Dhanush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dhanush
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Dhanush at an event for Asuran in 2020
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| Born |
Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja
28 July 1983 |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
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Works
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Filmography |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Family | Kasthuri Raja family |
| Awards | Full list |
Dhanush is a famous Indian actor, filmmaker, and singer. His real name is Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja. He was born on July 28, 1983. He mostly works in movies made in Tamil Nadu, India.
Dhanush has starred in 50 films. He has won many awards for his work. These include four National Film Awards and many Filmfare Awards South. He is one of the highest-paid actors in Tamil cinema. He has been on the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list several times.
His first movie was Thulluvadho Ilamai in 2002. His father, Kasthuri Raja, directed it. He became very successful with films like Polladhavan (2007) and Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008). His role in Aadukalam (2010) won him a National Film Award for Best Actor.
In 2011, Dhanush sang "Why This Kolaveri Di". This song became super popular online. It was the first Indian music video to get 100 million views on YouTube. He also acted in his first Hindi film, Raanjhanaa, in 2013. He also produces movies with his company, Wunderbar Films. He directed his first movie, Pa Paandi, in 2017.
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Early life
Dhanush was born Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja. This was on July 28, 1983, in Madras, Tamil Nadu. His father, Kasthuri Raja, is a film director. His mother is Vijayalakshmi.
When he was younger, Dhanush wanted to be a chef. He thought about studying Hotel Management. But his older brother, Selvaraghavan, encouraged him to become an actor.
Acting career
Starting out (2002–2010)
Venkatesh Prabhu chose the name "Dhanush" for his acting career. He was inspired by a movie. His first movie was Thulluvadho Ilamai in 2002. It was a teen drama directed by his father. The movie became a quiet success.
In 2003, he starred in Kaadhal Kondein. This movie was directed by his brother, Selvaraghavan. Dhanush played a troubled young man. The film was a big hit and helped him become well-known. He also acted in the romantic comedy Thiruda Thirudi in 2003. This movie was also successful.
In 2005, he worked on Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam. Dhanush has said that this film made him take acting very seriously. In 2006, he worked with his brother again on Pudhupettai. This film is now seen as a classic Tamil movie.
His film Polladhavan came out in 2007. It was based on an old Italian film. Dhanush's acting in it was highly praised. In 2008, he starred in Yaaradi Nee Mohini. This romantic comedy was a big success.
Dhanush's film Padikathavan (2009) was also a box office hit. This movie showed that he was a reliable star. He also sang "Un Mele Aasaidhaan" from Aayirathil Oruvan. This song won him his first singing award.
Becoming a top actor (2011–2015)
In 2011, Dhanush's movie Aadukalam was released. He played a local rooster fighter. This movie was a huge success and won six National Film Awards. Dhanush won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role. Critics said it was one of his best performances.
His movie 3 came out in 2012. His wife at the time, Aishwarya, directed it. He played a character with bipolar disorder. The movie was very popular, especially because of the song "Why This Kolaveri Di". This song became a global sensation. It was the first Indian video to reach 100 million views on YouTube.
In 2013, Dhanush made his debut in Bollywood with Raanjhanaa. He played a boy deeply in love with a girl. The film was a big hit and earned over ₹105 crore (about 1050 million Indian Rupees). His acting was highly praised. He won an award for Best Male Debut for this film.
His 25th film, Velaiilla Pattadhari, was released in 2014. It was a comedy-drama. The movie was very successful and was one of the highest-grossing Tamil films that year. Dhanush won another Best Actor award for his role.
In 2015, he starred in Anegan, a psychological thriller. He played four different characters. The film was a success. He also played a gangster in Maari, which was popular.
Continued success (2016–present)
In 2016, Dhanush acted in Kodi. In this political thriller, he played two roles: a politician and his twin brother. The film was a commercial success.
In 2017, Dhanush directed his first movie, Pa Paandi. He also acted in it as a younger version of the main character. The movie was successful and received good reviews. He also starred in Velaiilla Pattadhari 2, a sequel to his earlier hit. This movie was one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of that year.
His films Vadachennai and Maari 2 were released in 2018. Vadachennai was highly praised by critics. It became the highest-grossing adult-rated Tamil film ever. Dhanush won another Best Actor award for his performance.
In 2019, his international film, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, was released. His next film, Asuran, was a big success. It showed a powerful story about land and caste issues. Asuran earned Dhanush his second National Film Award for Best Actor.
In 2020, he starred in Pattas, playing a double role. In 2022, Dhanush appeared in the Hollywood film The Gray Man. He acted alongside famous stars like Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling.
In 2022, Dhanush's film Thiruchitrambalam was released. It became the highest-grossing film in his career. He continues to work on new projects.
Personal life
Dhanush married Aishwarya Rajinikanth, who is actor Rajinikanth's older daughter. They got married on November 18, 2004. They have two sons, Yatra and Linga. Yatra was born in 2006, and Linga in 2010. The couple announced their separation on January 17, 2022, and divorced on November 27, 2024.
Dhanush is a follower of the Hindu god Shiva. He gave his sons names related to Shiva. He is also a vegetarian.
Music career
Dhanush is also a talented singer. He often sings songs for his own movies. He also writes song lyrics. When he writes lyrics, he is sometimes called "Poet-u Dhanush."
He first sang in the movie Pudhukottaiyirundhu Saravanan. He also sang in his brother's film Pudhupettai. He sang more songs in films like Aayirathil Oruvan and Mayakkam Enna.
His song "Why This Kolaveri Di" from the film 3 became a huge hit in 2011. It was a viral sensation on YouTube. He also sang "Rowdy Baby" from Maari 2. This song became one of the most-viewed Indian songs ever. It was the first South Indian video song to reach one billion views on YouTube.
Other works
Dhanush cares about many good causes. He worked with WWF India to support Earth Hour in 2012. He also donated money to people affected by floods in 2015. In 2017, he helped families of farmers who were struggling.
Wunderbar Films
In 2010, Dhanush and his former wife Aishwarya started a film company. It is called Wunderbar Films. They have produced many movies. Dhanush has acted in many of these films himself. Some of these include 3, Velaiilla Pattadhari, and Maari. As a producer, he won National Film Awards for the films Kaaka Muttai and Visaranai.
Dhanush made his first movie as a director with Pa Paandi in 2017. He won an award for Best Director for this film.
In the media
Dhanush is one of the highest-paid actors in Tamil cinema. He has been on the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list many times. This list shows the earnings of famous Indian people. In 2015, he was ranked 37th on this list.
Rediff.com named Dhanush the "Best Tamil Actor" in 2011. His acting in Maryan and Raanjhanaa is considered among the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by Film Companion. He is also one of the most talked-about South Indian actors on Twitter.
Filmography
Accolades
Dhanush has won four National Film Awards. This includes two Best Actor awards for his roles in Aadukalam and Asuran. He has also won eight Filmfare Awards South. Four of these were for Best Actor – Tamil for his work in Aadukalam, 3, Velaiyilla Pattathari, and Vada Chennai.
See also
In Spanish: Dhanush para niños
