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Vishnuvardhan

Vishnuvardhan

Actor · Born 1950-09-18 · Mysore, Karnataka, India

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Biography

Sampath Kumar (18 September 1950 – 30 December 2009), known by his stage name Vishnuvardhan, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Kannada cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam language films. Vishnuvardhan has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 220 films. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, and holds the status of a matinée idol among the Kannada diaspora. He is popularly called as Sahasa Simha, Dada and The Angry Young Man of Kannada Cinema. Vishnuvardhan's contributions to Kannada cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of Karnataka honoured him with the highest civilian awards of Karnataka State, the Karnataka Ratna Award in 2025, Rajyothsava Prashasthi in 1990 and the Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his contributions to Kannada cinema. He was called The Phoenix of Indian Cinema. In 2008, a poll conducted by CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan as the most popular star in the Kannada film industry.

Movies & TV Shows

  1. Naagarahaavu (1972) — Ramachari
  2. Kauravar (1992) — Haridas I.P.S.
  3. Aptharakshaka (2010) — Dr. Vijay
  4. Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige (2007) — Hoovaiah
  5. Ashaant (1993) — Vishnu
  6. Boothayyana Maga Ayyu (1974) — Gulla
  7. Apthamitra (2004)
  8. Viduthalai (1986) — Amar
  9. Zaalim (1994) — Inspector Mohan
  10. Bandhana (1984) — Dr. Harish
  11. Sri Raghavendrar (1985) — Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
  12. Muthina Haara (1990)
  13. Sahasa Simha (1982) — Prathap
  14. Gandhada Gudi (1973) — Anand
  15. Simhadriya Simha (2002) — Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
  16. Ganeshana Maduve (1990) — Self
  17. Ithu Manjukaalam (1993) — Pauli
  18. Hombisilu (1978) — Dr. Nataraj
  19. Sahodarara Savaal (1977) — Kiran
  20. Vamsha Vriksha (1971) — credited as "Kumar"
  21. Suryavamsha (1999) — Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
  22. Kotreshi Kanasu (1994)
  23. Kotigobba (2001) — Nanjunda
  24. Yajamana (2000) — Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
  25. Ee Bandhana (2007) — Harish Raj
  26. Kittu Puttu (1977) — Kittu
  27. Nagarahavu (2016) — King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
  28. Nishkarsha (1993) — Ajay Kumar
  29. Asadhya Aliya (1979) — Ashok
  30. Kalla Kulla (1975) — Mahesh aka Kalla
  31. Bangarada Gudi (1976) — Vijay
  32. Muyyige Muyyi (1978) — Sanjay
  33. Vasantha Lakshmi (1978) — Chandru
  34. Amarnath (1978) — Guest Appearance
  35. Singaporenalli Raja Kulla (1978) — Raja
  36. Kiladi Jodi (1978) — George
  37. Bangarada Jinke (1980)
  38. Lion Jagapathi Rao (1991)
  39. Samrat (1994)
  40. Police Matthu Dada (1991)