Bharani Shankar (భరణి శంకర్), also known as Bharani Kumar, is an Indian actor born on 16 August 1983 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. After completing his B.Tech degree, he moved to Hyderabad to pursue acting and made his television debut in 2003 on ETV. Over the following two decades he built a prolific career in Telugu television, appearing in 30+ serials across major channels including ETV, Gemini TV, Star Maa, and Zee Telugu. Notable serials include Kumkuma Rekha, Abhishekam, Seethamahalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Tarangalu, Savithri, Prem Nagar, and his milestone 30th serial Punnaga. He is particularly recognised for powerful portrayals of negative and anti-hero characters alongside his versatile range. In cinema, he earned national recognition for his participation in S.S. Rajamouli's epic Baahubali and Baahubali 2, appearing in memorable courtroom and action sequences. He also worked under legendary director Dasari Narayana Rao in Parama Veera Chakra and appeared in Aaviri and Crazy Uncles. He is married with two daughters. In 2025, he entered Bigg Boss Telugu Season 9 and was evicted in Week 14 after a re-entry (he had entered the secret room and returned at Week 8), finishing sixteenth overall.

30+ Telugu television serials including Mahalakshmi and Seethamahalakshmi; appearing in S.S. Rajamouli's Baahubali franchise; Naga Babu's personal endorsement on his Bigg Boss entry.

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