Chakravarthy Chandrachud (popularly known as D.J. Chakravarthy Chandrachud) is an Indian journalist, writer, author, film director, and actor born on 15 August 1977 in Devanur village, Chikkamagalur district, Karnataka, into a Vishwakarma Hindu family. He earned a B.E. in Instrumentation Technology from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE), Mysore, and an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Mysore. During his student days he was an active member of the student unions DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India) and SFI (Students' Federation of India). He began his career as a journalist with the Kannada weekly tabloid Lankesh Patrike, where he worked for over 15 years. Inspired by water conservationist Rajendra Singh (whose work he studied at Kishori-Bhikampura, Thanagazi) and social reformer Anna Hazare, he wrote his debut book Jala Jana Kranti (Kannada) - a water conservation manifesto symbolically released at a dry lake in Channarayapatna, Hassan district - followed by the poetry collection Khali Shilube (Empty Cross, 2014), Mailu Tutta, and Saava Kolluvavarige Shikshe Illa. He founded the social-cultural organisation Darvesh Chauki and has been active in environmental causes across Karnataka. He directed the documentary Mahamarana on the Kalasa-Banduri water dispute, and directed and produced his debut feature Janma (2013), which interlinked the Kaveri River water dispute and the Rajkumar kidnapping by Veerappan with a love story. He also appeared as an actor in Ranganayaki (2019) and Melobba Maayaavi (2020). In 2017, he was investigated in connection with the murder case of senior journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, though no charges were established. His personal life drew controversy when he briefly married Bigg Boss Kannada Season 3 winner and politician Shruthi in 2013 - a marriage declared null and void by the courts within a year after it emerged he had not divorced his first wife Manjula. In June 2021, he entered Bigg Boss Kannada Season 8 as a wildcard contestant on Day 30. He was eliminated on Day 107, finishing ninth.

His 15+ years as a journalist with the Kannada tabloid Lankesh Patrike; his published books including the water conservation manifesto Jala Jana Kranti (Kannada) and the poetry collections Khali Shilube and Mailu Tutta; his debut Kannada film Janma (2013), which addressed the Kaveri water dispute and the Veerappan-Rajkumar kidnapping; directing the documentary Mahamarana on the Kalasa-Banduri water dispute; his brief marriage to Bigg Boss Kannada Season 3 winner Shruthi (actress and politician); finishing ninth in Bigg Boss Kannada Season 8 (2021).

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