Tamil cinema has produced some of India's most devoted fan cultures. These three actors represent three distinct generations, and the family link between two of them adds another layer.
Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth (South Indian, Tamil) was born on 12 December 1950 in Bangalore (Bengaluru), Karnataka, India. The earliest credit in his profile is Apoorva Raagangal (1975), and the most recent listed is Jailer (2023). He is best known for Baashha, Muthu, Sivaji, Enthiran, Jailer.
Before films, Rajinikanth worked as a bus conductor with the Bangalore Transport Service, a detail he and many biographers have spoken about publicly.
- 1975 — Apoorva Raagangal as Pandiyan
- 1978 — Mullum Malarum as Kaali
- 1980 — Billa as Billa / Raja
- 1991 — Thalapathi as Surya
- 1995 — Baashha as Manikam / Manik Baashha
- 1995 — Muthu as Muthu
- 1999 — Padayappa as Padayappa
- 2007 — Sivaji as Sivaji Arumugam
- 2000 — Padma Bhushan: Civilian honour — conferred
- 2016 — Padma Vibhushan: Civilian honour — conferred
- 2021 — Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Lifetime achievement (51st award, for 2019) (Indian cinema) — conferred
Vijay
Vijay (South Indian, Tamil) was born on 22 June 1974 in Madras (Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. The earliest credit in his profile is Vetri (1984), and the most recent listed is The Greatest of All Time (2024). He is best known for Ghilli, Thuppakki, Mersal, Master, Leo.
Vijay is the son of director S. A. Chandrasekhar, who directed his early lead films including Naalaiya Theerpu.
- 1984 — Vetri as Child artist
- 1992 — Naalaiya Theerpu as Vijay
- 1996 — Poove Unakkaga as Rajan
- 2004 — Ghilli as Saravanavelu
- 2007 — Pokkiri as Tamizh / Satya
- 2012 — Thuppakki as Captain Jagadish
- 2014 — Kaththi as Kathiresan / Jeevanantham
- 2017 — Mersal as Vetrimaaran / Maaran / Vetri
Dhanush
Dhanush (South Indian, Tamil) was born on 28 July 1983 in Madras (Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. The earliest credit in his profile is Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002), and the most recent listed is Raayan (2024). He is best known for Aadukalam, Raanjhanaa, Asuran, Raayan.
Dhanush is the son of director Kasthuri Raja and the younger brother of director Selvaraghavan, who wrote and directed Kadhal Kondein.
- 2002 — Thulluvadho Ilamai as Mahesh
- 2003 — Kadhal Kondein as Vinod
- 2007 — Polladhavan as Prabhu
- 2011 — Aadukalam as K. P. Karuppu
- 2012 — 3 as Ram
- 2013 — Raanjhanaa as Kundan Shankar
- 2015 — Maari as Maari
- 2019 — Asuran as Sivasaami
- 2011 — National Film Award: Best Actor (Aadukalam) — won
- 2021 — National Film Award: Best Actor (Asuran) — won
A Family Connection
Dhanush was married to Rajinikanth's daughter Aishwarya from 2004 until their divorce in 2024, a relationship both families acknowledged publicly.
Editorial Note on Sources
Every fact in this article comes from the structured, publicly documented data held in our celebrity profiles: dates of birth, official filmography credits, award-body records and publicly confirmed relationships. We do not publish rumours, invented quotes or unaudited net-worth figures. Where an item is only announced rather than released, it is labelled as such. If you spot an error, please let us know through the contact page — corrections are checked and dated.
Different Paths
Rajinikanth came through a film institute after working as a bus conductor; Vijay and Dhanush are both sons of directors. Vijay has since announced a move into politics.
Related Profiles
Read the full biographies: Rajinikanth, Vijay, Dhanush.
Deeper Context from the Profiles
The notes below draw on the filmographies of the stars covered in this article, so readers can place each project in its career timeline.
Career context: Rajinikanth
Apoorva Raagangal, released in 1975, features Rajinikanth as Pandiyan. At around 25, he was still early in a career that had begun about 0 years earlier.
Rajinikanth's credit list for 1978 includes Mullum Malarum, where he appeared as Kaali. By this point he had been working on screen for roughly 3 years, and was about 28 years old.
Career context: Vijay
Vijay's credit list for 1984 includes Vetri, where he appeared as a child artist. He was roughly 10 at the time, which places the work in his childhood phase.
Vijay's credit list for 1992 includes Naalaiya Theerpu, where he appeared as Vijay. By this point he had been working on screen for roughly 8 years, and was about 18 years old.
Career context: Dhanush
In 2002, Dhanush appeared in the film Thulluvadho Ilamai as Mahesh. The release came about 0 years after the first credit listed here, when Dhanush was around 19.
In 2003, Dhanush appeared in the film Kadhal Kondein as Vinod. At around 20, he was still early in a career that had begun about 1 year earlier.
In 1980, Rajinikanth appeared in the film Billa as Billa / Raja. At around 30, he was well established in a career that had begun about 5 years earlier. The same title also appears in the profile of Nayanthara on this site, so readers can compare how the project fits into each career.
Thalapathi, released in 1991, features Rajinikanth as Surya. The release came about 16 years after the first credit listed here, when Rajinikanth was around 41.
Vijay's credit list for 1996 includes Poove Unakkaga, where he appeared as Rajan. By this point he had been working on screen for roughly 12 years, and was about 22 years old.
Vijay's credit list for 2004 includes Ghilli, where he appeared as Saravanavelu. By this point he had been working on screen for roughly 20 years, and was about 30 years old. It is one of the titles most often associated with him and is named in the "Known for" field above.
The 2007 film Polladhavan credits Dhanush as Prabhu. At around 24, he was well established in a career that had begun about 5 years earlier.
The 2011 film Aadukalam credits Dhanush as K. P. Karuppu. At around 28, he was well established in a career that had begun about 9 years earlier. It is one of the titles most often associated with him and is named in the "Known for" field above.
In 1995, Rajinikanth appeared in the film Baashha as Manikam / Manik Baashha. The release came about 20 years after the first credit listed here, when Rajinikanth was around 45. It is one of the titles most often associated with him and is named in the "Known for" field above.
Rajinikanth's credit list for 1995 includes Muthu, where he appeared as Muthu. By this point he had been working on screen for roughly 20 years, and was about 45 years old. It is one of the titles most often associated with him and is named in the "Known for" field above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Rajinikanth's first film or show?
The earliest credit recorded here is Apoorva Raagangal (1975), as Pandiyan.
What is Rajinikanth known for?
He is best known for Baashha, Muthu, Sivaji, Enthiran, Jailer.
What was Vijay's first film or show?
The earliest credit recorded here is Vetri (1984), as Child artist.
What is Vijay known for?
He is best known for Ghilli, Thuppakki, Mersal, Master, Leo.
What was Dhanush's first film or show?
The earliest credit recorded here is Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002), as Mahesh.
What is Dhanush known for?
He is best known for Aadukalam, Raanjhanaa, Asuran, Raayan.
