Anandaraj

Biography:

Anandaraj, born on May 15, 1959, is an Indian actor renowned for his villainous roles in numerous Tamil films. He boasts an impressive filmography of over two hundred movies, spanning various languages including Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi.

Anandaraj was raised in Pondicherry. Despite his father’s desire for him to become a police officer, Anandaraj harbored a fascination for the film industry. Encouraged by his family, he enrolled in the M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute in Chennai. During his time there, he became classmates with Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar.

Anandaraj’s initial expectation of offers flooding in was met with disappointment, and he had to struggle for his breakthrough. Eventually, he secured his first major opportunity with the 1988 film “Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam” and further solidified his position with “En Thangachi Padichava.” These roles marked his entry into the four major South Indian languages. He also played positive roles, notably in the film “Raja Kaiya Vacha” (1990). Collaborating frequently with actor Vijayakanth, he starred alongside him in multiple films.

Transitioning from villain to hero roles, Anandaraj shared, “When you gain popularity as a villain, those around you encourage you to progress, leading me to take on lead roles.” He briefly embraced lead roles in films like “Palaivana Paravaigal,” “Kaaval Nilayam,” and others, but they didn’t resonate well with audiences.

An unexpected shift towards comedy occurred with the film “Mundasupatti” in 2014, which garnered immense laughter from audiences. This marked the beginning of his comedic roles, and he gained popularity among younger directors who tailored quirky characters for him.

Director Prabhu Deva cast Anandaraj in the lead role for “Action Jackson” (2014), wherein he portrayed a don. He underwent a physical transformation and received acclaim for his performance. He joined the cast of “Naanum Rowdydhaan” (2015), showcasing shades of grey in his character. His subsequent films, such as “Maragadha Naanayam” (2017), “Katha Nayagan” (2017), and “Gulaebaghavali” (2018), established him as a master of the comic villain role.

Born into a Mudaliar community in Puducherry, Anandaraj is the second son among eight siblings. He is a family man, married with a daughter and a son. Politically, he aligned himself with Jayalalitha’s leadership in the ADMK party, and he expressed support for the BJP in 2014. Following Jayalalitha’s passing, he parted ways with ADMK and suggested that the Mudaliar community consider voting for NOTA (None of the Above).