Dhanush is a well-known Indian actor, producer, director, writer, lyricist, screenwriter, and playback singer who principally works in Tamil cinema. He is the son-in-law of the Indian megastar Rajinikanth.
Wiki/Biography
Dhanush K Raja was born on Wednesday, 28 July 1982 (age 41 years; as of 2023) at Government Children’s Hospital in Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His zodiac sign is Leo.
A childhood picture of Dhanush with his sisters
He did his schooling at Thai Sathya Matriculation High School, Chennai.
Dhanush with his schoolmates
In one of his tweets, he said that he had never been to college. Later, he pursued a Bachelor of Computer Application (distance education) from Madurai Kamaraj University.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Weight (approx.): 70 kg
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
Body Measurements (approx.): Chest 38″, Waist 30″, Biceps 11″
Family & Caste
He was born in a middle-class Hindu family of the Naicker community (Backward Classes).
Parents & Siblings
His father, Kasthuri Raja, is a Tamil film director and producer. His mother’s name is Vijayalakshmi. His brother, Selvaraghavan, is a film director too. He has two sisters, Karthika Devi, who works as a doctor, and his second sister is K. Vimala Geetha.
Dhanush with his parents and wife
Dhanush with his siblings- Selvaraghavan, Vimala Geetha, and Karthiga (starting from the left)
He is the son-in-law of the ace Indian actor Rajinikanth.
Dhanush with his father-in-law, Rajinikanth
Wife & Children
Aishwarya Rajinikanth, daughter of the legendary Indian actor Rajinikanth, met Dhanush for the first time at the screening of the Tamil film ‘Kadhal Kondaen’ (2003). She sent Dhanush a bouquet with a message that read,
Good work, keep in touch.”
Later, the rumours of their relationship started which turned out to be true, and the couple decided to tie the knot after a few months of their relationship.
Reportedly, as per some other media sources it was an arranged marriage, and they were only friends before. On 18 November 2004, Dhanush got married to Aishwarya who is two years older than him. It was a lavish traditional Tamil wedding ceremony at Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam, Chennai, and many renowned Indian celebrities attended the wedding.
Dhanush’s wedding picture
On 10 October 2006, the couple was blessed with child, a boy named Yatra Raja, and on 21 June 2010, their second son, Linga Raja, was born.
Dhanush with his sons
In January 2022, Dhanush and Aishwaryaa announced that they were going to end their 18-year-long marriage. In April 2024, Aishwarya Rajinikanth and Dhanush filed for divorce at the Chennai family court.
Relationships/Affairs
In 2011, there were rumours that while shooting for the Tamil film ‘3’ he got carried away with his co-star Shruti Haasan while filming a romantic scene. Later, there were rumours that they were dating. His wife Aishwarya ignored all such rumours and denied them.
Dhanush and Shruti Haasan
There were also rumours about Dhanush had an affair with his long time friend Trisha, and their pictures while spending quality time with each other were also leaked in the media.
Dhanush with Trisha
Career
As an Actor
He debuted as an actor in the 2002 Tamil film ‘Thulluvadho Ilamai’ as Mahesh. The film was directed by his father Kasthuri Raja.
Dhanush in ‘Thulluvadho Ilamai’
In 2003, he acted in the Tamil film ‘Kadhal Kondein’ which is the directorial debut of his brother Selvaraghavan.
Dhanush in ‘Kadhal Kondein’
In 2004, he appeared in back to back flop films like ‘Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan,’ ‘Sullan,’ and ‘Dreams.’ He then appeared in Tamil films like ‘Devathaiyai Kanden’ (2005), ‘Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam’ (2005), ‘Yaaradi Nee Mohini’ (2008), and ‘Padikkadavan’ (2009) which did well at the box-office and gave a kick start to his acting career.
Dhanush in ‘Padikkadavan’ (2009)
Dhanush played the role of a rooster fight jockey in the Tamil film ‘Aadukalam’ (2011) for which he won his first National Award. He gained immense popularity after this film, and critics started recognising him as one of the finest South Indian actors.
Dhanush in ‘Aadukalam’ (2011)
In 2012, he became an internet sensation with his song “Why This Kolaveri Di” which became popular not only in India but in other countries also. In the same year, the song was picturised on Dhanush in the Tamil film ‘3’ which is the directorial debut of Dhanush’s wife Aishwarya R. Dhanush.
In 2013, he made his Bollywood debut in Aanand L Rai’s film ‘Raanjhanaa’ opposite Sonam Kapoor. He played the role of Kundan Shankarin in the film. His acting skills in the film were appreciated by the audience and critics, and he won many awards for this film.
