Dhanush

Dhanush Quick Facts

Dhanush Career in Numbers

As of September 2026, Dhanush has played the lead in 54 films, from Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002) to Kara (2026). His next release, Om: Chapter 1, is officially his 55th. Counts from other sources can differ slightly depending on whether cameos and dubbed versions are included.

Early Life and Family

Dhanush was born Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja on 28 July 1983 in Madras (now Chennai). His father, Kasthuri Raja, is a Tamil film director and producer, and his mother is Vijayalakshmi.

His elder brother, Selvaraghavan, is an acclaimed director who shaped Dhanush’s early career. He also has two sisters, Vimalageetha and Karthiga.

From Aspiring Chef to Actor

Acting was not his first plan. As a teenager, Dhanush wanted to study hotel management and become a chef. He has said that if he had not become an actor, he would have been a chef.

His brother encouraged him to try acting instead. He took the screen name “Dhanush” after a fictional covert operation in the 1995 Tamil film Kuruthipunal.

Dhanush Career Journey

Debut and Breakthrough (2002–2003)

Dhanush debuted at 19 in Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002), a coming-of-age drama directed by his father. It turned into a sleeper hit.

His breakthrough came a year later with Selvaraghavan’s Kaadhal Kondein (2003). His performance as Vinodh, a disturbed and lonely young man, surprised critics and earned him his first Filmfare nomination. Thiruda Thirudi (2003) followed and confirmed his box-office appeal.

Establishing Himself (2004–2010)

Through the mid-2000s, Dhanush balanced mass entertainers with character-driven films. Vetrimaaran’s Polladhavan (2007), inspired by the Italian classic Bicycle Thieves, began one of Tamil cinema’s most celebrated actor-director partnerships.

Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), opposite Nayanthara, was another major commercial success.

National Recognition: Aadukalam

The defining moment of his early career was Vetrimaaran’s Aadukalam (2011). He played K. P. Karuppu, a young man caught up in the world of rooster fighting in Madurai.

The performance won him the National Film Award for Best Actor. It also won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil.

Kolaveri and Going Pan-India (2011–2015)

In late 2011, “Why This Kolaveri Di” from 3 (2012) became a worldwide viral hit. It was the first Indian music video to cross 100 million views on YouTube. 3, which he produced and starred in as a young man with bipolar disorder, won him another Filmfare Best Actor award.

He made his Hindi debut with Aanand L. Rai’s Raanjhanaa (2013). His role as Kundan, an obsessive small-town lover in Varanasi, won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut, and the film grossed over ₹100 crore worldwide.

Velaiilla Pattadhari (2014), his 25th film, was a blockbuster and won him a third Filmfare Best Actor award. He followed it with Maari (2015), Anegan (2015) and the Hindi film Shamitabh (2015) with Amitabh Bachchan.

Vetrimaaran Classics (2018–2019)

Vada Chennai (2018), a sprawling gangster saga, earned him his fourth Filmfare Best Actor – Tamil award. That same year, “Rowdy Baby” from Maari 2 became the first South Indian video song to cross one billion views on YouTube.

Vetrimaaran’s Asuran (2019) brought him some of the best reviews of his career and a second National Film Award for Best Actor. He played Sivasaamy, a farmer and father forced back into violence to protect his family.

Hollywood and Global Reach (2019–2022)

Dhanush made his English-language debut in The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir (2019). His next English film had a much bigger reach: in the Russo brothers’ Netflix action film The Gray Man (2022), he played the assassin Avik San, alongside Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas.

At home, Mari Selvaraj’s Karnan (2021) was widely praised, and Atrangi Re (2021) reunited him with Aanand L. Rai. The feel-good family drama Thiruchitrambalam (2022) became one of his biggest hits.

Recent Career (2023–2026)

The Tamil–Telugu bilingual Vaathi/Sir (2023) and the period action film Captain Miller (2024) kept him busy on both sides of the language divide. For his landmark 50th film, Raayan (2024), he stepped behind the camera himself. The film grossed an estimated ₹160 crore worldwide.

