**Gurunandan** (born Gurumurthy) is an Indian actor who works in Kannada cinema and television. Popularly referred to by fans as "First Rank Raju" and "Rank Star," he is recognized for his relatable charm, expressive comedic timing, and grounded portrayals of everyday youth caught in societal expectations. Born in Mudigere in the Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka, Gurunandan moved to Bengaluru to pursue an acting career. He initially gained prominence on Kannada television, appearing in small roles including T. N. Seetharam's daily serial *Muktha Muktha*, before earning widespread recognition as Surya in the popular soap opera *Lakumi*. He made his feature film debut in *Cyber Yugadol Nava Yuva Madhura Prema Kavyam* (2012), earning a SIIMA nomination for Best Male Debut. His massive career breakthrough arrived with Naresh Kumar HN's satirical comedy drama *First Rank Raju* (2015). Playing Raju, a book-smart young man completely detached from social realities, his endearing performance won critical praise and transformed the low-budget venture into a major commercial sleeper hit. Following this breakout, Gurunandan solidified his screen presence with projects like *Chiravada Nenapu* (2016), the romantic entertainer *Smile Please* (2017), and *Raju Kannada Medium* (2018), which featured a prominent extended cameo by Sudeep. He also earned critical appreciation for his mature dramatic turn as Nishchay Jagdish in DP Raghuram's real-life-inspired drama *Missing Boy* (2019). Combining commercial comedic sensibility with relatable vulnerability, he remains an engaging lead actor in contemporary Sandalwood.
