Who is Siddharth Gupta, actor playing Lord Krishna in Krishnavataram Part 1?

Siddharth Gupta, the actor playing Lord Krishna in Krishnavataram, has drawn attention after the film's release and its early warm response. When the makers announced him as the lead, many viewers were unfamiliar with the name, as the producers chose a relatively fresh face instead of a more established star.

That decision has now become a talking point around the film. With Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart (Hridayam) in cinemas, interest has grown around Gupta's journey from Dehradun to Dubai and then Mumbai, where he shifted from engineering to acting before landing one of the most closely watched roles in Indian cinema.

From Dehradun to Dubai to Mumbai

Gupta was born on November 4, 1993, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He later moved to Dubai to study engineering, but left that path and came to Mumbai to pursue acting. In Mumbai, he joined acting classes and became involved in theatre.

His first major break came during a stage performance, where Ekta Kapoor spotted him and offered him an audition for Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi. After around a dozen auditions, he was cast in the lead role. He is also the brother of television producer and personality Vikas Gupta, though his acting career has unfolded through his own set of projects.

After Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi, Gupta continued to build his career steadily. In 2017, he made his web debut with ALTBalaji's Ragini MMS: Returns, where he played the lead character Rahul. In 2019, he appeared in Dhwani Bhanushali's music video Vaaste, which became widely popular on social media. At the time, many viewers did not know his name, but during the promotional run of Krishnavataram, several online users connected him to the video.

Gupta also shared a long note while standing in front of the Krishnavataram hoarding in Mumbai, writing about the heartbreak and struggles he had faced over the years before the opportunity finally came his way. The post drew attention for its straightforward account of the years between a viral music video and a mythological film.

The role that changes everything

Directed by Hardik Gajjar, Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart (Hridayam) released in theatres on May 7, 2026. The film is the opening chapter of a planned trilogy based on the life of Lord Krishna. It follows his journey from Dwarka to Kurukshetra after parting ways with Radha, and explores his relationships with Rukmini and Satyabhama. Based on the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, the film also stars Sushmitha Bhat as Radha, Nivaashiyni Krishnan as Rukmini, and Sanskruti Jayana as Satyabhama.

Playing Lord Krishna is one of the most closely watched roles in mythological storytelling, and the response to Gupta has been closely followed. Early audience reactions have described his performance in positive terms, with viewers pointing to his expressions, calm screen presence, charm and emotional depth. Critics have also noted that Gajjar's film attempts to understand Lord Krishna rather than simply retell his story, with Gupta's performance placed at the centre of that approach.

The choice to cast a lesser-known actor has also been seen as part of the film's larger approach, allowing the character to take precedence over star familiarity. With Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart (Hridayam) now in cinemas, Siddharth Gupta's journey from engineering student in Dubai to the face of a mythological trilogy has become a key part of the conversation around the film.