Viraat

Biography:

Indian actor Karthik S. Kumar, better known by his stage name Viraat, was born on March 11, 1993, and he mainly performs in Kannada television and film.  He gained notoriety as the main character Abhay in the 2015 television series Jothe Jotheyali.  Kiss (2019) was his film debut, garnering him praise and increased his profile. He continued acting, appearing in movies including Royal (2025) and Addhuri Love.

After finishing his teleseries, Viraat approached a few filmmakers in an attempt to get a role in a movie. He made multiple attempts to see A. P. Arjun after being impressed by his debut film, Addhuri, but his mother caught sight of him and suggested his name for the audition for his next movie. Out of 200 applicants, Viraat was ultimately chosen to play the lead in Kiss (2019). In addition to directing the movie, Arjun also produced it under his production company, A. P. Arjun Films. Sree Leela, who also made her debut, was coupled with Viraat. With its 100-day run at the box office, the movie proved an economic success while receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Critics gave Viraat positive reviews for his acting and dancing abilities. He received a SIIMA Award nomination in the Best Debut Actor category. Viraat and Arjun reunited after Kiss’s popularity and revealed their next project, Addhuri Lover, in 2021. However, because of the lengthy production delay, the movie has not yet been released. Arjun and Viraat have both moved on to more recent projects, therefore the project is currently in development hell.

After a six-year break, Viraat’s next project, Royal, was released in 2025, marking the director Dinakar Thoogudeepa’s comeback.  Jayanna Combines produced the movie, and Viraat was coupled with Sanjana Anand.  Both reviewers and viewers gave the movie a mediocre reception when it was first released.