2025 was one of his busiest years. Kuberaa, a Telugu–Tamil drama by Sekhar Kammula, won praise for his performance as a beggar caught in a financial conspiracy. He then directed and starred in Idli Kadai, and returned to Hindi cinema with Tere Ishk Mein, which grossed about ₹148 crore worldwide.

In April 2026 he released the heist thriller Kara, directed by Vignesh Raja, which received mixed reviews.

Dhanush Movies: Key Filmography

Dhanush has played the lead in 54 films across four languages. The tables below cover his most important work.

Tamil Films

Hindi and English Films

Dhanush as a Director

Dhanush made his directing debut with Pa. Paandi (2017), a gentle drama about an elderly stuntman, starring Rajkiran, with Dhanush playing the younger version of the lead character.

Music: Singer and Lyricist

Dhanush is also a popular playback singer and lyricist, often credited as “Poet-u Dhanush.” He has written lyrics for 60+ songs and sung many tracks for composers such as Anirudh Ravichander, Yuvan Shankar Raja and G. V. Prakash Kumar.

• “Why This Kolaveri Di” (3, 2011): written and sung by Dhanush and composed by Anirudh. It was the first Indian music video to cross 100 million YouTube views.
• “Rowdy Baby” (Maari 2, 2018): the first South Indian video song to cross one billion YouTube views.
• “Un Mele Aasaidhaan” (Aayirathil Oruvan, 2010): won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Tamil.

Dhanush Production House: Wunderbar Films

Dhanush founded Wunderbar Films in 2010 with his then-wife, Aishwarya. The banner has produced his own films and backed other acclaimed filmmakers.

• His own films: 3, Velaiilla Pattadhari, Maari, Vada Chennai, Maari 2, Idli Kadai and the Hindi film Shamitabh.
• National Award winners: Kaaka Muttai (2015) and Vetrimaaran’s Visaranai (2016), which was India’s official entry to the Oscars.
• Upcoming: Om: Chapter 1, co-produced with RTake Studios.

Dhanush Awards and Achievements

National Film Awards

Filmfare Awards

He has also won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and 14 SIIMA Awards. He has appeared six times on the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list, peaking at No. 37 in 2015.

Dhanush Lifestyle

Off screen, Dhanush keeps a fairly low profile compared with many stars of his standing. His public style is simple: crisp shirts, traditional veshti on cultural occasions, and sharp suits at international events such as the Cannes Film Festival.

He has spoken about his love of cooking, a passion from his childhood ambition to become a chef. He follows a vegetarian diet and is a devotee of Lord Shiva, and he gave both his sons Shaivite names.

He is based in Chennai, where he lives and runs his production work. He has also supported causes including flood relief during the 2015 South India floods, help for the families of farmers in distress, and WWF India’s Earth Hour campaign.

Dhanush Personal Life

Dhanush married Aishwarya Rajinikanth, a filmmaker and the elder daughter of superstar Rajinikanth, on 18 November 2004. The couple have two sons: Yatra, born in 2006, and Linga, born in 2010.

In January 2022, Dhanush and Aishwarya announced their separation, and the divorce was finalised in November 2024. Both have spoken publicly about continuing to co-parent their sons.

Dhanush Net Worth

Dhanush is widely reported to be one of the highest-paid actors in Tamil cinema. He earns from acting, directing, producing, music and brand endorsements. However, public estimates vary, and there is no officially verified figure for his net worth.

Numbers published by celebrity-wealth websites have not been confirmed by Dhanush or his team, so they should be treated only as rough estimates.

Dhanush Social Media

• Instagram: @dhanushkraja
• X (Twitter): @dhanushkraja

He mostly uses social media for film announcements, posters, song launches and occasional personal notes. He has regularly ranked among the most-discussed South Indian actors on X.

