Actor
Vishnuvardhan
76 years · Mysore, Karnataka, India · 151 films
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.
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Best known for
Filmography 150
Okkadu Chaalu
2000 · Actor
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Nagarahavu
2016 · King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
Aptharakshaka
2010 · Dr. Vijay
School Master
2010 · Actor
Bellary Naga
2009 · Actor
Namyajamanru
2009 · Actor
Ee Bandhana
2007 · Harish Raj
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Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
2007 · Hoovaiah
Ekadanta
2007 · Actor
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Sirivantha
2006 · Actor
Neenello Nanalle
2006 · Actor
Vishnu Sena
2005 · Actor
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Varsha
2005 · Actor
Jyeshta
2004 · Actor
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Sahukara
2004 · Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
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Apthamitra
2004 · Actor
Malla
2004 · Self - Narrator (voice)
Kadamba
2004 · Madhukeshawara Kadamba
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Hrudayavantha
2003 · Actor
Raja Narasimha
2003 · Actor
Simhadriya Simha
2002 · Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
Jameendarru
2002 · Actor
Parva
2002 · Actor
Kotigobba
2001 · Nanjunda
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