Meet actor who suffered brain tumor in childhood, worked as car cleaner to make ends meet, and was discovered by Rajinikanth

Meet actor who suffered brain tumor in childhood, worked as car cleaner to make ends meet, and was discovered by Rajinikanth

On Raghavan Lawrence’s 48th birthday, I find myself deeply moved by the inspiring journey of this incredible artist. Born into hardship and adversity, Raghavan overcame insurmountable odds to become one of the most respected figures in Indian cinema. From his humble beginnings as a car cleaner to dancing on the sets of Uzhaippali, it’s amazing how life can take unexpected turns.


Discuss an Indian artist who has risen from humble beginnings to become a prominent figure in cinema, dance choreography, and direction. Born into hardship, this individual was diagnosed with a brain tumor at a young age, and financial difficulties led him to work as a car cleaner. Despite these challenges, he persevered and rose to fame. This is the story of Ragava Lawrence, whose 48th birthday we will celebrate by delving into his career, personal life, and more.

Who is Ragava Lawrence?

Why did Ragava Lawrence change his name?

During a challenging period when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Ragava Lawrence’s mother often went to the Raghavendra Swami temple to ask for blessings. To this day, Ragava Lawrence attributes his survival from this life-threatening illness to the divine intervention of the deity. In the years that followed, the actor developed a deep devotion towards Raghavendra Swami and adopted the deity’s name as part of his own.

Beyond this, it’s worth noting that the actor is also credited with constructing the Raghavendra Swamy Brindavanam Temple at Thirumullaivayal, a project completed in 2010. Growing up, Ragava endured hardship, living amidst poverty and taking on various odd jobs to get by. Believe it or not, this celebrated star once earned a living as a car cleaner. Remarkably, he worked for the fight master Super Subbarayan, and it was during this period that Rajinikanth discovered him.

Ragava Lawrence’s journey in the film industry

Previously noted, Rajinikanth noticed Ragava performing on the set of Uzhaippali, which subsequently led him to become a member of the Dancers Union, marking Ragava’s debut in the film industry. His first appearance was in a song from the Tamil movie Samsara Sangeetham in 1989. Additionally, Ragava collaborated with renowned choreographer and actor Prabhu Deva in the film Donga Police.

In the ensuing years, I found myself gracefully moving to the rhythm as a backup dancer in numerous songs, such as Gentleman, Muta Mesthri, Rakshana, and Allari Priyudu. It was a joyful journey, taking each opportunity that came my way. However, life took an unexpected turn when Chiranjeevi, the renowned star, approached me to choreograph a song for his film, Hitler, in 1997. His appreciation of my work was overwhelming, and he requested my services once more for Master, also in 1997. In the midst of these exciting projects, I encountered a pivotal moment – an acting opportunity presented itself. I stepped into the shoes of the protagonist in D Prasad’s film, Speed Dancer, but unfortunately, it failed to make waves at the box office.

Afterward, he made brief appearances in Tamil films such as Ajith Kumar’s Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven (2000), Prashanth’s Parthen Rasithen (2000) and Parthale Paravasam (2001). In 2002, Ragava was cast in the leading role for Arpudham. Directed by Arputhan, this film examines a love triangle and provides insight into a story of rising from poverty to wealth.

Over the following years, Ragava collaborated with numerous film directors on projects such as Style, Thirumalai (cameo role), Muni, Pandi, Rajadhi Raja (2009 release), Shivalinga, Rudhran, Chandramukhi 2, Motta Siva Ketta Siva, Jigarthanda DoubleX and Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam, among several others.

In addition to her work as an actress and choreographer, Ragava is also a talented film director who has collaborated with renowned actors such as Nagarjuna, Jyothika, Chiranjeevi, Prabhas, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Prabhu Deva. Some of the movies she has directed include Rebel, Mass, Kanchana, Laxmii, Durga, among others.

Ragava Lawrence’s personal life

According to a piece in Steemit, actor Ragava Lawrence tied the knot with Shanti (now known as Latha). For years, they chose to keep their marriage hidden from public view. In an interview with Galatta, Lawrence opened up about his private life, stating that he wanted to preserve his personal space as the reason for keeping their union secret. The couple is blessed with a daughter named Raghavi Lawrence.

Ragava Lawrence’s upcoming movie

On the occasion of actor Raghav Lawrence’s birthday, it was announced that his upcoming movie will be titled Kaala Bhairava. This film, helmed by director Ramesh Varma, marks Lawrence’s 25th project. As per media reports, Kaala Bhairava promises to be an exhilarating blend of action and adventure on a grand scale. In the initial poster, Lawrence is seen with a determined expression, while religious symbols like a snake and the idol of Kala Bhairava serve as the backdrop.

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2024-10-29 12:22