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Quick Info→
Marital Status: Divorced
Age: 43 Years
Hometown: Egmore, Chennai
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | R K Vengadesha Prabu check sources Deccan Herald |
| Real name | Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja check sources Wikipedia |
| Other name | Dhanush K Raja check sources |
| Profession(s) | Actor, Producer, Director, Writer, Lyricist, Screenwriter, and Playback Singer |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | 5' 9" (175 cm) |
| Weight (approx.) | 70 Kg (154 lbs) |
| Body Measurements (approx.) | - Chest: 38 inches - Waist: 30 inches - Biceps: 11 inches |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Career | |
| Debut | Film (Tamil; As an actor): Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002) as Mahesh  Film (Hindi; As an actor): Raanjhanaa (2013) as Kundan Shankarin  Film (English; As an actor): The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir (2015) as Lavash Patel  Film (Tamil; As a producer): 3 (2012)  Film (Tamil; As a lyricist): Kadhal En Kadhal from ‘Mayakkam Enna’ (2011)  |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | National Film Awards 2010: Best Actor for Aadukalam 2014: Best Children’s Film (co-producer) for Kaaka Muttai  2015: Best Feature Film in Tamil (co-producer) for Visaranai 2019: Best Actor for Asuran  Filmfare Awards (Bollywood) 2013: Best Debutant Actor for Raanjhanaa Filmfare Awards South 2011: Best Actor for Aadukalam 2012: Best Male Playback Singer for Why This Kolaveri Di from the film 3 2012: Best Actor for 3 2013: Critics Best Actor award for Maryan 2014: Best Actor for Velaiyilla Pattathari 2015: Best Film for Kaaka Muttai (co-producer) 2018: Best Actor for Vada Chennai Vijay Awards 2008: Best Entertainer of the Year for Yaaradi Nee Mohini 2011: Best Crew (actor) for Aadukalam 2012: Best Lyricist for “Po Nee Po” from 3 2013: Best Crew (producer) for Ethir Neechal 2014: Best Actor for Velaiyilla Pattathari South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2011: Best Actor for Aadukalam 2011: Best Male Playback Singer for “Voda Voda” from Mayakkam Enna IIFA Utsavam 2015: Best Lyricist – Tamil for “Don-u Don-u Don-u” from Maari 2018: Best Actor for Vada Chennai 2018: Best Film for Vada Chennai (co-producer) Edison Awards (India) 2013: Best Actor for Maryan 2018: Best Actor for Vada Chennai 2019: Best Actor for Asuran Note: He has many more accolades to his name. |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 28 July 1982 (Wednesday) |
| Age (as of 2025) | 43 Years |
| Birthplace | Government Children’s Hospital in Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu check sources The Hindu |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Signature/Autograph |  |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| School | Thai Sathya Matriculation High School, Chennai |
| College/University | Madurai Kamaraj University |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor of Computer Application (distance education) check sources S & S Family First |
| Religion | Hinduism check sources India Today |
| Caste | Naicker (Backward class community) check sources India Today |
| Food Habit | Vegetarian check sources The Times of India |
| Controversies | • There were reports that Shruti Haasan and Dhanush got carried away while shooting for a romantic scene on the sets of '3' movie in 2011, which later turned out to be an affair. However, Dhanush’s wife slammed such rumours. check sources Odisha TV • In November 2016, Kathiresan and Meenaal, an old couple from Thiruppuvanam, Tamil Nadu, claimed that they were the real parents of Dhanush. They said that Dhanush's original name was 'Kalaiyarasan,' and he left the house in 2002 after his poor scores in exam results, after which he came to Chennai to become an actor and never visited them again. Not only this, they filed a complaint in the local police station and the Chief Minister's special cell, and appealed the authorities to help them "in getting their son back" and asked for a monthly maintenance of ₹65000/month from Dhanush. Later, it was found that there was no truth to the couple's claim. check sources The News Minute check sources Deccan Herald • In 2017, Dhanush was accused of sexual assaults by the South Indian singer RJ Suchitra in one of her tweets. Later, her husband said that she was in depression, and her Twitter account was hacked. check sources The Indian Express • In an interview