in Begumpet.” [11]The Times of India
- In June 2013, Nikhil rendered his voice to the song Yo Yo Yo Memu Antha from the Telugu film Swamy Ra Ra (2013).
- In 2016, Nikhil bagged the 27th position on the list of Most Desirable Men of 2016 by The Times of India.
- Nikhil was invited to judge the Miss Diva auditions in 2016.
- In an interview, Nikhil talked about the politics prevalent in the film industry and how it affected him and made him helpless. He revealed that a few producers in the Telugu film industry, who were a part of the power politics, made endless efforts to postpone the release of his film Karthikeya 2 so that their big banner films can make their way to the theatres. He said,
Karthikeya 2 was initially slated to hit theatres on July 22, but that date was later changed to August 12. As the producers are now required to reschedule the release for October starting on this date. The powerless situation made me cry.” [12]The Times of India
- Nikhil received a remuneration of Rs 1116 after he worked as the assistant director for the Telugu film Hyderabad Nawabs. [13]123telugu
- Nikhil actively participates in a few social causes to facilitate those in need. He 0ftenly donates money to relief funds and visits NGOs and charitable organisations. In 2020, amid Covid-19, Nikhil lent his support to the people, who were in need of medical supplies, food, and other amenities.
- During an interview, Nikhil talked about how his parents came up with his name and said that his name is made up of two parts, Nikhil and Siddhartha. Nikhil originated from Lord Shiva’s name ‘Nikhileshwar’ and Siddhartha was derived from his father’s name Kavali Shyam Siddhartha. [14]Amarujala
- Nikhil is often seen consuming alcoholic beverages with friends at parties and events.
Nikhil Siddhartha holding a glass of champagne
- Nikhil is a fitness enthusiast, and he is often spotted working out at the gym to keep himself fit.
- In July 2017, Nikhil was featured on the cover of Red magazine.
- In an interview, on being asked about his role model in the film industry, Nikhil revealed that he is extremely inspired by Shah Rukh Khan, because being an outsider, he established his identity in the film industry as the ‘King of Bollywood.’ He added,
I am a huge Shahrukh Khan fan from the ‘Fauji’ and ‘Circus’ (television shows) time. I have watched every interview of his and learnt how he came from outside and became the King of Bollywood.” [15]Outlook
- In August 2017, it was speculated that Nikhil got engaged to a girl, Tejaswini, who was an engineer from Hyderabad. According to some media sources, Nikhil’s parents chose the girl for him and the couple was rumoured to get married on 1 October 2017, but due to unfortunate reasons, the wedding was called off. However, Nikhil denied the rumours regarding his marriage. [16]Pinkvilla In an interview, Nikhil’s close relative revealed the details of his rumoured marriage and said,
It’s an arranged marriage as Nikhil’s parents saw the girl first and liked her. Afterwards, Nikhil met and liked her too. They are now planning an engagement in a few days’ time. Now that his career is going strong and he is in the safe zone, he finally agreed to his parents’ wish.” [17]Deccan Chronicle
In 2022, it was reported that after the immense success of Nikhil’s Telugu film Karthikeya 2 at the box office, he was approached by some Hindi filmmakers to make a debut in Bollywood. In an interview, he expressed his excitement about being approached by the directors of Hindi cinema and said,My first choice is that the film I work in should reach out to different people and they should be liked. But if I tell you honestly, I have got offers of films from two big production houses of Hindi cinema. Although I cannot reveal his name right now.” [18]ABP Live
