Anupam Kher, Anveshi Jain & more - Stars making their debut in Kannada cinema in 2023

2023 is going to be an exciting year for Kannada cinema and the reason is quite simple: the Kannada Film Industry has been rekindled by the superb run in 2022 and as a result, a new bunch of talent is landing in Sandalwood for some exciting collaborations. A number of highly-regarded and successful actors from across the country are making their debut in Kannada cinema this year and we thought we could quickly put together a list of those who will soon be gracing the Kannada silver screen. From acclaimed thespians to hugely popular social media stars, this small-but-comprehensive list boasts the entire range of talent. Here we go:

Anupam Kher

An actor who needs no introduction, Anupam Kher has proven his might in Hindi cinema over many decades together, with a body of work that comprises films of all scales and sensibilities. He has worked and tasted success as both a solo lead in films like Saaransh, Maine Gandhi ko Nahin Mara and Khosla ka Ghosla, and also in collaboration with some of the biggest superstars of the world, including Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Robert de Niro. 

He will soon be making his Kannada debut in M.G. Srinivas' Ghost, which stars Shiva Rajkumar in the lead.

Jayaram

Another stalwart in his own right, actor Jayaram has been one of the most versatile stars of his generation and this is across all film industries. Although he has worked primarily in Malayalam cinema, Jayaram's work in Tamil and other languages, too, has earned him equal prominence, with many citing that he can pull off both dramatic and comedic roles with the same kind of flair. 

Very soon, Jayaram will make his Kannada debut and join Shiva Rajkumar and Anupam Kher in M.G. Srinivas's Ghost wherein he plays a virtuous police officer.

P.S.: Well-known Hindi film actor Prashant Narayanan, known for his roles in films like Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, Murder 2, and more, too, makes his Kannada debut with Ghost.

Murali Sharma

Many would remember Murali Sharma for his early small-but-prominent roles in films like Main Hoon Na, Black Friday, Dhamaal and others but his recent, and ongoing, stint in Telugu cinema is what fetched him the most amount of attention. Call it the second phase of his career, if you please, but Murali Sharma has proven through perseverance and also versatility that he is one of the mainstays of the Telugu Film Industry at the moment, with some of his credits being blockbusters like Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Sarileru Neekevvaru, Ninnu Kori, etc. 

Murali Sharma will be making his Kannada debut in R. Chandru's most-awaited film Kabzaa, which stars Upendra, Shriya Saran, Kiccha Sudeep and others.

Anveshi Jain

The very popular social media personality and actor Anveshi Jain is all set to dazzle the Kannada cinema audience with her role in Martin, alongside Dhruva Sarja. Anveshi revealed at the recently-held teaser launch of the film that her role has gangster-like shades which also involves a fair amount of action on her part. Martin also stars Vaibhavi Shandilya and the film is set to release in mid-2023.

Also Read:
Anveshi Jain: When I did Martin, I had no idea I was a part of such a big film 

Kabir Bedi

The actor who swept the entire nation away with his towering physical presence and baritone voice will soon star in a Kannada film for the very first time in his career. Although Kabir Bedi isn't the most prolific actor out there, his filmography does reveal his penchant to explore new things and looks like the makers of Niranjan Sudhindra's Hunter have managed to impress him. The Octopussy actor is also slated to play a villainous king in Sudhir Attavar's period film Kari Haida Kari Ajja, and reportedly, he has chosen to dub for himself in Kannada.

Dalip Singh Rana, a.k.a. The Great Khali

Gen Z kids would remember the imposing Dalip Singh Rana as the wrestling superstar The Great Khali and his endearing appearances in Hollywood productions like The Longest Yard and Get Smart. Dalip Singh might have joined politics in 2022 but he continues to attract acting offers from all corners and in this vein, he will soon be making his Kannada debut in 2023 in Rocky Somli's Kendada Seragu.