Wodeyar, the only son of Mysore's last reigning Maharaja, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, and his second wife, Maharani Tripura Sundari Ammani Avaru, succeeded his father as head of his family in September 1974.
Since succeeding his father as heir in 1974 that left him with a palace but without a kingdom, he had remained the titular head of the former royalty during the famous Dasara festivities. Married to Pramoda Devi, a distant cousin, the couple is without children.
Wodeyar has lots of hats. He had served as Lok Sabha member for four terms representing Mysore constituency from Congress and lost once as BJP nominee and the other time as Congress candidate.
He was passionate about cricket, he was recently elected President of the Karnataka State Cricket Association in a hotly contested election that saw him trounce candidates with the combine of the group backed by Srinath and Anil Kumble. .Wodeyar was also a fashion designer and sold Mysore Silk Sarees under his 'Royal Mysore Silk' brand name. He was also a hotelier, art collector, and investor.
Between 1399 and 1947 the Wodeyar dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Mysore. The dynasty's last king was Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, who ruled from 1940 until Indian independence in 1947 when he acceded to India 's sovereignty over his Empire, Yet it continued as the Maharaja until 1950 when India became a Republic.
Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar had remained a Maharaja for Mysoreans and they believed he didn't behave like one while he lived like a king.