Sundeep Kishan (born 7 May 1987) is an Indian actor and producer who primarily works in Telugu and Tamil films. Kishan made his acting debut with Prasthanam (2010) and had her career breakthrough with the 2013 films Gundello Godari and Venkatadri Express. Following a career downturn, he achieved critical and commercial success with Maanagaram (2017), Maayavan (2017), A1 Express (2021), Gully Rowdy (2021), Captain Miller (2024) and Raayan (2024). The last of these is his highest grossing film.

Early life

Sundeep Kishan was born in a Telugu family in Madras (present-day Chennai). He is the nephew to the cinematographers Chota K. Naidu and Shyam K. Naidu. He moved to Hyderabad in 2008 to pursue a career in films.

Career

Kishan worked as assistant director to Gautham Vasudev Menon for a year, before starring in Sneha Geetham (2010). Kishan made his acting debut with Prasthanam in the same year. Director Deva Katta referred Kishan to his friends Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., which led to Kishan's casting in his first Hindi venture, Shor in the City (2011). Taran Adarsh felt he was "first-rate" and displayed vulnerability with natural ease. Kishan then appeared in Yaaruda Mahesh (2013). The actor says that he has resolved not to venture into such genres any more despite it being the order of the day in Tamil cinema and even though he has been approached for a sequel to the film.

Kishan's major breakthrough came with his another 2013 release Venkatadri Express opposite Rakul Preet Singh. The film was a commercial success. Jeevi from Idlebrain.com noted, "Sundeep Kishan excels as a solo commercial hero with right amount of performance and also dances well in the introduction scene." He then appeared in Gundello Godari, which earned him nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu. It was a box office success too.

Following several poorly received films, Kishan's career marked a turning point in 2017. He first appeared in Maanagaram opposite Regina Cassandra, as the rugged young man. The film was a box office success. Anupama Subramanian of Deccan Chronicle noted, "Sundeep with his new makeover of a rugged person is impressive. He is full of energy and sparkles in action sequences." Then in Maayavan, he played a crime inspector opposite Lavanya Tripathi. The film emerged a moderate success. Manoj Kumar R was appreciative of him for playing his character well.

Kishan turned into producer too with Ninu Veedani Needanu Nene (2019), A1 Express (2021) which fared decently at the box office. He expanded to web with the series The Family Man (2019) and his performance in the spy thriller was widely appreciated. Later, he starred in the Telugu action thriller Michael (2023).

Kishan had three film releases in 2024. He first appeared alongside Dhanush as a tribal in Captain Miller. The film received positive response and was a commercial success. In Ooru Peru Bhairavakona, he appeared as a stunt body double caught in a mysterious situation. Sangeetha Devi Dundoo stated that he delivers a "convincing performance". Kishan then played an alcoholic who turns against his brother (played by Dhanush) in Raayan. Janani K noted, "Sundeep Kishan gets a meatier role and lives upto his character." A box office success, it emerged as the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year.

In 2025, Kishan first appeared in Mazaka, as Rao Ramesh’s son. BH Harsh of Cinema Express stated, "Sundeep Kishan struggles to match Ramesh's unhinged energy but shares an endearing chemistry with the actor, and the two salvage many mediocre scenes with their timing." It was a box office failure.

Other work

Kishan owns a restaurant chain in Hyderabad named Vivaha Bhojanambhu. He started a salon Express Unisex in Vijayawada.

Filmography

Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

Films

YearTitleRoleLanguageNotesRef.
2010PrasthanamChinnaTelugu
Sneha GeethamArjun
2011Shor in the CitySawan MurthyHindi
It's My Love StoryHimselfTeluguSpecial appearance in the song "Gallate"
2012Routine Love StorySanju
2013Gundello GodariSuri
Yaaruda MaheshShivaTamil
Venkatadri ExpressSundeepTelugu
D for DopidiRaju
2014Ra Ra KrishnayyaKrishnayya "Kittu"
JoruSundeep
2015BeeruvaSanju
TigerTiger
2016RunSanjay
Okka Ammayi ThappaKrishna Vachan
2017MaanagaramJeevaTamil
ShamanthakamaniKotipalli SivaTelugu
NakshatramRama Rao
C/O SuryaSuryaBilingual film
Nenjil ThunivirundhalKumarTamil
MaayavanKumaran
2018Manasuku NachindiSurajTelugu
Next Enti?Sanju
2019Ninu Veedani Needanu NeneRishi / ArjunAlso producer
Tenali Ramakrishna BA. BLAdv. Tenali Ramakrishna
2021A1 ExpressSundeep "Sanju" NaiduAlso producer
Vivaha BhojanambuNellore PrabhaExtended cameo; also producer
Kasada TabaraKandaTamilStreaming release
Gully RowdyVasuTelugu
2023MichaelMichaelPartially reshot in Tamil
2024Captain MillerCaptain RafiqTamil
Ooru Peru BhairavakonaBasavalingam "Basava"Telugu
RaayanMuthuvelraayan "Muthu"Tamil
2025MazakaKrishna RamanaTelugu
TBASigmaTBATamilCompleted
TBAVibeTBATeluguFilming
TBAMaayaoneTBATeluguPre-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNetworkNotesRef.
201360th Filmfare Awards SouthHimself (host)MAA TV
201865th Filmfare Awards SouthStar MaaTelevision special
2019–2025The Family ManMajor VikramAmazon Prime VideoHindi series
20219th South Indian International Movie AwardsHimself (host)Gemini TVTelevision special
202369th Filmfare Awards SouthStar Maa
2026Super SubbuTBANetflixCompleted

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef.
2014Filmfare Awards SouthBest Supporting Actor – TeluguGundello GodariNominated

Notes

External links