Chetan Kumar

Chetan Kumar (ಚೇತನ್ ಕುಮಾರ) (born 24 February 1983), also known as Chetan Ahimsa, is an American Kannada-language film actor.

Kumar graduated from Yale University in South Asian studies with an emphasis on comparative theater in 2005.

As a US citizen, Chetan came to India as a Fulbright Scholar for the 2005-2006 academic year.

Upon completing his studies in 2005, Kumar was awarded a twelve-month Fulbright Scholarship to Karnataka, India.

During this time, he collaborated with the National School of Drama in Bangalore.

Chetan made his on-screen debut in the 2007 cult classic film Aa Dinagalu, which earned him the Udaya Film Award for Best Debut Actor Male.

His most recent success came in the 2013 hit film Myna, for which his performance received strong critical acclaim.

Chetan was born and brought up in Chicago, Illinois, US.

He finished high school as the valedictorian at Marist High School, Chicago.

His parents, both doctors working in the US, are originally from Karnataka, India.

Kumar took a leading role in a large-scale campaign aimed at rehabilitating 3,000 Coorg tribals who were unlawfully displaced in December 2016.

As part of the campaign, homes are currently being constructed near Kushalnagara under the auspices of the government.

Each home is estimated to cost Rs.

4 lakhs, and the project aims to benefit more than 528 families.

In the film Noorondu Nenapu (2017), Kumar portrayed the lead character named "Shreyas".

However, in Chamarajanagara, Karnataka, the film faced opposition from right-wing extremists who tore down posters and prevented its screening, citing Kumar's political stances.

Chetan identifies himself as an Ambedkarite and espouses the ideas of Buddha, Basava, Ambedkar, Phule, and Periyar.

He actively supports various social causes and has been involved in several activist initiatives, including:

Kumar actively supported the cause of demanding 24-hour medical care and a monthly compensation increase for Endosulfan victims in Karnataka's coastal belt.

The objective was to raise the compensation from Rs.

1,000 to Rs.

3,000-5,000. As a result of these efforts, the state government allocated Rs.

72-90 crores for the rehabilitation of pesticide poisoning victims, thereby meeting the demands of the campaign.

The state government continues to provide the allocated support for the victims.

Established in 2017, FIRE aims to address issues related to sexual harassment in the workplace, enhance the livelihoods of film workers and technicians, and establish a writers' guild that provides certification and structured payments for writers.

The association works towards creating a safe and equitable working environment within the Kannada Film industry.

Kumar was actively involved in teaching critical thinking and current events at a village school in Mullur, Karnataka, located 25 km outside of Mysore.

In April 2018, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officially accused the Dhidalli struggle of being "Naxalite-inspired" and listed Kumar as responsible.

However, Kumar has vehemently denied these allegations and argued that the Dhidalli protest was non-violent and constitutional.

He has called for an apology from the Law Minister and the BJP state President in response to these accusations.

Kumar has been involved in advocating for the recognition of an independent Lingayat religion that is based on the philosophy of Basava and the Vachana literature.

He has actively participated in pro-Lingayat religion forums held in various locations such as Bengaluru, Kalburgi, and Hassan.

Additionally, he has contributed to several TV discussions and interviews to raise awareness and promote dialogue on this issue.

Kumar played a significant role in leading the efforts to obtain state recognition for the Kadugolla community.

The Kadugolla community consists of Kannada-speaking Adivasis who are engaged in sheep-rearing and have distinct socio-cultural practices and religious icons.

Through his advocacy and activism, Kumar successfully achieved the recognition of the Kadugolla community by the state government.

Kumar is the founder of FIRE (Film Industry for Rights and Equality), an association based in the Kannada Film industry.

Chetan Kumar married his long-time partner Megha on 2 February 2020.

Their wedding ceremony, which was held in an orphanage, received praise for innovative initiatives such as a plantable (seed paper) invitation card, marriage vows presided by a transgender activist, and gifting the 'Indian Constitution' to all guests.

One of his tweets regarding a high court justice of the Karnataka High Court sparked controversy.