Vishnuvardhan

Vishnuvardhan

🎂 18th September 1950 (75 yrs) 📍 Mysore, Karnataka, India

Known For

Benki Birugali

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.

Vishnuvardhan

Movies Featuring Vishnuvardhan

Nagarahavu

Nagarahavu (2016)

as King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
Aptharakshaka

Aptharakshaka (2010)

as Dr. Vijay
School Master

School Master (2010)

Bellary Naga

Bellary Naga (2009)

Namyajamanru

Namyajamanru (2009)

Ee Bandhana

Ee Bandhana (2007)

as Harish Raj
Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige

Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige (2007)

as Hoovaiah
Ekadanta

Ekadanta (2007)

Sirivantha

Sirivantha (2006)

Neenello Nanalle

Neenello Nanalle (2006)

Vishnu Sena

Vishnu Sena (2005)

Varsha

Varsha (2005)

Jyeshta

Jyeshta (2004)

Sahukara

Sahukara (2004)

as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
Apthamitra

Apthamitra (2004)

Malla

Malla (2004)

as Self - Narrator (voice)
Kadamba

Kadamba (2004)

as Madhukeshawara Kadamba
Hrudayavantha

Hrudayavantha (2003)

Raja Narasimha

Raja Narasimha (2003)

Simhadriya Simha

Simhadriya Simha (2002)

as Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
Jameendarru

Jameendarru (2002)

Parva

Parva (2002)

Kotigobba

Kotigobba (2001)

as Nanjunda
Diggajaru

Diggajaru (2001)

as Wodeya
Yajamana

Yajamana (2000)

as Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale

Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale (2000)

Deepavali

Deepavali (2000)

Soorappa

Soorappa (2000)

as Soorappa
Okkadu Chaalu

Okkadu Chaalu (2000)

Premotsava

Premotsava (1999)

Suryavamsha

Suryavamsha (1999)

as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
Habba

Habba (1999)

as Vishnu
Veerappa Nayaka

Veerappa Nayaka (1999)

Hendithghelthini

Hendithghelthini (1998)

Simhada Guri

Simhada Guri (1998)

Yaare Neenu Cheluve

Yaare Neenu Cheluve (1998)

Nishyabdha

Nishyabdha (1998)

as Major Vishwanath
Laali

Laali (1997)

Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda

Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda (1997)

Janani Janmabhoomi

Janani Janmabhoomi (1997)

Mangala Suthra

Mangala Suthra (1997)

Jeevanadi

Jeevanadi (1996)

Baalina Jyothi

Baalina Jyothi (1996)

Dhani

Dhani (1996)

Karnataka Suputhra

Karnataka Suputhra (1996)

Appaji

Appaji (1996)

Hello Daddy

Hello Daddy (1996)

Himapatha

Himapatha (1995)

Karulina Kudi

Karulina Kudi (1995)

Thumbida Mane

Thumbida Mane (1995)

Bangarada Kalasha

Bangarada Kalasha (1995)

Mojugara Sogasugara

Mojugara Sogasugara (1995)

Zaalim

Zaalim (1994)

as Inspector Mohan
Kiladigalu

Kiladigalu (1994)

Halunda Tavaru

Halunda Tavaru (1994)

Kotreshi Kanasu

Kotreshi Kanasu (1994)

Mahakshathriya

Mahakshathriya (1994)

Samrat

Samrat (1994)

Kunthi Puthra

Kunthi Puthra (1994)

Time Bomb

Time Bomb (1994)

Ashaant

Ashaant (1993)

as Vishnu
Vishnu Vijaya

Vishnu Vijaya (1993)

Manikantana Mahime

Manikantana Mahime (1993)

Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege

Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege (1993)

as Vishnu
Nanendu Nimmavane

Nanendu Nimmavane (1993)

Ithu Manjukaalam

Ithu Manjukaalam (1993)

as Pauli
Nishkarsha

Nishkarsha (1993)

as Ajay Kumar
Sangharsha

Sangharsha (1993)

Harakeya Kuri

Harakeya Kuri (1992)

Belliyappa Bangarappa

Belliyappa Bangarappa (1992)

Ravi Varma

Ravi Varma (1992)

Kauravar

Kauravar (1992)

as Haridas I.P.S.
Police Matthu Dada

Police Matthu Dada (1991)

Inspector Dhanush

Inspector Dhanush (1991)

Jagadeka Veera

Jagadeka Veera (1991)

Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare

Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare (1991)

Lion Jagapathi Rao

Lion Jagapathi Rao (1991)

Mathe Hadithu Kogile

Mathe Hadithu Kogile (1990)

as Anand
Muthina Haara

Muthina Haara (1990)

