# P. Sai Kumar
**P. Sai Kumar** (సాయి కుమార్; born 1960), full name Pudipeddi Sai Kumar, is an Indian actor, dubbing artist, and television presenter who works primarily in Telugu and [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema), with appearances in Tamil and Malayalam films.[1](https://tv.apple.com/in/person/saikumar/umc.cpc.593gmr1o5g3w2lp4bhmzgsbgz) • [2](https://www.ottcinematv.com/cast/sai-kumar-c6361) He is known in Telugu-speaking audiences as the "Dialogue King" (డైలాగ్ కింగ్), a nickname earned through his voice work and dialogue delivery.[3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html) His awards include three [Filmfare Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards), two [Nandi Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/nandi-awards), and two South Indian International Movie Awards, and his performance in *Prasthanam* (2010) was included in Film Companion's "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade".[1](https://tv.apple.com/in/person/saikumar/umc.cpc.593gmr1o5g3w2lp4bhmzgsbgz)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1960; most sources give Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sai-Kumar/awards) |
| Professions | Actor, dubbing artist, television presenter[1](https://tv.apple.com/in/person/saikumar/umc.cpc.593gmr1o5g3w2lp4bhmzgsbgz) |
| Breakthrough | Lead role in the Kannada action film *Police Story* (1996), followed by a run of police roles including *Agni IPS* and *A.K. 47*[2](https://www.ottcinematv.com/cast/sai-kumar-c6361) • [3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html) |
| Awards | Filmfare Best Supporting Actor for *Samanyudu* (2007, Telugu), *Prasthanam* (2011, Telugu), and *RangiTaranga* (2016, Kannada); two Nandi Awards; two SIIMA Awards[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sai-Kumar/awards) • [1](https://tv.apple.com/in/person/saikumar/umc.cpc.593gmr1o5g3w2lp4bhmzgsbgz) |
| Dubbing scale | By his own 2013 account, he had dubbed for more than 1,000 films, including for Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah, and Sylvester Stallone in the Telugu version of *First Blood*[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2013/Feb/21/i-am-underrated-sai-kumar-452470.html) |
| Family | Son of actor and dubbing artist P.J. Sharma; brothers Ravi Shankar and Ayyappa P. Sharma are also actors and dubbing artists; his son Aadi is a Telugu film hero[6](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/happy-birthday-senior-actor-and-dubbing-artist-sai-kumar-508216.html) |
| Television | Host of the game shows *Deal or No Deal* and *WOW*[2](https://www.ottcinematv.com/cast/sai-kumar-c6361) |
## Early life and family
Sai Kumar was born in 1960. Most film-industry databases give his birthplace as [Vizianagaram](https://www.edgepedia.org/vizianagaram), Andhra Pradesh,[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sai-Kumar/awards) • [7](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/saikumar-pudipeddi/1979/filmography) though a TV9 Telugu profile states he was born in Chennai and raised there.[6](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/happy-birthday-senior-actor-and-dubbing-artist-sai-kumar-508216.html) His father, P.J. Sharma (Pudipeddi Jogeswara Sharma), was a character actor in [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema) who also dubbed for Tamil stars such as M.G.R. and [Sivaji Ganesan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivaji-ganesan) in Telugu.[3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html) • [8](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/p-j-sarma-veteran-actor-dubbing-legend-sai-kumars-father-unknown-facts-1907464.html) His mother is Krishna Jyoti.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2013/Feb/21/i-am-underrated-sai-kumar-452470.html)
Cinema is a family trade for the Pudipeddis. His younger brothers [Ravi Shankar](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravi-shankar) and [Ayyappa P. Sharma](https://www.edgepedia.org/ayyappa-p-sharma) work as actors and dubbing artists, with Ravi Shankar also known for villain roles.[3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html) Sai Kumar's son Aadi (Aditya Pudipeddi) debuted as a Telugu hero in *Premakavali* (2011),[9](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/telugu/movie-actor/aadi) and his daughter Jyothirmai has also spoken publicly about the industry.[10](https://www.bigtvlive.com/entertainment/jyothirmai-in-the-industry-there-are-only-those-who-say-but-no-one-who-helps-saikumars-daughter.html)
## Child artist and dubbing career
Sai Kumar entered films as a child artist, appearing in *Devudu Chesina Pelli* (1975) and in a memorable role in Bapu's *Sneham* (1977).[3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html) He also appeared as the child in the "Ekulam Nee Danta" song in [K. Viswanath](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-viswanath)'s *Saptapadi*.[6](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/happy-birthday-senior-actor-and-dubbing-artist-sai-kumar-508216.html) Alongside acting, he began dubbing at a young age, providing the Telugu voice for actors including Suman and Rajasekhar through the 1980s and early 1990s.[2](https://www.ottcinematv.com/cast/sai-kumar-c6361)
The dubbing work shaped his reputation. In a 2013 interview he said, "My voice made me a hero," and described dubbing as more than lip syncing: "You are the voice of the actor. You need to help the audience connect to the movie."[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2013/Feb/21/i-am-underrated-sai-kumar-452470.html) He has also been credited with dubbing for [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) in Telugu versions of Tamil films.[3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html) Once his own acting career kept him busy, he took on less dubbing work, but Telugu audiences still associate his name with the "Dialogue King" label.[3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html)
