Rajesh Kumar writer

Rajesh Kumar, whose real name is K.R. Rajagopal, is a prominent Tamil author known for his crime fiction. His writing career began in 1968 or 1969 when a prank led to his first story, "Vaazhndhu Kaatuvom," being published in his college magazine at Government Arts College, Coimbatore. He earned his degree in botany there. Later that year, he was paid for his crime story "Unnai Vidamaatten" after submitting it to a contest in Malai Murasu.

In 1977, Kumar's work started appearing in Kumudam with the short story "Idhu Nyayama." His first novel, Vaadagaiku Oru Uyir, was published in 1980. The editor of Kumudam noticed a porter engrossed in one of Kumar's stories and decided to commission a novel from him. By 1986, Kumar became a full-time writer when his publisher requested a novel each month.

As of 2019, he had written over 1,500 novels, more than 2,000 short stories, and scripts for over 250 television series, including the 2015 film Sandamarutham. He was also in talks with Sathya Jyothi Films for adaptations on Amazon Prime.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Kumar taught for five years after earning an education degree from Ramakrishna Vidyalaya. He later worked as a sales representative for an industrial rubber goods company. His pseudonym combines the names of his sister Rajeshwari and sister-in-law Ananthakumar to avoid confusion with other authors named K.R. Rajagopal.