# Kitty (actor)
**Kitty** is the screen name of **Raja Krishnamoorthy** (born 1952), an Indian actor, director, and screenwriter known primarily for [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) and television, who also built a parallel career as a human resources consultant and motivational speaker.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Real name / screen name | Raja Krishnamoorthy, known on screen as Kitty[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/raja-krishnamoorthy-is-the-real-name-of-actor-kitty/articleshow/64538471.cms) |
| Born | 1952, India[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895) |
| Acting debut | Nayakan (1987), directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895) |
| Film count | More than 50 films, mostly in supporting and villainous roles[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895) |
| Known for | Soora Samhaaram (1988), Thalapathi (1991), Baasha (1995), Bombay (1995), Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010), Saithan (2016), Aramm (2017)[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895) • [1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/raja-krishnamoorthy-is-the-real-name-of-actor-kitty/articleshow/64538471.cms) |
| Directing | Dasarathan (1993) and Krishna (1996)[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895) |
| Other career | HR consultant and motivational speaker active since 1985; actor, artist, and speaker on the philosophy of Dharma[3](https://ootylitfest.in/speakers/raja-krishnamoorthy/) |
## Early life and corporate career
Kitty was born and raised in Mumbai and completed a Master of Management Studies at the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Bombay[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895) • [4](https://www.cinemakaramkapi.com/2019/08/a-group-of-madrasi-residents-led-by-pc.html). He began his working life in industry, joining Mukund Iron & Steel as a management trainee and later serving as a Personnel Manager with ITC Welcome Group[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895). In the late 1970s he moved to Chennai to join the Chola Hotel as Personnel Manager[4](https://www.cinemakaramkapi.com/2019/08/a-group-of-madrasi-residents-led-by-pc.html).
His corporate work continued alongside and after his film career. Since 1985 he has consulted with senior management across business and non-business organizations, and he is described as a motivational speaker addressing students, corporate teams, social service organizations, and educational institutions, in both English and Tamil[3](https://ootylitfest.in/speakers/raja-krishnamoorthy/). He has also written and directed plays, co-authored the book *Rajni's Panch Tantra*, and blogs on "Living life unlimited"[5](https://www.rajaah.com/storage/Raja%20Krishnamoorthy%27s%20Profile%20with%20Client%20List%20-%20June%202021.pdf).
## Acting career
Kitty's breakthrough came when he was cast in the critically acclaimed *Nayakan* (1987), directed by [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam) and starring [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan)[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895). Over the following decades he appeared in more than 50 films, mostly in supporting and villainous roles[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895). His own profile notes that he has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi films and is regarded as a respected character artiste in Indian cinema[5](https://www.rajaah.com/storage/Raja%20Krishnamoorthy%27s%20Profile%20with%20Client%20List%20-%20June%202021.pdf).
**Notable films.** He is best remembered for performances in *Soora Samhaaram* (1988), *Thalapathi* (1991), *Baasha* (1995), *Arunachalam* (1997), *Baba* (2002), *Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa* (2010), *Saithan* (2016), and *[Aramm](https://www.edgepedia.org/aramm)* (2017)[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895). The Times of India lists *[Baashha](https://www.edgepedia.org/baashha)*, *Bombay*, *Soora Samhaaram*, and *Sathya* among the roles that made him popular[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/raja-krishnamoorthy-is-the-real-name-of-actor-kitty/articleshow/64538471.cms). In *Bombay* (1995) and *Baasha* (1995) he appeared in films by Mani Ratnam and opposite [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) respectively[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/raja-krishnamoorthy-is-the-real-name-of-actor-kitty/articleshow/64538471.cms) • [2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895).
**Later work.** His screen credits extend into the 2020s: he played Alok Varma in the Malayalam film *Jana Gana Mana* (2022), Joseph in *Vezham* (2022), and appeared in *Farhana* (2023), *Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha* (2024) as Chidambaram Krishnamoorthy, and *Blue Sunshine* (2024) as a psychiatrist[6](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1336610-kitty?language=en-US). Beyond films, he has worked in Tamil television serials including *Dharmayutham* (2012) and *Rajakumar* (2013)[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895).
## Directing and writing
Kitty directed two Tamil films, *Dasarathan* (1993) and *Krishna* (1996)[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895). Database listings credit him as writer on both films as well[7](https://www.flickchart.com/professional/kitty-0x0-d631), and his own profile states that beyond acting he has scripted and directed movies in Tamil cinema[5](https://www.rajaah.com/storage/Raja%20Krishnamoorthy%27s%20Profile%20with%20Client%20List%20-%20June%202021.pdf).
## Public engagement
Kitty has also been active in civic life. In January 2011, after seeing shops coming up illegally at a major intersection in Valmiki Nagar, Chennai, he filed eight petitions to authorities including the CMDA, the chief minister's office, and the police commissioner, and after four and a half months the construction was stopped[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/in-velachery-baasha-actor-in-fray-to-fight-graft/articleshow/51924958.cms). In 2016 he entered the fray in Velachery as a candidate fighting corruption[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/in-velachery-baasha-actor-in-fray-to-fight-graft/articleshow/51924958.cms). In interviews he has described a personal philosophy that moved away from goal-driven ambition by his mid-30s, framing his work around engagement rather than outcomes[9](https://www.dtnext.in/news/chennai/the-happiness-road-my-goals-do-not-decide-the-quality-of-my-peace-of-mind).
## References
1. [Raja Krishnamoorthy is the real name of actor Kitty, Times of India (June 17, 2018)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/raja-krishnamoorthy-is-the-real-name-of-actor-kitty/articleshow/64538471.cms)
2. [Raja Krishnamoorthy, BookMyShow person profile](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/raja-krishnamoorthy/1042895)
3. [Raja Krishnamoorthy, OotyLitFest speaker page](https://ootylitfest.in/speakers/raja-krishnamoorthy/)
4. [Made in Madras!, Cinema Karam Kapi (August 30, 2019)](https://www.cinemakaramkapi.com/2019/08/a-group-of-madrasi-residents-led-by-pc.html)
5. [Raja Krishnamoorthy's Profile with Client List, June 2021 (rajaah.com)](https://www.rajaah.com/storage/Raja%20Krishnamoorthy%27s%20Profile%20with%20Client%20List%20-%20June%202021.pdf)
6. [Kitty, The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1336610-kitty?language=en-US)
7. [Kitty, History & Filmography, Flickchart](https://www.flickchart.com/professional/kitty-0x0-d631)
8. [In Velachery, Baasha actor in fray to fight graft, Times of India (April 21, 2016)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/in-velachery-baasha-actor-in-fray-to-fight-graft/articleshow/51924958.cms)
9. [The Happiness Road: 'My goals do not decide the quality of my peace of mind', DT Next (April 9, 2017)](https://www.dtnext.in/news/chennai/the-happiness-road-my-goals-do-not-decide-the-quality-of-my-peace-of-mind)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames K to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license