Meet actor who wanted to be chef, created a song in 6 minutes, earned stripes in Hollywood and will play notable politician next

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Encounter an actor who is not only a top earner in Kollywood but also boasts four National Awards. Off-screen, he’s recognized for his musical talents that match his heroic screen persona. Throughout a career spanning half a century, he has tackled a wide range of diverse roles.

Can you guess who we are talking about? Yes, it’s Dhanush.

Who is Dhanush?

Dhanush, born in 1983 during the month of July, originates from a family that has strong ties to the world of cinema. His father, Kasthuri Raja, is a well-known director and producer in Tamil films, while his brother Selvaraghavan is also a respected filmmaker within the industry. Meanwhile, Dhanush’s mother, Vijayalakshmi, takes care of their home.

Dhanush was born in Madras, Tamil Nadu, and he has two sisters, Vimalageetha and Karthiga Karthik, who are both younger than him. This family tends to lead a private life and is seldom seen in public places.

Dhanush wanted to become a chef but was pressured to do films

Originally from the film industry, Dhanush didn’t initially aspire to be an actor. Instead, he held a passion for culinary arts and dreamed of attending a hotel management course to become a chef. Unfortunately, these ambitions never came to fruition. It was actually his brother Selvaraghavan who encouraged him to pursue acting as a career instead.

Foray into films, successes and beyond

Before embarking on a film career, the actor transformed his birth name Venkatesh Prabhu into Dhanush, inspired by the clandestine operation character from the movie “Kuruthipunal”.

In 2002, I stepped into the world of cinema with the teen movie Thulluvadho Ilamai, a project helmed by my father, Kasthuri Raja himself. Regrettably, this venture didn’t strike the chord we hoped for. However, fortune favored me in 2003 when I found my breakthrough role in my brother’s film, Kaadhal Kondein, under the guidance of Selvaraghavan. For this performance, I was lauded by critics and honored with the Filmfare Award for Best Actor that year.

In my journey, I’ve had the privilege of gracing numerous film productions, with my father, Kasthuri Raja, and my brother, Selvaraghavan, serving as their respective directors.

Dhanush’s sprinting acclaim with the song Kolaveri Di

In 2012, Dhanush experienced a significant transformation in his career, particularly with the debut of his movie titled “3.” The film featured Shruti Haasan as the female protagonist. It was the catchy tune “Kolaveri Di,” sung by none other than Dhanush, that catapulted his fame across vast distances.

In an astoundingly quick process, Anirudh Ravichander and another individual came up with a catchy tune for the popular track in merely 20 minutes of brainstorming. It was then recorded and completed within only 6 additional minutes.

Rise to stardom with Bollywood debut, earned stripes in Hollywood

Later on, Dhanush made his debut in Hindi films with Aanand L. Rai’s movie “Raanjhanaa,” where he acted alongside Sonam Kapoor. The film turned out to be a massive hit and ended up being the highest-earning movie of that particular year.

After that, in 2022, Dhanush made a global impact when he was cast in the American action-thriller movie “The Gray Man”, which marked his first appearance in Hollywood films.

Dhanush’s personal life, marriage to Rajinikanth’s daughter Aishwaryaa

In terms of his private affairs, Dhanush tied the knot with Rajinikanth’s eldest child, Aishwaryaa, back in 2004. Together, they have two boys named Yatra and Linga.

For 18 happy years as a married pair, they revealed their split in 2022. Their divorce was finalized in November 2024. Despite the divorce, Dhanush and Aishwaryaa work together in raising their sons.

Dhanush’s work front ahead

Dhanush can be described as a highly versatile individual who has carved out a niche for himself not only as an actor but also as a director, producer, and composer. To date, he has directed four films, one of which is Idly Kadai, a project set to be released this year.

Moreover, he has been chosen to play the role of the Missile Man of India, APJ Abdul Kalam, in an upcoming movie helmed by Om Raut. Interestingly, it was also announced that Dhanush will be portraying the life of the legendary music composer Ilaiyarajaa on screen in a biopic as well.

He was most recently spotted in the movie “Kuberaa,” directed by Sekhar Kammula, which hit theaters on June 20th. Additionally, Dhanush has recently wrapped up filming for his upcoming Hindi project titled “Tere Ishk Mein.

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2025-06-30 10:07