Kept fast to avoid acting, became star due to luck, one song went viral with over 10 crore views, name is...
Dhanush went to extremes; he stopped eating, hoping his family would change their minds. When excuses didn't work, he turned to fasting and prayer. But fate had other plans. Reluctantly, he stepped into the world of films and, in time, found his rhythm and passion. How did he make his mark in cinema?
He debuted in 2002 with Thulluvadho Ilamai, directed by his father. Recognition came in 2006 with Pudhupettai, helmed by his brother, where he played a gangster. But it was Aadukalam in 2011 that earned him national acclaim and his first National Film Award for Best Actor.
In 2011, he casually recorded a song titled Why This Kolaveri Di. Written in 6 minutes and recorded in 35, it became India's first YouTube hit, crossing 100 million views and turning Dhanush into a viral sensation. Bollywood and beyond
Absolutely. Dhanush's Bollywood debut came with Raanjhanaa (2013), where he played a small-town boy from Banaras and left a lasting impression. He went on to star in Shamitabh alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Atrangi Re with Sara Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar. His Tamil hits include Maari, Kodi, Asuran, and Karnan, the first and last of which also won him National Awards. Dhanush's Hollywood debut
In 2022, Dhanush appeared in The Gray Man, sharing screen space with global names like Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. With that, he joined the rare league of Indian actors making an international mark.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Director Aanand L Rai And Dhanush Mull Legal Action On Raanjhanaa AI Ending: "Worried About Our Other Films"
New Delhi: Filmmaker Aanand L Rai has confirmed that he and actor Dhanush are exploring legal action against the AI-altered re-release of their 2013 film Raanjhanaa. The filmmaker called the modification which features an alternate happy ending "a very dangerous precedent" and raised alarm about what this could mean for the future of creative ownership. "I am very worried about my other films. So is Dhanush. We are actively looking at judicial remedies to restore and preserve our creative content from such extraneous interventions," Aanand L Rai said in a strongly worded statement. He emphasised that while they're examining long-term legal measures, the immediate focus is on the unauthorised alteration of Raanjhanaa. The Tamil version of the film, titled Ambikapathy, was re-released by rights holder Eros International on August 1 with an AI-generated climax that gives the film a happy ending, a drastic departure from the original. Aanand L Rai, who directed the film, shared his deep disapproval on social media, calling the AI edit "jarring and disturbing." In a post, he wrote, "The past three weeks have been surreal, and deeply upsetting. To watch Raanjhanaa, a film born out of care, conflict, collaboration, and creative risk, be altered, repackaged, and re-released without my knowledge or consent has been nothing short of devastating. What makes it worse is the complete ease and casualness with which it's been done." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aanand L Rai (@aanandlrai) Dhanush, who played the lead role in the film, echoed the sentiment. In a post on X, he said, "The re-release of Raanjhanaa with an AI-altered climax has completely disturbed me. This alternate ending has stripped the film of its very soul, and the concerned parties went ahead with it despite my clear objection." For the love of cinema 🙏 — Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) August 3, 2025 In response, Eros International Media Limited, which holds the copyright to the film issued a statement saying that they are the "sole and exclusive copyright owner" and have full rights to exhibit, adapt, and re-release the film in any format. Pradeep Dwivedi, Group CEO, Eros Media World, told NDTV in an exclusive interview, "While not legally required, Eros believes in fair engagement. In this case, despite the ongoing legal matter, our notice of creative intent was conveyed post-production to Mr Rai. We regret his response but stand by the decision to proceed responsibly and transparently." Dwivedi further said, "We view Mr Rai's public outburst, especially timed just days after the regulatory disclosures advised previously, as a conscious attempt to shift focus away from the legal and governance issues he currently faces. It is unfortunate that a filmmaker of his stature would attempt to conflate legal accountability with creative victimhood." As for Dhanush's objection, the studio issues a statement, "We would like to respectfully clarify that an Eros representative had engaged in direct communication with Mr Dhanush's team regarding the proposed revisions, and no formal objection was communicated to us prior the AI-enhanced re-release of Ambikapathy." Even as the controversy grows, Aanand L Rai and Dhanush seem determined to take the matter to court, warning that if left unchallenged, such use of AI could set a precedent that undermines the integrity of creative work across the film industry.
