Pruthvi Ambaar
Indian actor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pruthvi Ambaar (born 17 August 1988) is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Kannada and Tulu cinema, with notable appearances in Hindi, Marathi, and Tamil films. He began his career as a radio jockey in Mangaluru under the name RJ Nagaraj, before transitioning to acting through short films and television serials.[2]
Ambaar made his film debut in the Tulu film Barke (2014) and gained early recognition with Pilibail Yamunakka (2016), directed by K Sooraj Shetty, which became a hit in the Tulu film industry. His breakthrough came with the Kannada romantic drama Dia (2020), directed by K S Ashoka, where his portrayal of Adi earned widespread critical acclaim. The film’s success established him as one of the most promising actors in South Indian cinema. For Dia, Ambaar won the SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut – Kannada and the Santhosham Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, along with nominations from critics’ associations.
Over the years, Ambaar has starred in films such as Sugarless (2022), Dooradarshana (2023), and Kothalavadi (2025).
Early life and education
Pruthvi Ambaar was born on 17 August 1988 in Udupi, Karnataka, India, into a Tulu-speaking family. He completed his schooling in Udupi and pursued higher education in Mangaluru, where he developed an interest in performing arts.
Before entering films, Ambaar worked as a radio jockey and appeared in short films and television serials, which helped him gain visibility and refine his acting skills. His early exposure to media and stage performances laid the foundation for his film career.
Career
2014-2020: Early Work and Tulu cinema
Ambaar made his acting debut in the Tulu film Barke (2014). Though the film had a modest release, it marked his entry into cinema after working as a radio jockey and appearing in short films. He rose to prominence with Pilibail Yamunakka, directed by K Sooraj Shetty, co-starring Sonal Monteiro. The film was a major hit in the Tulu belt, earning him the Red FM Tulu Film Award for Best Actor. He continued to appear in regional hits like Appe Teacher and Rambarooti, earning praise for his comic timing and relatable performances.
2020-Present: Breakthrough in Kannada cinema and career expansion
He made his Kannada film debut with Rajaru (2017), followed by DK Bose (2019), directed by Anil Kumar.
Ambaar’s career-defining moment came with Dia (2020), directed by K S Ashoka, opposite Kushee Ravi and Dheekshith Shetty. He portrayed Adi, a selfless lover.[3] The film became a hit and earned Ambaar the SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut – Kannada. Ambaar reprised his role in the Hindi remake Dear Dia (2022), marking his Bollywood debut and its Marathi adaptation Sari (2023).
He also appeared in Kannada films like Sugarless (2022), directed by Shashidhar KM, opposite Priyanka Thimmesh. His other noteworthy role came through Bairagee alongside Shivarajkumar. Ambaar starred in Dooradarshana (2023), directed by Arvind Kuplikar, opposite Meghana Gaonkar, a nostalgic comedy set in the 1980s. He also featured in the anthology Pentagon (segment Karma).
He appeared in Juni, directed by Vaibhav, playing Partha in a romantic drama, and in Matsyagandha. His Tamil debut came with Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan. His film Happily Married had a direct OTT release.
In 2025, Ambaar continued his successful run with Kothalavadi, an action drama directed by Lohith,[4] and Bhuvanam Gaganam. He also signed Dear Uma (Telugu) and Life Is Beautiful, expanding his multilingual footprint.
Personal life
Pruthvi married Parul Shukla on 3 November 2019 in a traditional ceremony held in Uppala, Kasaragod district.[5] The couple first met over a decade earlier on the set of the dance reality show Great Karnataka Dance League in Bengaluru, where they were contestants on different teams. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Charvie, on 12 March 2022.
Filmography
Films
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Barke | Tulu | Debut film; credited as Nagaraj Ambar | [6] | |
| The Flow | Kannada | Short films; Credited as Nagraj Ambaar | |||
| Yenchi Saav Maare | |||||
| 2016 | Pilibail Yamunakka | Gautham | Tulu | [7] | |
| Karvva | Rahul | Kannada | Uncredited role | [8] | |
| 2017 | Rajaru | [9] | |||
| 2018 | Ammer Polisa | Himself | Tulu | Guest appearance | [10] |
| Pammanne The Great | [11] | ||||
| 2019 | DK Bose | Bharath | Kannada | [12] | |
| Golmaal | Tulu | [13] | |||
| Aati Donji Dina | [14][15] | ||||
| English | [16] | ||||
| 2020 | Dia | Adi | Kannada | [17] | |
| Kudkana Madme | Tulu | [18] | |||
| Enna | [19] | ||||
| 2 Ekre | [20] | ||||
| 2022 | Dear Dia | Adi | Hindi | Hindi film debut | [21] |
| Bairagee | Vaatapi | Kannada | |||
| Sugarless | Venkatesh | [22] | |||
| VIP'S Last Bench | Tulu | [23] | |||
| 2023 | Dooradarshana | Manu | Kannada | [24][25] | |
| Pentagon | Anthology film; segment Karma | [26] | |||
| Sari | Adi | Marathi | [27] | ||
| 2024 | Juni | Partha | Kannada | ||
| For Regn | Akshay | [28] | |||
| Matsyagandha | Param | ||||
| Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan | Burma | Tamil | [29] | ||
| 2025 | Bhuvanam Gaganam | Ram | Kannada | ||
| Dear Uma | Dev | Telugu | [30] | ||
| Kothalavadi | Mohana | Kannada | |||
| 2026 | Chowkidar | Siddharth | [31] | ||
| Life Is Beautiful † | TBA | Post-production | [32] | ||
| America America 2 † | TBA | Post-production | |||
Television
| Year | Name | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Radha Kalyana | Sheelam | Zee Kannada | |
| 2014 | Sagara Sangama | Sanju | ||
| 2015 | Love Lavike | Manu | ||
| 2020 | Jothe Jotheyali | Neel | Special appearance | |
| 2023 | Farzi | Sunny | Amazon Prime Video | Dubbed for Kannada version; webseries |
Awards and nominations
| Film | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilibail Yamunakka | RED FM Tulu Film Awards | Best Actor | Won | [33] |
| Dia | Chandanavana Film Critics Academy | Best Actor in a Leading Role-Male | Nominated | [34] |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Male Debut – Kannada | Won | ||
| Santosham Film Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Won | ||