Shankar Nagarakatte (9 November 1954 – 30 September 1990) was an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, and producer known for his work in Kannada-language films and television.

[4][5] Vincent Canby, the chief film critic of The New York Times had opined that Shankar's performance in Ondanondu Kaladalli had the force and humor of the younger Toshiro Mifune.

[6] Shankar Nagarkatte was born on 9 November 1954 in Honnavar, then a part of North Canara (now Uttara Kannada district), in Bombay State (now in Karnataka).

In 1978 Nag made his debut with Girish Karnad's epic film Ondanondu Kaladalli, where he played a mercenary who earns a position in a rival army to get even with his brother, whom he considers his enemy.

Following the modest success[9] of Ondanondu Kaladalli and the critical accolades he garnered,[10] Nag started appearing in mainstream films.

He eventually became known for his action films, and while he had never undergone any martial arts training, he earned the nickname "Karate King".

Nag made his directorial debut with Minchina Ota, one of the earliest heist movies of Kannada cinema.

His directorial ventures include Lalach (Hindi remake of Minchina Ota), Hosa Theerpu (remake of Dushman), Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige, Ondu Muttina Kathe (loosely based on John Steinbeck's novel The Pearl)[14] and the critically acclaimed Accident, which won many state and national awards.

He was later joined by T. N. Narasimhan, who wrote and co-directed Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige which had, apart from himself, his wife Arundhati Nag and Ramesh Bhat in the cast.

He is credited with pioneering efforts in initiating Nag died in a car collision at Anagodu village on the outskirts of Davanagere town on 30 September 1990 during the pre-production work for his film Jokumaraswamy.