**Raj B. Shetty** (born 5 July 1987) is an acclaimed Indian actor, director, screenwriter, and producer who works primarily in Kannada cinema. Known for his deeply rooted storytelling, multi-layered narratives, and character-driven focus, he is widely regarded as one of the most original and influential voices in contemporary Sandalwood. Born in Bhadravathi, Karnataka, into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family, he grew up in Mangalore. He completed his schooling at Bharathi English Medium School and earned a postgraduate degree in Social Work from Roshni Nilaya, Mangalore. Before entering the film industry, Shetty worked as a radio jockey at Big 92.7 FM, directed short films, wrote advertising scripts, and worked as an assistant director. He skyrocketed to fame with his 2017 directorial debut, *Ondu Motteya Kathe*, a critically acclaimed and commercially successful comedy where he also starred as the protagonist, Janardhana, a bald man struggling with societal beauty standards. The film's authentic, humorous, and relatable storytelling earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Director (Kannada). He solidified his reputation as a visionary filmmaker with his highly ambitious second directorial, the critically acclaimed 2021 gangster drama *Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana*, exploring themes of power, destiny, and social hierarchy. He followed this with the sensitive romantic drama *Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye* (2023). Shetty also runs his own production house, Lighter Buddha Films. Beyond directing, he is highly sought after as a writer and actor. He has provided dialogues for blockbuster films like *Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai* and *777 Charlie*. As an actor, he has delivered memorable performances in numerous films, including *Ammachi Yemba Nenapu*, *Gubbi Mele Brahmastra*, and *Kantara*, and expanded into Malayalam cinema with *Rudhiram* (2023). His work has been recognized with numerous honors, including SIIMA Awards and multiple Filmfare Awards South.
