Karthik Kumar is an Indian actor, comedian, theatre artist, and entrepreneur known for his contributions to Tamil cinema and live stand-up comedy. Over the last two decades, he has built a successful career across films, theatre, television, and digital entertainment.
Apart from acting, Karthik is one of the pioneers of English-language stand-up comedy in South India. Through his theatre company Evam and several successful comedy specials, he has become a well-known performer among Indian audiences worldwide.
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Karthik Kumar Biography & Wiki
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Karthik Kumar |
| Profession | Actor, Stand-up Comedian, Director, Entrepreneur |
| Date of Birth | 21 November 1977 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Education | Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering |
| College | Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering |
| Marital Status | Married |
| First Wife | Suchitra (2005–2017) |
| Current Wife | Amrutha Srinivasan (Married 2021) |
| Current City | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Known For | Alaipayuthey, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Stand-up Comedy, Heart Beat |
Karthik Kumar Age, Date Of Birth
Karthik Kumar Age: 48 (As 2026)
Karthik Kumar Date of Birth: 21 November 1977
Karthik Kumar Early Life & Education
Karthik Kumar was born on 21 November 1977 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He completed his schooling in Chennai before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering.
Instead of pursuing a traditional engineering career, Karthik followed his passion for performing arts. Along with his friend Sunil Vishnu, he founded Evam, which later became one of India’s leading theatre and stand-up comedy organizations.
Karthik Kumar Career Journey
Karthik Kumar entered Tamil cinema with Mani Ratnam’s Alaipayuthey (2000). Although he started with supporting roles, he soon became a familiar face in Tamil films through movies like Kanda Naal Mudhal, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Poi Solla Porom, Deiva Thirumagal, and Veppam.
In 2016, he announced a break from acting after being repeatedly offered similar character roles. During this period, he focused on stand-up comedy and theatre, becoming one of the most successful comedians in South India.
His comedy specials #PokeMe, Second Decoction, and Blood Chutney received positive responses from audiences. Over the years, he has performed more than 1,000 live comedy shows across India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Karthik returned to films with Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022) and later appeared in Annapoorani (2023). In 2025, he joined the popular Tamil medical web series Heart Beat, portraying Dr. Vijay, introducing him to a new generation of OTT viewers.
Karthik Kumar Movies List
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Alaipayuthey | Shyam |
| 2004 | Vaanam Vasappadum | Karthik |
| 2005 | Kanda Naal Mudhal | Aravind |
| 2008 | Yaaradi Nee Mohini | Cheenu |
| 2008 | Poi Solla Porom | Uppilinathan |
| 2009 | Ninaithale Inikkum | Vasu |
| 2010 | Kola Kolaya Mundhirika | Krish |
| 2011 | Deiva Thirumagal | Karthik |
| 2011 | Veppam | Vishnu |
| 2015 | Pasanga 2 | Akhil |
| 2015 | Vellaiya Irukiravan Poi Solla Maatan | Dr. Raghu |
| 2017 | Ticket | Athif Hussain |
| 2018 | Mannar Vagaiyara | Arivazhagan |
| 2022 | Rocketry: The Nambi Effect | P. M. Nayar |
| 2023 | Annapoorani | Chef Aswin |
| 2026 | Carmeni Selvam | Insurance Advisor |
Karthik Kumar Television Shows List
| Year | Title | Role | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Dharmayutham | Arjun | Vijay TV |
Karthik Kumar Web Series List
| Year | Title | Role | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–Present | Heart Beat | Dr. Vijay | JioHotstar |
Karthik Kumar Stand-up Comedy Specials List
| Special | Platform |
|---|---|
| #PokeMe | YouTube |
| Second Decoction | Live Shows |
| Blood Chutney | Amazon Prime Video |
Karthik Kumar Directorial Work List
| Year | Project | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Super Senior Heroes | Television Film (Sun TV) |
Karthik Kumar Latest Update
As of 2026, Karthik Kumar continues to balance acting and stand-up comedy. He appears as Dr. Vijay in the successful Tamil medical web series Heart Beat, which has expanded his digital audience. He also features in the Tamil film Carmeni Selvam (2026) while continuing to perform live comedy shows through Evam Standup Tamasha across India and overseas.
Interesting Facts About Karthik Kumar
- Holds a degree in Chemical Engineering.
- Co-founded the theatre company Evam.
- One of South India’s pioneering English stand-up comedians.
- Has performed over 1,000 live comedy shows worldwide.
- Debuted in Mani Ratnam’s Alaipayuthey.
- Directed the television film Super Senior Heroes.
- Released multiple successful comedy specials.
- Returned to acting after a six-year break.
- Appears as Dr. Vijay in Heart Beat.
- Active in films, theatre, OTT, and live entertainment.v
FAQs About Karthik Kumar
Karthik Kumar is an Indian actor, stand-up comedian, theatre entrepreneur, and director known for Tamil films and comedy specials.
Karthik Kumar is 48 years old as of 2026.
Karthik Kumar is married to actress Amrutha Srinivasan. He was previously married to singer and radio jockey Suchitra.
He is famous for Alaipayuthey, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, stand-up comedy, and Heart Beat.
Karthik Kumar plays Dr. Vijay in the Tamil medical web series Heart Beat on JioHotstar.
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