## Lead roles in Kannada cinema
After acting in roughly 15 Kannada films as hero, second hero, and character artist, Sai Kumar got the lead in the thriller *[Police Story](https://www.edgepedia.org/police-story-1996-film)* (1996), directed by Thriller Manju.[11](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/mobile/featured%20articles/dialogue-king-saikumar-birthday-on-27th-july-tl-202826c0.html) The film was a substantial success, and he followed it with a series of police roles in Kannada cinema that made him a star hero there.[3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html) Films from this phase include *Agni IPS* and *A.K. 47*.[2](https://www.ottcinematv.com/cast/sai-kumar-c6361) He also produced the Telugu film *Eeshwar Allah*, directed by his younger brother Ayyappa P. Sharma.[3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html)
## Character and antagonist roles
From the mid-2000s, Sai Kumar moved into character and antagonist parts in Telugu and Kannada films, including *Samanyudu* (2006), *Prasthanam* (2010), and *[RangiTaranga](https://www.edgepedia.org/rangitaranga)* (2015).[2](https://www.ottcinematv.com/cast/sai-kumar-c6361) His role as Loki Naidu in Deva Katta's *Prasthanam* brought him both a Nandi (State) Award and a Filmfare Award, and Film Companion later placed the performance in its "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" list.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2013/Feb/21/i-am-underrated-sai-kumar-452470.html) • [1](https://tv.apple.com/in/person/saikumar/umc.cpc.593gmr1o5g3w2lp4bhmzgsbgz) The Times of India awards record lists his three Filmfare Best Supporting Actor wins: Telugu in 2007 for *Samanyudu* and 2011 for *Prasthanam*, and Kannada in 2016 for *RangiTaranga*.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sai-Kumar/awards)
His recent credits span languages and formats: *Lucky Baskhar* (2024), *[Saripodhaa Sanivaaram](https://www.edgepedia.org/saripodhaa-sanivaaram)* (2024), *Court: State vs. A Nobody* (2025), and *Sankranthiki Vasthunam* (2025) in Telugu, alongside Kannada films such as *Dilmaar* (2025) and *Avatara Purusha 2* (2024).[7](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/saikumar-pudipeddi/1979/filmography) • [12](https://auteurgraph.com/person/sai-kumar) In 2025, Telugu-language film press marked his completion of 50 years in acting.[13](https://www.telugubulletin.com/telugu/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-tfi-153809)
## Television and politics
On television, Sai Kumar has hosted programs including *Deal or No Deal* and *WOW*.[2](https://www.ottcinematv.com/cast/sai-kumar-c6361) He is a campaigner for the [Bharatiya Janata Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharatiya-janata-party) in [Karnataka](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka), and, drawing on his following there, contested elections twice as a BJP candidate and lost both times.[11](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/mobile/featured%20articles/dialogue-king-saikumar-birthday-on-27th-july-tl-202826c0.html) • [14](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/celebs/saikumar-kannada-actor.html) Film press reports that he has since returned fully to acting.[3](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html)
## References
1. [Saikumar, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/person/saikumar/umc.cpc.593gmr1o5g3w2lp4bhmzgsbgz)
2. [Sai Kumar, Biography, OttCinemaTv](https://www.ottcinematv.com/cast/sai-kumar-c6361)
3. [Sai Kumar: 'డైలాగ్ కింగ్' అంటే సాయికుమార్, Chitrajyothy (27 July 2025)](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-acting-avm-65064.html)
4. [Sai Kumar Awards, Times of India Entertainment](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sai-Kumar/awards)
5. [I am underrated: Sai Kumar, The New Indian Express (21 February 2013)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2013/Feb/21/i-am-underrated-sai-kumar-452470.html)
6. [Happy birthday senior actor and dubbing artist Sai Kumar, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/happy-birthday-senior-actor-and-dubbing-artist-sai-kumar-508216.html)
7. [Saikumar Pudipeddi filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/saikumar-pudipeddi/1979/filmography)
8. [P.J. Sarma: Veteran Actor, Dubbing Legend, Sai Kumar's Father, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/p-j-sarma-veteran-actor-dubbing-legend-sai-kumars-father-unknown-facts-1907464.html)
9. [Telugu Movie Actor Aadi Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/telugu/movie-actor/aadi)
10. [Jyothirmai on the Telugu film industry, BigTvLive](https://www.bigtvlive.com/entertainment/jyothirmai-in-the-industry-there-are-only-those-who-say-but-no-one-who-helps-saikumars-daughter.html)
11. [Dialogue King Sai Kumar birthday feature, TeluguOne](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/mobile/featured%20articles/dialogue-king-saikumar-birthday-on-27th-july-tl-202826c0.html)
12. [Sai Kumar, AuteurGraph](https://auteurgraph.com/person/sai-kumar)
13. [అర్ధ శతాబ్దపు సినీ ప్రతిభా బాటసారి - సాయికుమార్, TeluguBulletin (27 July 2025)](https://www.telugubulletin.com/telugu/sai-kumar-completes-50-years-in-tfi-153809)
14. [సాయికుమార్ profile, FilmiBeat Telugu](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/celebs/saikumar-kannada-actor.html)
---
*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 › Telugu film actors › Surnames H to R*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license