in May 2024, singer Suchitra alleged that both Dhanush and Aishwarya R. Dhanush cheated on each other during their marriage. check sources The Times of India • In November 2024, he entered into a feud with actress Nayanthara after she posted on Instagram claiming that he had sent her a legal notice demanding Rs. 10 crore. The notice was in response to her alleged use of a three-second behind-the-scenes video of her from the 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which Dhanush produced, without prior permission in a documentary based on her life as an actress. Nayanthara also stated that she had sent a formal letter in 2022 requesting permission to use the video clip, but Dhanush failed to respond to that letter. |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Affairs/Girlfriends | • Aishwarya R. Dhanush • Shruti Haasan (Actor; rumoured in 2011) check sources Odisha TV  • Trisha Krishnan (Actor; rumoured) check sources Odisha TV  |
| Marriage Date | 8 November 2004 |
| Marriage Place | Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam, Chennai  |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Aishwarya R. Dhanush (Director and Classical Dancer) (m. 2004; div. 27 November 2024)  |
| Children | Son(s)- Yatra (born; 2006) and Linga (born; 2010)  |
| Parents | Father- Kasthuri Raja (Filmmaker) Mother- Vijaylakshmi  |
| Siblings | Brother- Selvaraghavan (Elder, Director) Sisters- K. Vimala Geetha, Karthika Devi (Doctor)  |
| Other Relative | Father-in-law- Rajinikanth (Actor)  |
| Favourites | |
| Food | Idiyappam, Kadala Curry |
| Actor(s) | Mohanlal , Amitabh Bachchan , Al Pacino, Tom Hanks |
| Actress(es) | Simran, Kajol , Kareena Kapoor , Monica Bellucci |
| Film(s) | Netri Kann (1981), Baashha (1995), Pudhupettai (2006), and Drushyam (2014) |
| Musician | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Song | “Thendral Vanthu Theendum Pothu” from the film ‘Avatharam’ (2014) |
| Book | Love Story by Erich Segal |
| Colour | Black |
| Sport(s) | Tennis, Snooker, Football |
| Football Club | FC Barcelona |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | • Audi A8 • Ford Mustang GT • Bentley Continental Flying Spur (worth Rs. 3.40 Crore) • Rolls Royce Ghost Series 2 (worth Rs. 7.95 Crore) • Jaguar XE |
| Money Factor | |
| Assets/Properties | A mansion in Chennai worth Rs. 25 crore |
| Net Worth | Rs. 230 Crore (as of 2024) |
Does Dhanush smoke?: No check sources SS Family First
Does Dhanush drink alcohol?: No check sources SS Family First
Dhanush is an Indian actor, producer, director, writer, lyricist, screenwriter, and playback singer.
He was born in a middle-class Hindu family. check sources SS Family First
In an interview, he shared that in childhood he wanted to have a red remote-controlled toy car which one of his friends used to have. He further said,
I wanted it so badly that I’d go ask him (neighbour) and he’d refuse to part with it. My brother used to take a used thread spool and try to shape it into something that looked like a car. The days I’ve yearned for that red car I’d never forget.”
While he was in school, he wanted to become a chef or marine engineer.
He failed in 12th class final exams, and later, he completed his graduation through distance learning. check sources SS Family First
In an interview, he shared that he was brought up in a poor family. He said,
For a large part of my father’s youth, he worked in a mill and took up odd jobs to make ends meet. We lived in a small room and could only afford a meal a day. Dad would walk 11km every day to save a rupee of bus fare so we could go to school. I’ve seen poverty up close until I was four or five. But dad was a writer from a young age. Even while working in the mill, he would write stories and scripts and sell them to people for Rs 50 or so. They would then sell the stories to directors and producers as their own. Through one such contact, he got a break in the Tamil film industry as an assistant director. He must have been in his late 30s then. He worked hard for 15 years before making his directorial debut.”
Dhanush further added,
Of course! I was all of 16, I cried, threw tantrums, fasted. Nothing worked. I am glad it didn’t as I realise today I cannot do anything else. I suffer from stage fright so I blabber on stage and stop midway through my performances. I cannot even write a cheque as it makes me nervous. Being around people makes me nervous. But I’m very comfortable in front of the camera, and this I realised many films later.”