Shivashankar

Shivashankar (1990)

as Shivu / Shankar
Ganeshana Maduve

Ganeshana Maduve (1990)

as Self
Hrudaya Geethe

Hrudaya Geethe (1989)

Deva

Deva (1989)

Daada

Daada (1988)

as Daada
Krishna Rukmini

Krishna Rukmini (1988)

Jana Nayaka

Jana Nayaka (1988)

Nammoora Raja

Nammoora Raja (1988)

Suprabhatha

Suprabhatha (1988)

as Vijay Kumar
Shubha Milana

Shubha Milana (1987)

Jeevana Jyothi

Jeevana Jyothi (1987)

Jayasimha

Jayasimha (1987)

Sowbhagya Lakshmi

Sowbhagya Lakshmi (1987)

as Shyam / Chandru
Krishna Nee Begane Baaro

Krishna Nee Begane Baaro (1986)

Viduthalai

Viduthalai (1986)

as Amar
Karna

Karna (1986)

Nee Thanda Kanike

Nee Thanda Kanike (1985)

Sri Raghavendrar

Sri Raghavendrar (1985)

as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
Eetti

Eetti (1985)

Nee Bareda Kadambari

Nee Bareda Kadambari (1985)

Maduve Maadu Thamashe Nodu

Maduve Maadu Thamashe Nodu (1984)

as Ganesha
Aaradhane

Aaradhane (1984)

as Rajesh
Huli Hejje

Huli Hejje (1984)

Khaidi

Khaidi (1984)

Police Papanna

Police Papanna (1984)

as Guest Appearance
Prachanda Kulla

Prachanda Kulla (1984)

Benki Birugali

Benki Birugali (1984)

as Vishnu
Bandhana

Bandhana (1984)

as Dr. Harish
Simha Gharjane

Simha Gharjane (1983)

Onde Guri

Onde Guri (1983)

Jimmy Gallu

Jimmy Gallu (1982)

Sahasa Simha

Sahasa Simha (1982)

as Prathap
Karmika Kallanalla

Karmika Kallanalla (1982)

Pedda Gedda

Pedda Gedda (1982)

Snehithara Saval

Snehithara Saval (1981)

Maha Prachandaru

Maha Prachandaru (1981)

Avala Hejje

Avala Hejje (1981)

Mane Mane Kathe

Mane Mane Kathe (1981)

Driver Hanumanthu

Driver Hanumanthu (1980)

Bangarada Jinke

Bangarada Jinke (1980)

Rahasya Rathri

Rahasya Rathri (1980)

Makkala Sainya

Makkala Sainya (1980)

Kalinga

Kalinga (1980)

as Prabhakar/ Ranga
Vijay Vikram

Vijay Vikram (1979)

Asadhya Aliya

Asadhya Aliya (1979)

as Ashok
Singaporenalli Raja Kulla

Singaporenalli Raja Kulla (1978)

as Raja
Amarnath

Amarnath (1978)

as Guest Appearance
Vasantha Lakshmi

Vasantha Lakshmi (1978)

as Chandru
Kiladi Jodi

Kiladi Jodi (1978)

as George
Sneha Sedu

Sneha Sedu (1978)

Muyyige Muyyi

Muyyige Muyyi (1978)

as Sanjay
Sirithanakke Saval

Sirithanakke Saval (1978)

No Image

Kiladi Kittu (1978)

as Kittu
Hombisilu

Hombisilu (1978)

as Dr. Nataraj
Kittu Puttu

Kittu Puttu (1977)

as Kittu
Sahodarara Savaal

Sahodarara Savaal (1977)

as Kiran
Chinna Ninna Muddaduve

Chinna Ninna Muddaduve (1977)

Nagarahole

Nagarahole (1977)

Bangarada Gudi

Bangarada Gudi (1976)

as Vijay
Hosilu Mettida Hennu

Hosilu Mettida Hennu (1976)

Bhagya Jyothi

Bhagya Jyothi (1975)

Naga Kanye

Naga Kanye (1975)

Onde Roopa Eradu Guna

Onde Roopa Eradu Guna (1975)

Kalla Kulla

Kalla Kulla (1975)

as Mahesh aka Kalla
Boothayyana Maga Ayyu

Boothayyana Maga Ayyu (1974)

as Gulla
Gandhada Gudi

Gandhada Gudi (1973)

as Anand
Seetheyalla Savithri

Seetheyalla Savithri (1973)

Alaigal

Alaigal (1973)

as Inspector Raju
Naagarahaavu

Naagarahaavu (1972)

as Ramachari
No Image

Vamsha Vriksha (1971)

as credited as "Kumar"
Marudhanayagam

Marudhanayagam (N/A)

as Wajid Khan