Shankar Nag

Shankar Nagarakatte was an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, and producer known for his work in Kannada-language films and television. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, Nag is often referred to as Karate King. He directed the teleserial Malgudi Days, based on novelist R. K. Narayan's short stories and acted in some episodes as well. He won two National Film Awards, four Karnataka State Film Awards and two Filmfare Award South.

Shankar Nagarkatte was born on 9 November 1954 in Honnavar , then a part of North Canara (now Uttara Kannada district), in Bombay State (now in Karnataka ). His parents were Anandi and Sadanand Nagarkatte. Born into a Konkani speaking Brahmin family, his family settled in Shirali, a village near Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka State. He had an elder sister named Shyamala, and an elder brother, actor Anant Nag . After completing formal education, Nag moved to Bombay .

There, he was attracted to Marathi theatre and immersed himself in theatrical activities. Incidentally, he met his future wife, Arundhathi during a drama rehearsal. Nag then shifted base to Bangalore where his elder brother Anant Nag had already established himself as a popular actor. In 1978 Nag made his debut with Girish Karnad 's epic film Ondanondu Kaladalli , where he played a mercenary who earns a position in a rival army to get even with his brother, whom he considers his enemy.