He met Aishwarya for the first time at the screening of the Tamil film ‘Kadhal Kondaen’ (2003). Later, they started dating and got married in a traditional wedding ceremony. Whereas as per some other sources, their parents were friends and decided to fix the marriage of their children. check sources Bollywood Shaadis check sources Pinkvilla
In an interview, he shared that when he started his career as an actor, his English-speaking skills were poor. He said,
My English was pretty bad in 2005. To fix that, I got into the habit of reading English books. It would take me more than six months initially to read a book; I’d fall asleep before finishing a single chapter.”
He debuted as an actor in his father’s directorial film ‘Thulluvadho Ilamai’ in 2002.
In 2003, he acted in the Tamil film ‘Kadhal Kondein’ directed by his brother Selvaraghavan.
In 2004, his films failed to do well at the box office, and his films like ‘Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan,’ ‘Sullan,’ and ‘Dreams’ were a flop.
Later, his films ‘Devathaiyai Kanden’ (2005), ‘Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam’ (2005), ‘Yaaradi Nee Mohini’ (2008), and ‘Padikkadavan’ (2009) became hit, giving a boost to his acting career.
He won his first National Award for the Tamil film ‘Aadukalam’ (2011) in which he played the role of a rooster fight jockey.
In 2012, he released a song “Why This Kolaveri Di” on YouTube which went viral across the world. Later, the song was released in the Tamil film ‘3’ starring Dhanush and Shruti Haasan .
Dhanush and his wife started a film production company ‘Wunderbar Films’ on 20 May 2010, and their first film as a producer was the Tamil film ‘3’ released in 2012. Some of his other films as a producer are ‘Ethir Neechal’ (2013), ‘Kaaki Sattai’ (2015), ‘Maari’ (2015), ‘Kaala’ (2018), and ‘Maari 2’ (2018).
He is a renowned singer and has lent his voice for various songs like “Un mele” from the film ‘Aayirathil Oruvan’ (2010), “Danga maari” from ‘Anegan’ (2015), “Maalai Varum Vannilla” from ‘Nenjam Marappathillai’ (2016), “Polladha Bhoomi” from ‘Asuran’ (2019), and “Kaathodu Kaathanen” from ‘Jail’ (2020).
He is a lyricist too and has penned down the lyrics of various songs like “Why This Kolaveri Di” from ‘3’ (2012), “Po Indru Neeyaga” from ‘Velaiilla Pattadhari’ (2014), “Venpanimalare” from ‘Pa Paandi’ (2017), and “Ilamai Thirumbuthe” from ‘Petta’ (2019).
After making his successful debut in the Bollywood film ‘Raanjhanaa’ in 2013, he acted in the Hindi film ‘Shamitabh’ (2015) along with the legendary Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan
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In 2021, he completed shooting for the Tamil film ‘Jagame Thandhiram’ and the Hindi film ‘Atrangi Re.’ In the same year, he was filming for the English film ‘The Gray Man.’
He is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and has named his sons Yatra (Pilgrimage) and Linga (Shiva Lingam).
He was titled ‘India’s ‘Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity’ in 2011 by the American animal rights organization ‘PETA,’ but Dhanush did not like it and considered it to be an insult. check sources The Hindustan Times
He assisted an international non-governmental organization WWF for their initiative ‘Earth Hour’ in 2012.
Dhanush has been featured on the cover page of various renowned magazines.
Dhanush featured on Filmfare magazine
Based on his yearly earnings, he has been listed in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list for six times. check sources Forbes India
Dhanush has featured in various TV commercials like 7UP, Tata Nano, and Center Fresh.
On one of his birthdays, he visited Kotiswari to meet his 12-year-old fan who was in the last stage of blood cancer.
Dhanush celebrated his birthday with his fan
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In 2016, an elderly couple from Thiruppuvanam, Tamil Nadu, claimed that Dhanush was their son, who they alleged left home in 2002. However, the claim was later proven false.
Yes, Dhanush won the Best Actor award for 'Aadukalam' in 2010 and again for 'Asuran' in 2019. He also co-produced the Best Children's Film 'Kaaka Muttai' in 2014 and the Best Feature Film in Tamil 'Visaranai' in 2015.
Yes, the song from his 2012 film '3' went viral worldwide after he released it on YouTube, making him an overnight international sensation.
He is also a producer, director, writer, lyricist, screenwriter, and playback singer, showcasing his versatility in the entertainment industry.
In 2011, PETA gave him this title, but Dhanush considered it an insult and did not appreciate the recognition.