Lesser-Known Facts About Dhanush

• His real name is Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja.
• He took the screen name “Dhanush” from a covert operation in the 1995 film Kuruthipunal.
• Before acting, he wanted to become a chef.
• He wrote most of the lyrics of “Why This Kolaveri Di,” one of India’s first viral internet songs.
• He chose to direct his own 50th film, Raayan.
• In Anegan (2015), he played characters across different eras and rebirths.
• Wunderbar Films produced Visaranai, India’s official entry to the Academy Awards.
• He has worked with Vetrimaaran on some of his most acclaimed films, including Polladhavan, Aadukalam, Vada Chennai and Asuran.

Dhanush Upcoming Movies and Current Projects

Confirmed Projects

• Om: Chapter 1 – Udhiram (The Blood Wood): his 55th film, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, with Mammootty, Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela and Naseeruddin Shah. It is produced by Wunderbar Films and RTake Studios. It was planned for 16 October 2026, but Dhanush confirmed a postponement to avoid clashing with Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2. A new date has not been officially announced.
• D56 (working title): an action film with director Tamizharasan Pachamuthu.

Announced / On Hold

• Kalam: a biopic of former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, directed by Om Raut and announced at Cannes in 2025. Reports in July 2026 said production had not started.
• Ilaiyaraaja biopic: announced with director Arun Matheswaran, with a first look released in 2024. Recent reports say the project is on hold.

Note: dates and project status can change. The details above reflect public reports as of September 2026.

Legacy and Impact

Dhanush is widely credited with changing what a Tamil hero could look like. With a lean frame and everyman roles, he showed that performance could carry a film as well as star image.

His partnership with Vetrimaaran produced some of the most acclaimed Tamil films of the last two decades. As a producer, he has backed small, socially grounded films like Kaaka Muttai and Visaranai, which won national and international recognition.

With films in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and English, plus success as a director, singer and lyricist, he is one of the most multi-talented stars of his generation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dhanush

Who is Dhanush?

Dhanush is an Indian actor, director, producer, playback singer and lyricist. He works mainly in Tamil cinema and has also acted in Hindi, Telugu and English films.

What is Dhanush’s real name?

Dhanush’s real name is Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja.

How old is Dhanush?

Dhanush was born on 28 July 1983, which makes him 43 years old as of 2026.

How many movies has Dhanush done?

As of September 2026, Dhanush has played the lead in 54 films, the latest being Kara (2026). Om: Chapter 1 will be his 55th. He has also directed four films.

What was Dhanush’s first movie?

His first film was Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002), directed by his father, Kasthuri Raja.

How many National Awards has Dhanush won?

Dhanush has won four National Film Awards: Best Actor for Aadukalam and Asuran, and two as a producer, for Kaaka Muttai and Visaranai.

What are Dhanush’s Hindi movies?

His Hindi films are Raanjhanaa (2013), Shamitabh (2015), Atrangi Re (2021) and Tere Ishk Mein (2025).

Does Dhanush own a production house?

Yes. He founded Wunderbar Films in 2010. It has produced films including 3, Velaiilla Pattadhari, Vada Chennai, Kaaka Muttai and Visaranai.

What is Dhanush’s net worth?

Public estimates vary, and there is no officially verified figure for Dhanush’s net worth.

What are Dhanush’s upcoming movies?

His next film is Om: Chapter 1 with Mammootty and Sai Pallavi, followed by an action film with Tamizharasan Pachamuthu. The Kalam biopic and an Ilaiyaraaja biopic have been announced but are reportedly on hold.

Final Summary

Dhanush started out as a young actor launched by his father. Two decades later, he is a two-time National Award-winning actor, a successful director, a hit singer-lyricist and a producer of award-winning cinema.

With 54 films as a lead actor and Om: Chapter 1 on the way, he remains one of the most active and respected figures in Indian cinema.