Vishnuvardhan
Actor
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.
Filmography
Kauravar
as Haridas I.P.S. 1992
Aptharakshaka
as Dr. Vijay 2010
Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
as Hoovaiah 2007
Apthamitra
2004
Ashaant
as Vishnu 1993
Viduthalai
as Amar 1986
Boothayyana Maga Ayyu
as Gulla 1974
Bandhana
as Dr. Harish 1984
Zaalim
as Inspector Mohan 1994
Gandhada Gudi
as Anand 1973
Sri Raghavendrar
as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha 1985
Simhadriya Simha
as Narasimha Gowda and Chikka 2002
Sahasa Simha
as Prathap 1982
Hombisilu
as Dr. Nataraj 1978
Sahodarara Savaal
as Kiran 1977
Suryavamsha
as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role) 1999