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Manish Rishi (Kannada Actor) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

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

Quick Info

Date of birth21 June 1988

Age35 Years (as of 2023)

BirthplaceBangalore

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSwathi Parasuraman

FamilyFather: K. C. Nagaraj; Mother: Anala Nagaraj; Sister: Sunethra Nagaraaj (RJ Nethra)

Manish Rishi (Kannada Actor) Biography

Manish Rishi is an Indian actor known for his work in Kannada cinema and television. Born Monish Nagaraj, he rose from theatre and short film appearancesto

Early life and background
Manish Rishi was born Monish Nagaraj on 21 June 1988 in Bangalore and grew up with roots in Mysore, Karnataka. He completed his schooling at St. Joseph’s Primary School in Mysore and did his pre-university studies at Marimallappa’s College. He went on to graduate in civil engineering from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysore.

While studying engineering he discovered a passion for theatre, leading the college dramatics team and taking part in stage productions. Alongside his theatrical work he worked part-time as a radio jockey during his college years and briefly took up a corporate engineering job after campus placement, before moving full-time into entertainment and related entrepreneurial ventures in retail interiors and merchandising.

Career
Manish began his screen career with smaller film appearances and a television role in the series Mahaparva in 2014 on ETV Kannada. He also had an early supporting role in the film Money Honey Shani (2013) credited as Shekar.

His breakout came in 2017 when he played Paramesh “Parmy” (also cited as “Purmy”) in Operation Alamelamma. The project began life as a short film and expanded into a feature; Rishi’s portrayal of a vegetable auctioneer earned strong audience and critical response and helped raise his profile across the Kannada film industry and beyond.

Following that success he appeared in a string of films that further established him as a versatile performer. Notable credits include Kavaludaari (2019), where his role as Inspector K.S. Shyam drew particular recognition, Sarvajanikarige Suvarnavakasha (2019), Mugilpete (2021), Nodi Swamy Ivanu Irode Heege (2022) and Ramanavatara (2023). On television and digital platforms he has worked in series such as Anuroopa on Star Suvarna, where he won Best Actor at the channel’s awards for two consecutive years, and more recently the web series Shaitan (2023) on Disney+ Hotstar.

Awards and recognition
Rishi’s performances have been honoured at multiple ceremonies. He won Best Debut Actor at the 7th SIIMA Awards for Operation Alamelamma and received critics’ recognition and Best Actor awards for his work in Kavaludaari. He has also been recognised by institutions such as the Karnataka State Reserve Police Department in 2023.

Public profile
Rishi is described as introverted and has said he prefers not to overshare personal details on social media. He met his future wife, Swathi Parasuraman, through theatre; they married on 11 November 2019. Swathi is noted as a content writer. His immediate family includes his father K. C. Nagaraj, formerly a bank employee, his mother Anala Nagaraj, and a sister, Sunethra Nagaraaj (RJ Nethra), who has worked as a radio jockey and appeared in film.

Rishi has spoken about the contrast between theatre and film, noting that theatre is less commercially driven while film work brings box office pressures and the need for consistent delivery. He has described acting challenges such as the largely non-verbal demands of his role in Kavaludaari and has recounted hands-on preparations for Operation Alamelamma, including being taken to a live vegetable auction to learn the craft for his character.

Latest updates
Recent credits listed in his career include the 2023 web series Shaitan on Disney+ Hotstar and the 2023 film Ramanavatara. He continues to be active in Kannada cinema and has maintained interests in travel and theatre alongside his screen work.
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Recent Work

Shaitan

Web series aired on Disney+ Hotstar (2023)

2023
Ramanavatara

Film release (2023)

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Breakthrough lead role as Paramesh “Parmy” in Operation Alamelamma (2017)
  2. Best Debut Actor, 7th SIIMA Awards for Operation Alamelamma
  3. Critics’ Best Actor and other awards for Kavaludaari
  4. Two consecutive Best Actor awards for the TV show Anuroopa on Star Suvarna
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Manish Rishi (Kannada Actor) born?

21 June 1988

What is Manish Rishi (Kannada Actor) known for?

Actor

What is Manish Rishi (Kannada Actor)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Manish Rishi (Kannada Actor) married to?

Swathi Parasuraman