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 |
|||
| 2026 | Mrithyunjay | Jay’s friend | Telugu | [15] |
As director and writer
| Year | Title | Credited as | Language | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | ||||
| 1996 | Aayudha | Template:Yes | Template:Partial | Kannada | [8] |
| 1998 | Eshwar Alla | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | Telugu | Also producer; Nandi Award for a Film on National Integration |
| 2000 | Durgada Huli | Template:Yes | Template:Partial | Kannada | [16] |
| 2001 | Hyderabad | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | Telugu | Also actor[12] |
| 2002 | Janam | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | [17] | |
| 2013 | Varadhanayaka | Template:Yes | Template:No | Kannada | [18] |
| Veera | Template:Yes | Template:Partial | [19] | ||
Television
| Year | Title | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mansion 24 | Disney+ Hotstar |
References
- ↑ Tollywood: ఈ నటుడు ఆ స్టార్ హీరో తమ్ముడని తెలుసా? కుమారుడు కూడా టాలీవుడ్లో క్రేజీ హీరో. TV9 Telugu(2024-11-06). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Eswar Allah (1998). Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Director Ayyappa turns villain for Gharshane. The Times of India(2013-12-29). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ వీరమల్లు, కింగ్డమ్ సినిమాల్లో మెరిసిన ఈ నటుడు డైరెక్టర్ అని తెలుసా? కుమారుడు కూడా టాలీవుడ్ క్రేజీ హీరో. TV9 Telugu(2025-08-27). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Brothers Saikumar, Ravishankar and Ayyappa together in Bharaate. The Times of India(2019-01-08). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ 'Bringing Sai Kumar, Ravi Shankar, and Ayyappa P Sharma in one frame was an achievement', Features, C. E.. Cinema Express(2019-10-08). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Dubbing artist Sai Kumar's father P.J. Sarma no more. The Hindu(2014-12-14). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Aayudha (1996) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew. chiloka.com. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Eswar Allah (1998). Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ↑ ಸ್ಯಾಂಡಲ್ವುಡ್ ಸಿನಿ ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕರ ಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಮಿಡಿದ ಸಾಯಿಕುಮಾರ್ ಸಹೋದರರು. Vijay Karnataka. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Bimbisara: The Makers Introduced Ayyappa Sharma And Samyukta Menon From This Periodic Drama, Hymavati, Ravali. www.thehansindia.com(2022-08-02). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Telugu Cinema - Review - Hyderabad - Siva Charan, Ravali - Ayyappa Sharma - Raj - Fight Master Raju, Narsing. www.idlebrain.com. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Telugu version of 'Markasthra' titled 'Maranayudham' to release this week, Service, Express News. The New Indian Express(2024-04-25). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ 'Avatara Purusha 2' gets a release date, Service, Express News. The New Indian Express(2024-03-06). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Mrityunjay Movie Review: An Illogical and Implausible Crime Thriller, Prakash, B. V. S.(March 6, 2026). Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ Durgada Huli (2000) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew. chiloka.com. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Telugu Cinema - Review - Janam - Vani Viswanath, Sai Kumar, Thriller Manju, Dasari Arun Kumar. www.idlebrain.com. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Review: Varadanayaka is for action lovers, Srinivasa, Srikanth. Rediff. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ Malashree’s back in action. The Hindu(2013-03-30). Retrieved 2025-12-24.