One of the top actors of Tamil cinema, Dhanush is widely known for his intense performances and versatile portfolio. Apart from being a capable actor, he is also a singer, producer, writer, and director. Some of his most memorable films include Aadukalam (2010), Maryan (2013), Ranjhanna (2013), Velaiilla Pattadhari (2014), Anegan (2015), Maari (2015), Kodi (2016), Vada Chennai (2018), Asuran (2019), Thiruchitrambalam (2022), Vaathi (2023) and Raayan (2024).
In his career he has gotten four National Film Awards, fourteen SIIMA Awards, ten Vijya Awards, eight Filmfare Awards South, and a Filmfare Award.
Early Life and Career
Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, known as Dhanush, was born on July 28, 1983, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Kasthuri Raja, is a film director and producer. His mother, Vijayalakshmi, is a homemaker and former film producer. Dhanush has an elder brother, Selvaraghavan, a noted filmmaker, and two sisters, Vimala Geetha and Karthika Devi, both doctors. He initially aspired to become a chef, but his family’s deep ties to Tamil cinema influenced his eventual career path.
Dhanush attended St. John’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Alwarthirunagar, Chennai. He failed his Class 12 examinations. Later, he completed a Bachelor of Computer Applications through distance learning at Madurai Kamaraj University.
Ayesha Jhulka In Films
Dhanush initially resisted acting, but his brother Selvaraghavan, a director, persuaded him to try acting. Dhanush debuted in 2002 with Thulluvadho Ilamai, a coming-of-age film directed by his father, Kasthuri Raja. The film, featuring Dhanush alongside Sherin and Abhinay, became a sleeper hit. His second film, the romantic thriller Kaadhal Kondein (2003), directed by Selvaraghavan, was a critical and commercial success, establishing him as a promising actor. In the film, Dhanush played Vinod, a mentally disturbed youth, and gave a raw and intense performance.
He then starred in films like Thiruda Thirudi (2003), Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan (2004), Sullan (2004), Dreams (2004), Devathaiyai Kanden (2005), Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam (2005), and Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam (2006)
Selvaraghavan’s Pudhupettai in 2006 earned him second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. In 2007 he starred in Polladhavan (2007) as Prabhu, a man searching for his stolen bike. Dhanush delivered a layered performance. Directed by Vetrimaran, this action drama, inspired by The Bicycle Thieves, was a commercial hit. Dhanush delivered a layered performance and lauded by critics for his emotional depth.
Dhanush The Versatile Performer
He gets his third Filmfare nomination for Mithran Jawahar’s romantic comedy Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), opposite Nayanthara. Suraj’s Padikathavan (2009) opposite Tamannaah Bhatia, and Mithran Jawahar’s Kutty (2009) and Uthama Puthiran (2010) opposite Genelia D’Souza, further established his standing. In 2010 he sang a song, “Un Mela Aasadhaan,” with wife Aishwarya Rajnikanth in Selvaraghavan’s Aayirathil Oruvan (2010). Both of them, along with co-singer Andrea Jeremiah, won the Filmfare Best Male and Female Playback Singer Awards.
Dhanush portrayed Karuppu, a rooster fight jockey, in Aadukalam (2011) opposite Taapsee Pannu. His intense, authentic performance in Vetrimaran’s drama won him the National Film Award for Best Actor as well as his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor—Tamil. The film also won 5 other national awards, including Best Director (Vetrimaaran), Best Original Screenplay (Vetrimaaran), Best Editing (Kishore Te), and Best Choreography (Dinesh Kumar), as well as a Special Jury Award.
Playing a bipolar patient, Dhanush starred opposite Shruti Haasan in the romantic thriller 3 (2012), directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth. The viral song Why This Kolaveri Di boosted its global fame. His nuanced acting earned him another Filmfare Award for Best Actor as well as his second Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer—Tamil.
V. Bharat Bala’s Maryan (2013), opposite Parvathy, was a big critical success, earning Dhanush his sixth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics)—Tamil for the film.
Critical Acclaim
Dhanush debuted in Hindi films as Kundan, an obsessive lover of Sonam Kapoor in Raanjhanaa (2013). Directed by Aanand L. Rai, the film’s emotional depth, with a relatable story of good-for-nothing boy falling in love with a neighboring beauty, makes it a cult classic. He impressed with his performance, earning him a Filmfare Best Male Debut Award. In 2015 he worked in R. Balki’s Shamitabh, alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Akshara Hassan.
He then acted in K. V. Anand’s Anegan (2015) opposite Amyra Dastur, Balaji Mohan’s Maari (2015) with Kajal Aggarwal, R. Velraj’s Thanga Magan (2015) with Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Amy Jackson, Prabhu Solomon’s Thodari opposite (2016) with Keerthy Suresh, R. S. Durai Senthilkumar’s Kodi (2016) with Trisha and Anupama Parameswaran, Soundarya Rajinikanth’s Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 (2017), Vetrinmaaran’s Vada Chennai (2018), Balaji Mohan’s Maari 2 (2018), Ken Scott’s The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir (2019)
As Sivasamy, a Dalit farmer seeking justice, Dhanush shone in Vetrimaran’s action drama Asuran (2019). His powerful performance won a second National Film Award for Best Actor. The film was critically acclaimed for its social commentary. Dhanush gets his eleventh nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for Mari Selvaraj’s Karnan (2021) opposite Rajisha Vijayan.
Some of his later films include Enai Noki Paayum Thota (2019), Pattas (2020), Karnan (2021), Jagame Thandhiram (2021), Atrangi Re (2021) – Vishu (Hindi), The Gray Man (2022), Thiruchitrambalam (2022), Naane Varuven (2022),Vaathi (2023), Captain Miller (2024), Raayan (2024) and Kuberaa (2025).
Carft and Legacy
Dhanush’s acting process emphasizes versatility and authenticity. He draws from real-life observations, focusing on emotional depth and physicality. His lean frame and expressive face suit diverse roles, from gritty gangsters to romantic leads. Directors praise his ability to internalize complex characters, as seen in Aadukalam. He performs his own stunts, leveraging his martial arts training. Dhanush prepares meticulously, often immersing himself in character backgrounds.
Dhanush has won four National Film Awards: Best Actor for Aadukalam (2011) and Asuran (2019), and Best Feature Film for Kaaka Muttai (2015) and Visaranai (2016) as producer. He secured eight Filmfare Awards South, including Best Actor for Aadukalam and 3, and Best Male Debut for Raanjhanaa. His directorial debut, Pa Paandi (2017), was met with universal acclaim.
His song Why This Kolaveri Di became the first Indian video to reach 100 million YouTube views. Rowdy Baby from Maari 2 hit 1.5 billion views. He featured in Forbes India Celebrity 100 six times.
Personal Life
Dhanush married Aishwarya Rajinikanth, daughter of actor Rajinikanth, on November 18, 2004, after meeting at the Kaadhal Kondein screening. They have two sons, Yatra (born 2006) and Linga (born 2010), named after Dhanush’s devotion to Lord Shiva. The couple separated in January 2022 and divorced on November 27, 2024, maintaining co-parenting duties. Rumors linked Dhanush to actresses Shruti Haasan, Amala Paul, and Samantha, but no relationships were confirmed.
Dhanush on IMDB