Dhanush in Raanjhanaa
He then acted in the Hindi film ‘Shamitabh’ (2015) along with the legendary Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan and Akshara Haasan (who debuted in the film as an actor).
In 2015, he played a triple role in the Tamil romantic-thriller film ‘Anegan.’ In 2018, he made his first international appearance as Ajatashatru “Aja” Lavash Patel in the film ‘The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir.’
Dhanush in ‘The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir’
As of 2021, he has completed shooting for the Tamil film ‘Jagame Thandhiram’ and the Hindi film ‘Atrangi Re.’ He is filming for the English film ‘The Gray Man’ and an untitled film by the film director Karthick Naren.
Dhanush in Atrangi Re
As a Producer
On 20 May 2010, he started his film production company ‘Wunderbar Films’ along with his wife Aishwarya. He started his stint as a producer in the Tamil film ‘3’ in 2012. He has worked as a producer in many Tamil films like ‘Ethir Neechal’ (2013), ‘Kaaki Sattai’ (2015), ‘Maari’ (2015), ‘Kaala’ (2018), and ‘Maari 2’ (2018).
As a Singer
He has lent his voice for many Tamil songs including “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).
As a Lyricist
Dhanush recording for the song Why This Kolaveri Di
In 2011, Dhanush started working as a lyricist and penned down the lyrics of “Kadhal En Kadhal” from the Tamil film ‘Mayakkam Enna’ (2011). Some of the other songs for which he wrote the lyrics are “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).
Controversies
- In October 2016, an elderly couple R Kathiresan (65) and his wife, K Meenakshi (53) sent a legal notice to Dhanush claiming that he was their elder son Kalaichelvan who was born in 1985 at Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. They further claimed that while Dhanush was in class 11, he ran away from home to work in films in Chennai. They even claimed a maintenance of Rs 65,000 per month from Dhanush. Later, the principal of Dhanush’s school in the court said that Dhanush used to study in their school, and his real mother i.e. Vijayalakshmi used to drop him at the school along with his sisters.
- In 2017, the South Indian singer RJ Suchitra accused Dhanush of sexual assault in one of her tweets. Later, her husband said she was emotionally stressed, and her Twitter account was hacked.
- In May 2024, singer Suchitra Ramadurai revealed during an interview that both Dhanush and Aishwarya R. Dhanush cheated on each other while both were still married to each other.
Awards & Honours
National Film Awards
- 2010: Best Actor for Aadukalam
- 2014: Best Children’s Film (co-producer) for Kaaka Muttai
Dhanush receiving National Film Award
- 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
- 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.
Net Worth
Rs. 31.75 crore (as of 2019)
Car Collection
- Bentley Continental Flying Spur
- Rolls Royce Ghost Series 2
Signature/Autograph
Dhanush’s autograph
Favourite Things
- Food: Idiyappam, Kadala Curry
- Films: Netri Kann (1981), Baashha (1995), Pudhupettai (2006), and Drushyam (2014)
- Song: “Thendral Vanthu Theendum Pothu” from the film ‘Avatharam’ (2014)
- Book: Love Story by Erich Sega
- Sport(s): Tennis, Snooker, Football
- Football Club: FC Barcelona
Facts/Trivia
- His real name is Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, and his birth name is R K Vengadesha Prabu.
- In childhood, he wanted, to own a red remote-controlled toy car which one of his neighbours used to have. In an interview, while talking about it, he 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.”
- He failed while he was in class 12th, and while he was in school, he wanted to become a chef or marine engineer.
- Dhanush is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.
- He does not smoke or drink alcohol.
- In an interview, he talked about his poor English speaking skills while he started his career as an actor. 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.”
- During an interview, while talking about his poor financial condition in childhood, 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.”
He 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.”
- In 2011, an American animal rights organization ‘PETA’ titled him ‘India’s ‘Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity’ and appointed him as the brand ambassador of PETA, but in an interview he said that it was an insult for him.
- In 2012, he supported the ‘Earth Hour’ initiative started by WWF (an international non-governmental organization).
- He has been featured on the cover page of various renowned magazines.
Dhanush featured on the cover of Filmfare magazine
- Dhanush has been listed in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list six times based on his earnings.
- He visited a 12-year-old dying fan (last stages of blood cancer) on one of his birthdays.
- He has also appeared in the TV commercials of various renowned brands including 7UP, Tata Nano, and Center Fresh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51_OXwimBlM
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education