Vishnuvardhan (actor)
TrendingAlso known as: Sampath Kumar
Quick Facts
- Full Name
- Vishnuvardhan (actor)
- Born
- September 18, 1950
- Birthplace
- Mysore
- Age
- 75 years
- Zodiac Sign
- Virgo
- Height
- —
- Weight
- —
- Nationality
- 🇮🇳 India
- Religion
- —
- Ethnicity
- —
- Eye Color
- —
- Hair Color
- —
- Profession
- Singer, Actor
- Net Worth
- —
- Education
- National College, Bengaluru
- Spouse
- Bharathi Vishnuvardhan
- Children
- —
Last reviewed: Aug 3, 2026 · How we verify facts
Biography
Vishnuvardhan (actor) is 75 years old, a singer, from India.
Sampath Kumar, 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, Rajyotsava Prashasti 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.
Career & Filmography
Movies(100)
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Nagarahavu |
| 2010 | Aptharakshaka |
| 2010 | School Master |
| 2009 | Nam Yajamanru |
| 2009 | Bellary Naga |
| 2007 | Ekadantha |
| 2007 | Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige |
| 2006 | Sirivantha |
| 2005 | Vishnu Sena |
| 2005 | Varsha |
Family
Relationships
Romantic History
| Person | Status |
|---|---|
| Bharathi Vishnuvardhan | Married |
Interesting Facts
- His father was an artist and music composer who was known for his collection of musical instruments and was also a screenwriter who had written dialogues for the 1961 Kannada movie Nagarjuna as well as story, screenplay, dialogues and lyrics for the 1962 Kannada movie Vidhivilasa.
- His sister Rama was a Kathak dancer at the Mysore Palace, and brother Ravi was a child actor who appeared in the 1955 Tamil – Kannada bilingual film Modala Thedi.
- Vishnuvardhan was educated first in Mysore's Gopalswamy School and then at Bangalore's Kannada Model High School.
- He attended high school and obtained a degree from National College, Basavanagudi, Bangalore.
- Vishnuvardhan married actress Bharathi on 27 February 1975 in Bangalore.
- They have two adopted daughters, Keerthi and Chandana.
- Actor Aniruddha Jatkar is married to Keerthi Vishnuvardhan.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Filmography
100 works
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