Pink Villa
an hour ago
- Pink Villa
What is Dhanush's net worth? Know Raanjhanaa actor's assets, salary and cars owned in 2025
Dhanush is making headlines recently after it was reported that the actor is currently dating Mrunal Thakur. While the actors are yet to make it official, how well do you know about the actor's assets and the money he makes with each movie? What is Dhanush's net worth? According to a report by The Financial Express, Dhanush has a net worth of Rs 230 crore, making him one of the highest-paid actors in the South Indian film industry. Interestingly, the actor's net worth is not just formed with his impressive remuneration but also with previous advertisement collaborations with companies like OLX and 7Up. Dhanush's lavish home in Chennai For those unaware, Dhanush owns a massive home in Chennai's posh Poes Garden where several celebrities reside, including his former father-in-law, Rajinikanth. As per a report by Hindustan Times, the Raayan star's home is estimated to have a value of Rs 150 crore. Dhanush's astounding remuneration and personal vehicles Dhanush is undoubtedly one of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema. With his experience in cinema being more than 20 years, he is reported by India TV to charge a remuneration between Rs 20 to Rs 35 crore for each film, and receives a monthly salary of Rs 3 crore. On a side note, the actor is reportedly said to have charged Rs 4 crore as his remuneration for appearing in Russo Brothers' The Gray Man. The film starring Ryan Gosling, Ana De Armas, and Chris Evans in leading roles had the Raanjhanaa actor making a small appearance. Moving ahead, Dhanush is mostly known for his simplistic lifestyle and often embodies it with his outfits. However, the actor has a soft spot for luxurious vehicles and is reported to own cars like a Jaguar, an Audi, a Rolls-Royce Ghost, and even a Bentley. Dhanush's personal life Dhanush, whose real name is Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, was born on July 28, 1983. The 42-year-old actor is the son of former director-producer Kasthuri Raja and his wife Vijayalakshmi. His elder brother, Selvaraghavan, is a popular director-turned-actor known for films like Pudhupettai, 7G Rainbow Colony, and many more. Apart from him, Dhanush also has 2 sisters. The Captain Miller actor was previously married to Rajinikanth's elder daughter, Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth. After a 20-year-long marriage, the couple divorced on November 27, 2024. The former couple share two children, namely Yathra and Linga. Over the years, the actor has not limited himself to acting roles but has also served as lyricist, singer, producer, and, most recently, director. Disclaimer: All amounts mentioned in the article are sourced from public platforms. In some cases, celebrities or their teams give their inputs too, which we incorporate if provided by them. We take all efforts to share possible accurate numbers, however unless otherwise mentioned they are all approximates. We are open to feedback and suggestions on editorial@
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Amid dating rumours with Dhanush, Mrunal Thakur says she believes in ‘buri nazar': ‘You should control how much you are telling the world'
Mrunal Thakur has been celebrating the release of her latest film Son of Sardaar 2, also starring Ajay Devgn, and in a recent interview, Mrunal talked about her aspirations and how she navigates the film industry while keeping a positive state of mind. She also spoke about 'evil eye' and said that she believes in the curse of the evil eye. In a chat with Instant Bollywood, Mrunal shared that she is looking forward to many developments in her career, but does not like discussing them openly. She said, 'There are a lot of things I still need to do with my career, a lot of boxes I haven't checked. But I will talk about those things once I actually do them, because I don't want to jinx it by talking about them. I believe the whole nazar thing, 'boht nazar lagti hai' (evil eye jinxes things).' Mrunal expanded on this as she talked about the feeling of apprehension she gets when talking about her future goals. She gave her two cents on how one should deal with being in the public eye, especially when she is surrounded by those who might not always be well-wishers. 'Boundaries. One should think before speaking about oneself. You should control how much you are telling the world. Sometimes we end up saying the things we want to do or are doing currently, and we jinx it ourselves. I have a very different personality in that sense, because someone might talk about the number of releases they have next year. I don't want to talk about it; everyone knows what's coming and what's not. I don't like to constantly think and talk about the things that are happening in my life,' she said and added, 'People ask me about my work and how I deal with the pressure, but I don't feel it. I am a very positive person, so I don't have to necessarily work on it. I don't even feel tense or pressured before a release.' ALSO READ: Hansika Motwani removes wedding pictures from social media, fans speculate if she is heading towards divorce Mrunal's personal life has caught the eye of the rumour mill after she was spotted attending a party with actor Dhanush. The Kuberaa actor also attended the screening of Son of Sardaar 2, and this added fuel to the fire. As per News18 Showsha, the two are dating each other, but have stayed mum about their relationship. Dhanush was previously married to Aishwarya Rajinikanth. The couple divorced in 2024 after 20 years of marriage.
