Ayyappa P. Sharma

Ayyappa P. Sharma
Born
Pudipeddi Ayyappa Sharma

(1969-01-22) 22 January 1969
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • voice actor
Years active1996–present
SpouseKavitha
Children2
FatherP. J. Sarma
Relatives

Pudipeddi Ayyappa Sharma (born 22 January 1969), known professionally as Ayyappa P. Sharma, is an Indian actor, director and voice actor who primarily works in Telugu and Kannada films.[1] Sharma made directorial debut with the Kannada film Aayudha (1996) and later gained critical acclaim for the Telugu film Eshwar Alla (1998) which won him a Nandi Award.[2]

He expanded to lead acting with Gharshane (2014) and has since appeared in supporting roles in KGF: Chapter 1 (2018), Akhanda (2021), Bimbisara (2022), Shivam Bhaje (2024) and Kingdom (2025).[3][4]

Early life

Ayyappa P. Sharma was born into a family with a film background in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. He is the younger son of renowned Telugu actors P. J. Sarma and Krishna Jyothi.[5] He has two elder brothers, P. Sai Kumar and P. Ravi Shankar, both of whom are prominent actors.[6] He also has two sisters – Priya and Kamala.[7]

Career

Sharma began his career as a director with the Kannada film Aayudha (1996).[8] Subsequently, his debut Telugu film Eshwar Alla (1998) gained critical acclaim and won the Nandi Award for a Film on National Integration.[9] He also served as the producer of the film. Kannada film Varadhanayaka (2013) was his major successful film at the box-office received the award.[10] He became a full-fledged actor, playing the lead role in the Kannada film Gharshane (2014).[3] Since then, he has been active as an actor and dubbing artist. He received critical acclaim for his role as Vanaram in the Kannada film KGF: Chapter 1 (2018). His performance as Ketu in the Telugu film Bimbisara (2022) was also appreciated.[11]

Filmography

As an actor

Year Title Role Language Notes
2001 Hyderabad Das Telugu Also director and writer[12]
2003 Hrudayavantha Kannada
Partha Krishna
2004 Bhagawan
2005 Slokam Telugu
2014 Gharshane ACP Ganesh Kannada Debut in lead role
Masterpiece Danny
2016 Lacchimdeviki O Lekkundi Telugu
Manamantha Dass
2017 Katamarayudu Juttu Ranga
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion Royal Priest
Tiger Galli Kannada
2018 Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava Telugu
KGF: Chapter 1 Vanaram Kannada
2019 Bharaate Veerappa Nayaka
Tenali Ramakrishna BA. BL Simhadri Naidu Telugu
2021 Annaatthe Manoj's henchman Tamil
Akhanda Prachanda Telugu
2022 Bheemla Nayak Prisoner Cameo appearance in the song "Bheemla Nayak"
KGF: Chapter 2 Vanaram Kannada
Avatara Purusha Brahma Jois
Bhala Thandanana Chakri Telugu
Bimbisara Kethu
Thaggedele
2023 Mr. Bachelor Kannada
Michael Swamy Telugu
Gadayuddha Kannada
Marakastra [13]
Chandramukhi 2 Rudraiyya Tamil
2024 Avatara Purusha 2 Brahma Jois Kannada [14]
Shivam Bhaje Telugu
Kanguva Vijuran Tamil
2025 Hari Hara Veera Mallu Abdullah Telugu
Kingdom Bhairagi
Coolie Ayyappan Tamil
Baahubali: The Epic Royal Priest Telugu Combined recut version of The Beginning and The Conclusion
Akhanda 2: Thaandavam Prachanda
Vrusshabha Telugu
Malayalam

As director and writer

Year Title Credited as Language Notes
Director Writer
1996 Aayudha Yes Story Kannada [8]
1998 Eshwar Alla Yes Yes Telugu Also producer; Nandi Award for a Film on National Integration
2000 Durgada Huli Yes Screenplay Kannada [15]
2001 Hyderabad Yes Yes Telugu Also actor[12]
2002 Janam Yes Yes [16]
2013 Varadhanayaka Yes No Kannada [17]
Veera Yes Screenplay [18]

Television

Year Title Network
2023 Mansion 24 Disney+ Hotstar

References

  1. ^ "Tollywood: ఈ నటుడు ఆ స్టార్ హీరో తమ్ముడని తెలుసా? కుమారుడు కూడా టాలీవుడ్‌లో క్రేజీ హీరో". TV9 Telugu (in Telugu). 6 November 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Eswar Allah (1998)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Director Ayyappa turns villain for Gharshane". The Times of India. 29 December 2013. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  4. ^ "వీరమల్లు, కింగ్‌డమ్ సినిమాల్లో మెరిసిన ఈ నటుడు డైరెక్టర్ అని తెలుసా? కుమారుడు కూడా టాలీవుడ్‌ క్రేజీ హీరో". TV9 Telugu (in Telugu). 27 August 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Brothers Saikumar, Ravishankar and Ayyappa together in Bharaate". The Times of India. 8 January 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  6. ^ Features, C. E. (8 October 2019). "'Bringing Sai Kumar, Ravi Shankar, and Ayyappa P Sharma in one frame was an achievement'". Cinema Express. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Dubbing artist Sai Kumar's father P.J. Sarma no more". The Hindu. 14 December 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Aayudha (1996) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew". chiloka.com. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Eswar Allah (1998)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  10. ^ "ಸ್ಯಾಂಡಲ್‌ವುಡ್‌ ಸಿನಿ ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕರ ಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಮಿಡಿದ ಸಾಯಿಕುಮಾರ್ ಸಹೋದರರು". Vijay Karnataka (in Kannada). Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  11. ^ Hymavati, Ravali (2 August 2022). "Bimbisara: The Makers Introduced Ayyappa Sharma And Samyukta Menon From This Periodic Drama". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Telugu Cinema - Review - Hyderabad - Siva Charan, Ravali - Ayyappa Sharma - Raj - Fight Master Raju, Narsing". www.idlebrain.com. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  13. ^ Service, Express News (25 April 2024). "Telugu version of 'Markasthra' titled 'Maranayudham' to release this week". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  14. ^ Service, Express News (6 March 2024). "'Avatara Purusha 2' gets a release date". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Durgada Huli (2000) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew". chiloka.com. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Telugu Cinema - Review - Janam - Vani Viswanath, Sai Kumar, Thriller Manju, Dasari Arun Kumar". www.idlebrain.com. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  17. ^ Srinivasa, Srikanth. "Review: Varadanayaka is for action lovers". Rediff. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  18. ^ "Malashree's back in action". The Hindu. 30 March 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 December 2025.