Besant Ravi (R. Ravikumar) is a veteran Indian stuntman, actor, and martial artist who primarily works in Tamil cinema. Known for his rugged looks and negative roles, he has also appeared in Hindi and multilingual films.
He started his career as a stuntman and gradually transitioned into acting, becoming a recognizable face in Tamil action films. With his expertise in mixed martial arts and boxing, Ravi brought authenticity to his action sequences.
His breakthrough came with Lucky Man (1995), followed by the blockbuster Mudhalvan (1999) directed by Shankar. Since then, he has acted in over 100 films, mainly in villainous and supporting roles.
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Gin Ke Dus Movie Collection, Budget and Box Office Collection, Review, Cast & Crew, Release Date, Trailer
Besant Ravi Biography & Wiki
Full Name | R. Ravikumar |
Stage Name | Besant Ravi |
Profession | Actor, Stuntman, Martial Artist |
Date of Birth | 1 June 1970 |
Age (as of 2025) | 55 Years |
Birthplace | Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Height | 5’9’’ (approx.) |
Weight | 78 kg (approx.) |
Years Active | 1997 – Present |
Known For | Villain & Action Roles |
Spouse | R. Prabhavathi |
Children | R. P. Swethasiri (Daughter), R. P. Pranav (Son) |
Training | Mixed Martial Arts & Boxing |
Breakthrough Film | Lucky Man (1995) |
Besant Ravi Age, Date Of Birth
Besant Ravi Age: 55 ( As 2025)
Besant Ravi Date of Birth: 01 June 1970

Besant Ravi Career & Achievements
Besant Ravi Early Life
- Born and raised in Besant Nagar, Chennai, hence the stage name Besant Ravi.
- Worked as a two-wheeler repairman before entering cinema.
- Grew up near film sets, which sparked his interest in acting and stunts.
- Trained under stunt choreographer Pandian, mastering martial arts and boxing.
Besant Ravi Career Journey
- Started as a stuntman, performing risky fight sequences.
- First recognition came with Lucky Man (1995).
- Gained wider fame with Mudhalvan (1999), directed by Shankar.
- Eventually shifted to acting full-time, appearing in villain and negative supporting roles in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi films.
Besant Ravi Personal Life
- Married to R. Prabhavathi.
- Blessed with two children – daughter R. P. Swethasiri and son R. P. Pranav.
- Despite his villainous screen image, Ravi is known for his soft-spoken and humble nature off-screen.
Quick Facts about Besant Ravi
- Stage name “Besant” comes from Besant Nagar, his birthplace.
- First recognition as a stuntman in Lucky Man (1995).
- Expert in boxing and martial arts.
- Popular for negative supporting roles in Mudhalvan, Pokkiri, and Bairava.
- Family man with a wife and two kids.
Besant Ravi Movies List
- Lucky Man (1995)
- Mudhalvan (1999)
- What’s Up (2000)
- Khushi (2000)
- Appu (2000)
- Deena (2001)
- Dost (2001)
- Citizen (2001)
- Anandam (2001)
- Majnu (2001)
- Seven Mountains (2002)
- Charlie Chaplin (2002)
- Kingdom (2002)
- Southern Capital (2002)
- Raja (2002)
- Villain (2002)
- Manasellam (2003)
- Three Roses (2003)
- Sokkathangam (2003)
- Saami (2003)
- Sivamani (2003)
- Anjaneya (2003)
- Khuthu (2004)
- Arul (2004)
- Jor (2004)
- Sullan (2004)
- Weapon (2005)
- Mayavi (2005)
- The Stranger (2005)
- Dominance (2005)
- Chinnana (2005)
- Wrestling (2006)
- Saravana (2006)
- Thalaimagan (2006)
- Capital (2006)
- Suryan (2006)
- Pokkiri (2007)
- Diwali (2007)
- Ma Madurai (2007)
- Bullet (2008)
- Lord (2008)
- Kabaddi Kabaddi (2008)
- Yogi (2009)
- Perumal (2009)
- Fifth Brigade (2009)
- Lion (2010)
- Iron Fortress Rogue Lion (2010)
- Bonnar Shankar (2011)
- Sonpapdi (2013)
- Tenali Raman (2014)
- Khaki Shirt (2015)
- Gethu (2016)
- Bairava (2017)
- Golisoda 2 (2018)
- Vai Raja Vai (2015)
- Sq Ft 3500 (2017)
- Adventure (2016)
Besant Ravi Tv Show List
- Top Cooku Dupe Cooku Season 2 – Contestant (2025–Present)
FAQs About Besant Ravi
Besant Ravi (R. Ravikumar) is an Indian actor and stuntman, best known for playing villain roles in Tamil films like Mudhalvan and Pokkiri.
Born on 1 June 1970, Besant Ravi is 55 years old (as of 2025).
He grew up in Besant Nagar, Chennai, which inspired his stage name Besant Ravi.
His breakthrough came with Lucky Man (1995), followed by a major role in Mudhalvan (1999).
Yes, he is trained in mixed martial arts and boxing, which he uses in his stunt work and action films.
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