Raju Talikote

**Raju Talikote** (born Rajesaba Maktumasab Yankanchi; 1963 – October 13, 2025) was an Indian actor, theatre practitioner, and comedian who worked prominently in Kannada cinema. Celebrated for his distinct North Karnataka dialect, sharp rustic humor, and unmatched comedic timing, he became one of Sandalwood's most beloved and unique character artists.

Born in Chikka Sindagi in the Vijayapura district of Karnataka, Talikote spent decades performing in professional touring theatre companies. He ran the popular Khasgateshwara Natya Sangha troop and achieved massive regional acclaim with hit comedic stage plays such as *Kaliyugada Kuduka*, which humorously explored everyday struggles through satire and later became a sensation across rural drama tents and audio cassettes.