Kasthuri Shankar Height, Age, Husband, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Other name	Kasturi
Profession(s)	• Actor • Model • Television Presenter • Activist
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	in centimeters- 173 cm in meters- 1.73 m in feet & inches- 5’ 8”
Weight (approx.)	in kilograms- 60 kg in pounds- 132 lbs
Figure Measurements (approx.)	34-30-34
Eye Colour	Dark Brown
Hair Colour	Dark Brown
Career
Beauty Pageants	1992 • Miss Chennai • Femina Miss Madras
Debut	Film • Tamil: Aatha Un Koyilile (1991) as 'Kasthuri' • Malayalam: Chakravarthy (1991) as 'Praseetha' • Telugu: Gang War (1992) as 'Kaveri' • Kannada: Jaana (1994) as 'Kasturi'
Awards	HMTV Nari Puraskar in Hyderabad (April 2023)
Personal Life
Date of Birth	15 June 1976 (Tuesday)
Age (as of 2024)	48 Years
Birthplace	Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India
Zodiac sign	Gemini
Nationality	Indian
College/University	Ethiraj College For Women, Chennai
Educational Qualification	Graduated
Religion	Hinduism
Caste	During a spirited debate concerning the language controversy in Tamil Nadu, Kasthuri Shankar unveiled her dual identity as both Brahmin and Shudra. She emphasized her affinity with the Shudra community, exclaiming, "I am a proud Shudra." [1]NDTV
Food Habit	Vegetarian
Controversies	Fearless Voice in Social Debates: Kasthuri Shankar has a reputation for engaging in forthright conversations on a variety of topics, especially social matters, which often ignite disputes and stir up debates. In 2017, her doubts about Rajinikanth's potential as a politician ruffled the feathers of his admirers. A year later, she questioned Rajinikanth's comprehension of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, resulting in further friction with his fanbase. As a vocal supporter of India's MeToo movement, Kasthuri recounted her personal experiences of defying patriarchal norms in the film industry, which led to lost opportunities in various projects. She disclosed how a male co-star sought retribution after she rebuffed his advances, making it difficult for her to find work. In April 2019, Kasthuri took aim at Tamil cinema directors Bharathiraja and S. Shankar for favouring fair-skinned North Indian or foreign actresses in their films. In January 2020, she confronted a misogynistic remark from someone claiming to be a fan of actor Ajith Kumar. Kasthuri's fierce response, accompanied by the hashtag #dirtyajithfans, quickly gained momentum in India. This incited some of Ajith's supporters to retaliate with the hashtag #DirtyKasthuriAunty, intensifying the heated exchange and stirring up further controversy. In 2023, Kasthuri took to Twitter to criticize A.R. Rahman's wife, Saira Banu, for her limited proficiency in Tamil after Rahman encouraged her to speak the language instead of Hindi during an event. Kasthuri's translated tweet read, "What AR Rahman’s wife does not speak Tamil? What is their mother tongue? What does she say to the family at home?" Rahman, though, replied to Kasthuri's tweet with a witty and affectionate retort, supporting his wife's uniqueness and personal preferences. His translated tweet read, Respect for love." Remarks Against The Telugu Community: She hit the headlines in November 2024 after the Chennai's Egmore Police Station filed multiple FIRs against her for hurting the sentiments of the Telugu community. As per sources, she, during an event, commented that the Telugu people were descendants of courtesans who served ancient rulers. Following the filing of the FIR, she locked her residence and reportedly went into hiding. On 16 November 2024, she was arrested from Hyderabad following which she was presented before a court which ordered her to be in judicial custody till 29 November 2024.
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Marriage Date	Year, 2000
Family
Husband/Spouse	Ravikumar (doctor)
Children	Son- Sankalp Ravikumar Daughter- Shobini Ravikumar Note: Her daughter is a leukaemia survivor.
Parents	Father- P. S. Shankar (engineer) Mother- Sumathi Shankar (lawyer)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Kasthuri Shankar

• Kasthuri Shankar, an accomplished Indian actress, model, television host, and activist, has made a name for herself in the South Indian film industry. Her notable performances include roles in films such as ‘Indian’ (1996), ‘Soggadi Pellam’ (1996), and ‘Tamilarasan’ (2023).

• From a young age, Kasthuri has displayed a passion for sports. Her athletic skills led her to achieve state-level recognition as a hockey champion.
  

  Kasthuri Shankar’s childhood picture

• Kasthuri’s involvement in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) was a significant part of her school and college years. Her active participation in the NCC camps led her to attend the National Cadet Corps Republic Day Camp in Delhi.

• Kathuri developed a keen interest in fashion during her college years following which she enthusiastically took part in numerous fashion shows.
  

  Kasthuri Shankar in her youth

• In the late 1990s, Kasthuri wrote a weekly column titled “K. I. S. S. – Keep It Simple, Stupid” for Kumudam magazine.

• Kasthuri has not only made a mark in the South Indian film industry but also in the South Indian television industry. Over the years, she played various roles in many television series such as Vani in ‘Kaiyalavu Manasu’ (1995) (Malayalam), Tulasi in ‘Intinti Gruhalakshmi’ (2020) (Telugu), and Kasthuri in ‘Aruvi’ (2022) (Tamil).
  

  Kasthuri Shankar as ‘Tulasi’ in a still from the television series ‘Intinti Gruhalakshmi’ (2020)

• She worked as a television host for a period of time and hosted some shows including Sun Kudumbam Awards (also called Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal) (2010), Vina Vidai Vettai (2013), and Vina Vidai Vettai Juniors (2014).
  

  Kasthuri Shankar hosting a quiz show titled ‘Vina Vidai Vettai’ (2013)

• In 2014, Kasthuri made a bold move by participating in a photoshoot for acclaimed photographer Jade Beall’s book, ‘The Bodies of Mothers: A Beautiful Body Project.’ In this striking shoot, she posed semi-nude, confidently embodying the project’s message of embracing motherhood and promoting body positivity. ^[2]DNA

• In 2019, she appeared in the reality show ‘Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3,’ which aired on the Star Vijay channel. Kasthuri was eliminated on the 63rd day of the show.
  

  Kasthuri Shankar in the reality show ‘Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3’ (2019)

• Kasthuri Shankar has a fondness for quizzes. She has demonstrated her skills on various platforms including the Indian television quiz show Mastermind India (2002), which is based on the British quiz show ‘Mastermind.’ Her exceptional performance in the show earned her a spot in the finals.

• Kasthuri Shankar is dedicated to contributing to the betterment of society and often collaborates with non-profit organizations to support various causes.

• Kasthuri is a passionate animal lover. She often shares pictures of herself with animals on various social media platforms.
  

  A picture of Kasthuri Shankar with puppies

• Her love for food and cooking is evident as she frequently exhibits her culinary skills on various social media platforms.

• Dance is an integral part of Kasthuri’s life, and she stays attuned to the latest dance trends. She showcases her dance moves through videos which she often uploads on her social media handle.