Dhanush is an Indian actor, producer, screenwriter, lyricist, playback singer and film director who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. Born Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, he made his acting debut in 2002 and has since become one of the most prominent figures in the South Indian film industry. He is a two-time National Film Award recipient and has gained pan-Indian and international recognition through commercially successful films and viral cultural moments.
| Birth name | Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja |
|---|---|
| Stage name | Dhanush |
| Date of birth | 28 July 1983 |
| Place of birth | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Father | Kasthuri Raja (filmmaker) |
| Brother | Selvaraghavan (filmmaker) |
| Spouse | Aishwaryaa R. Dhanush (m. 2004; separation announced 2022) |
| Children | Yatra and Linga |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, lyricist, singer, director |
| Active since | 2002 |
| Production house | Wunderbar Films (founded 2010) |
Dhanush belongs to a film family from Tamil Nadu. His father, Kasthuri Raja, is a director, and his elder brother, Selvaraghavan, is a screenwriter and director. Through his marriage to Aishwaryaa, daughter of actor Rajinikanth, he became a son-in-law of one of Indian cinema's most influential figures. He completed his schooling in Chennai before being persuaded by his father to enter films.
Dhanush made his debut as the lead in Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002), directed by his father. He gained wider attention with Kaadhal Kondein (2003) and Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan (2004). His collaboration with brother Selvaraghavan in Pudhupettai (2006) is regarded as a milestone in Tamil cinema for its raw treatment of urban gangster life.
Polladhavan (2007) and Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008) established him as a bankable lead. Aadukalam (2011), directed by Vetrimaaran, won him the National Film Award for Best Actor, making him one of the youngest recipients of the honour. The film also won the National Award for Best Direction.
The song "Why This Kolaveri Di" from 3 (2012), composed by Anirudh Ravichander and sung and written by Dhanush, became a global viral phenomenon and was widely credited as one of the first Indian songs to achieve large-scale internet virality. He made his Hindi cinema debut with Aanand L. Rai's Raanjhanaa (2013), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. He also produced Visaranai (2015), India's official entry to the 89th Academy Awards.
Dhanush directed his first film, Pa Paandi, in 2017. He starred in the French–British production The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir (2018), directed by Ken Scott, marking his international debut. He featured in the Russo Brothers' Netflix film The Gray Man (2022) alongside Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. Asuran (2019), directed by Vetrimaaran, brought him a second National Film Award for Best Actor. Subsequent notable films include Karnan (2021), Vaathi/Sir (2023) and Captain Miller (2024).
Dhanush founded the production company Wunderbar Films in 2010, which has produced films across Tamil cinema, including Visaranai, Power Paandi, Vada Chennai and several star vehicles. He has written lyrics for numerous Tamil film songs, often for his own films, and is a frequent playback contributor.
Dhanush is regarded as a leading actor of his generation in Tamil cinema, known for portraying a wide range of characters including rural protagonists, urban youth, and grey-shaded antiheroes. His work with directors such as Vetrimaaran, Selvaraghavan, Mari Selvaraj and Aanand L. Rai has been associated with both critical recognition and box-office success. He is among a small group of South Indian stars to have crossed over to Hindi cinema and Hollywood while continuing to lead Tamil productions.