✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Kasthuri Shankar

Kasthuri Shankar biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Kasthuri Shankar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth15 June 1976

Age49 Years

BirthplaceMadras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India

ProfessionActor, Model, Television Presenter, Activist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRavikumar (doctor)

FamilySon - Sankalp Ravikumar; Daughter - Shobini Ravikumar

Kasthuri Shankar Biography

Kasthuri Shankar is an Indian actress, model, television presenter and activist from Chennai. Active in South Indian cinema and television since the early

Early life and background

Kasthuri Shankar was born on 15 June 1976 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. She completed her college education at Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai, and is a graduate. Raised in a Hindu household, Kasthuri has described aspects of her identity in public discussions about caste. From a young age she gravitated toward sports and extracurricular activities, including the National Cadet Corps, and attended an NCC Republic Day Camp in New Delhi during her school and college years.

Career

Kasthuri began her public career in beauty pageants, winning titles such as Miss Chennai and Femina Miss Madras in 1992. She moved into films in the early 1990s, debuting in Tamil with Aatha Un Koyilile (1991), and soon after appearing in Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada productions. Her early film work includes Chakravarthy (1991) in Malayalam, Gang War (1992) in Telugu and Jaana (1994) in Kannada. Over the years she has continued to work across South Indian cinema, with film credits that include Indian (1996), Soggadi Pellam (1996) and work as recently as Tamilarasan (2023).

Beyond films, Kasthuri has had an active career on television. She has acted in serials across languages, playing roles such as Vani in Kaiyalavu Manasu (1995, Malayalam), Tulasi in Intinti Gruhalakshmi (2020, Telugu) and portraying a character named Kasthuri in Aruvi (2022, Tamil). She has also worked as a television presenter, hosting programs including the Sun Kudumbam Awards, the quiz show Vina Vidai Vettai (2013) and Vina Vidai Vettai Juniors (2014). Her interest in quizzing led her to appear on Mastermind India in 2002, where she reached the finals.

Kasthuri has engaged with journalism and writing as well; in the late 1990s she authored a weekly column titled "K. I. S. S. – Keep It Simple, Stupid" for Kumudam magazine. In 2014 she participated in a photographic project focused on mothers and body positivity, posing for a book by photographer Jade Beall that celebrated motherhood and diverse bodies. She has also been associated with non-profit work and charitable causes.

Public profile

Kasthuri is known for speaking out on social issues and has frequently taken public positions on topics that generate debate. She has been an outspoken supporter of the MeToo movement in India and has discussed personal experiences related to gender dynamics within the film industry. Her forthright commentary has at times provoked controversy and strong reactions from fans and the public.

In recognition of her social engagement, Kasthuri received the HMTV Nari Puraskar in Hyderabad in April 2023. On television, she reached new audiences in 2019 when she participated in Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3; she was eliminated on day 63. She is also known for her personal interests: athletics and dance remain important to her, she often shares cooking and food-related posts on social media, and she is publicly identified as an animal lover.

Personal life

Kasthuri married Ravikumar, a doctor, in 2000. The couple have two children: a son, Sankalp Ravikumar, and a daughter, Shobini Ravikumar. Her daughter is noted to be a leukemia survivor. Her parents are P. S. Shankar, an engineer, and Sumathi Shankar, a lawyer. Kasthuri follows a vegetarian diet.

Controversies and legal matters

Kasthuri's outspoken nature has led to multiple high-profile disputes over the years, including public exchanges with supporters of several film personalities and critical remarks about industry practices. In November 2024 she became the subject of legal action after remarks at an event that were said to have hurt the sentiments of the Telugu community; multiple FIRs were filed and she was subsequently arrested from Hyderabad and remanded to judicial custody through late November 2024.

Latest updates

Most recently cited information notes Kasthuri's film appearance in Tamilarasan (2023) and her HMTV Nari Puraskar award in April 2023. Her television work continued into the 2020s with serial roles and hosting credits, and her public activism and commentary have remained prominent parts of her profile.
◈

Recent Work

Tamilarasan

Film appearance

2023
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Miss Chennai and Femina Miss Madras (1992)
  2. Film debut in Tamil with Aatha Un Koyilile (1991)
  3. Television roles across Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil serials
  4. Host of Vina Vidai Vettai (2013) and Sun Kudumbam Awards
  5. Finalist on Mastermind India (2002)
  6. Participant on Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3 (2019)
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Kasthuri Shankar born?

15 June 1976

What is Kasthuri Shankar known for?

Actor, Model, Television Presenter, Activist

What is Kasthuri Shankar’s marital status?

Married

Who is Kasthuri Shankar married to?

Ravikumar (doctor)