Saravanan Sivakumar (born 23 July 1975), better known by his stage name Suriya is a Tamil film actor, film producer and television presenter, who is currently working in the Tamil film industry.[2] He has acted in 29 films in various genres as a lead actor till date. After making his debut in the acclaimed production Nerukku Ner (1997), he went on to feature in many successful films, which include Nandha (2001), Kaakha Kaakha (2003), Pithamagan (2003), Perazhagan (2004), Ghajini (2005), Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), Ayan (2009), Singam (2010), 7aum Arivu (2011) and Singam II (2013). As of 2010, he has won three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South, establishing himself as one of the leading contemporary actors in Tamil cinema. He was listed #33 in Forbes India's "Celebrity 100 List" for the year 2013.
He is the eldest son of Tamil film actor Sivakumar, and married actress Jyothika in 2006, after being engaged for several years. In 2008, he began Agaram Foundation, which funds for various philanthropic activities.[5] The year 2012 marked his debut as a television presenter with the popular STAR Vijay gaming show Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi, Tamil version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
Suriya attended Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School and St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai, and obtained his under graduate degree B.Com from Loyola College, Chennai. Suriya has a younger brother, Karthi, who is also a Tamil film actor, and a younger sister named Brindha Sivakumar.
Suriya is married to Jyothika, who was also a film actress, with whom he was paired in films such as Kaakha Kaakha, Perazhagan and Sillunu Oru Kaadhal. The couple, after being in a friendly relationship for several years, tied the knot on 11 September 2006.[9] They have two children, daughter Diya born on 10 August 2007 and son Dev on 7 June 2010.Jyothika has quit acting since their marriage and became a full-time housewife.
