Vishnuvardhan
Birthday: 1950-09-18
Deathday: 2009-12-30
Birthplace: Mysore, Karnataka, India
Gender: Male
Owned By: Unowned
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.
Credits
| Year | Title | Character | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Marudhanayagam | Wajid Khan | |
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2016-10-16 | Nagarahavu | King Nagaraja (created with CGI) |
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2010-02-18 | Aptharakshaka | Dr. Vijay |
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2010-01-22 | School Master | |
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2009-10-09 | Bellary Naga | |
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2009-02-27 | Namyajamanru | |
 |
2007-12-21 | Ee Bandhana | Harish Raj |
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2007-08-24 | Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige | Hoovaiah |
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2007-03-16 | Ekadanta | |
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2006-09-28 | Sirivantha | |
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2006-07-08 | Neenello Nanalle | |
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2005-12-22 | Vishnu Sena | |
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2005-04-22 | Varsha | |
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2004-12-17 | Jyeshta | |
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2004-09-24 | Sahukara | Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma |
 |
2004-08-27 | Apthamitra | |
 |
2004-01-16 | Kadamba | Madhukeshawara Kadamba |
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2003-10-02 | Hrudayavantha | |
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2003-03-21 | Raja Narasimha | |
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2002-06-07 | Simhadriya Simha | Narasimha Gowda and Chikka |
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2002-04-03 | Jameendarru | |
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2002-01-18 | Parva | |
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2001-11-16 | Kotigobba | Nanjunda |
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2001-01-26 | Diggajaru | Wodeya |
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2000-12-01 | Yajamana | Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role) |
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2000-11-30 | Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale | |
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2000-05-08 | Deepavali | |
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2000-03-27 | Soorappa | Soorappa |
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2000-01-01 | Okkadu Chaalu | |
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1999-10-22 | Premotsava | |
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1999-09-01 | Suryavamsha | Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role) |
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1999-04-16 | Habba | Vishnu |
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1999-01-01 | Veerappa Nayaka | |
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1998-09-15 | Hendithghelthini | |
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1998-05-14 | Simhada Guri | |
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1998-04-22 | Yaare Neenu Cheluve | |
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1998-03-10 | Nishyabdha | Major Vishwanath |
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1997-10-07 | Laali | |
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1997-04-29 | Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda | |
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1997-02-17 | Janani Janmabhoomi | |
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1997-01-01 | Mangala Suthra | |
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1996-09-10 | Jeevanadi | |
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1996-08-12 | Baalina Jyothi | |
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1996-05-13 | Dhani | |
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1996-01-04 | Karnataka Suputhra | |
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1996-01-04 | Appaji | |
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1996-01-01 | Hello Daddy | |
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1995-11-22 | Himapatha | |
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1995-09-28 | Karulina Kudi | |
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1995-05-02 | Thumbida Mane | |
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1995-04-20 | Bangarada Kalasha | |
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1995-03-03 | Mojugara Sogasugara | |
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1994-12-09 | Zaalim | Inspector Mohan |
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1994-10-07 | Kiladigalu | |
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1994-08-12 | Halunda Tavaru | |
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1994-07-22 | Kotreshi Kanasu | |
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1994-06-03 | Mahakshathriya | |
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1994-05-04 | Samrat | |
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1994-03-08 | Kunthi Puthra | |
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1994-02-04 | Time Bomb | |
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1993-11-26 | Ashaant | Vishnu |
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1993-11-26 | Vishnu Vijaya | |
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1993-09-20 | Manikantana Mahime | |
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1993-07-26 | Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege | Vishnu |
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1993-05-19 | Nanendu Nimmavane | |
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1993-01-01 | Ithu Manjukaalam | Pauli |
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1993-01-01 | Nishkarsha | Ajay Kumar |
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1993-01-01 | Sangharsha | |
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1992-09-01 | Harakeya Kuri | |
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1992-08-27 | Belliyappa Bangarappa | |
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1992-06-04 | Ravi Varma | |
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1992-02-11 | Kauravar | Haridas I.P.S. |
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1991-12-20 | Police Matthu Dada | |
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1991-12-20 | Inspector Dhanush | |
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1991-11-12 | Jagadeka Veera | |
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1991-04-16 | Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare | |
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1991-01-14 | Lion Jagapathi Rao | |
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1990-09-20 | Mathe Hadithu Kogile | Anand |
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1990-08-22 | Muthina Haara | |
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1990-03-28 | Shivashankar | Shivu / Shankar |
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1989-02-09 | Hrudaya Geethe | |
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1989-01-01 | Deva | |
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1988-11-07 | Daada | Daada |
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1988-08-31 | Krishna Rukmini | |
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1988-05-17 | Jana Nayaka | |
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1988-04-19 | Nammoora Raja | |
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1988-01-01 | Suprabhatha | Vijay Kumar |
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1987-09-10 | Shubha Milana | |
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1987-08-10 | Jeevana Jyothi | |
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1987-05-21 | Jayasimha | |
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1987-01-28 | Sowbhagya Lakshmi | Shyam / Chandru |
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1986-09-10 | Krishna Nee Begane Baaro | |
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1986-04-11 | Viduthalai | Amar |
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1986-01-10 | Karna | |
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1985-12-24 | Nee Thanda Kanike | |
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1985-09-01 | Sri Raghavendrar | Sri Yogenthra Tirtha |
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1985-08-30 | Eetti | |
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1985-06-19 | Nee Bareda Kadambari | |
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1984-12-28 | Maduve Maadu Thamashe Nodu | Ganesha |
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1984-11-30 | Aaradhane | Rajesh |
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1984-07-20 | Huli Hejje | |
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1984-05-29 | Khaidi | |
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1984-03-06 | Police Papanna | Guest Appearance |
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1984-01-18 | Prachanda Kulla | |
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1984-01-01 | Benki Birugali | Vishnu |
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1984-01-01 | Bandhana | Dr. Harish |
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1983-12-27 | Simha Gharjane | |
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1983-03-09 | Onde Guri | |
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1982-09-20 | Jimmy Gallu | |
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1982-01-01 | Sahasa Simha | Prathap |
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1982-01-01 | Karmika Kallanalla | |
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1982-01-01 | Pedda Gedda | |
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1981-09-23 | Snehithara Saval | |
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1981-07-13 | Maha Prachandaru | |
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1981-02-24 | Avala Hejje | |
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1981-01-01 | Mane Mane Kathe | |
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1980-12-08 | Driver Hanumanthu | |
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1980-10-07 | Bangarada Jinke | |
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1980-08-03 | Rahasya Rathri | |
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1980-05-09 | Makkala Sainya | |
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1980-03-11 | Kalinga | Prabhakar/ Ranga |
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1979-09-06 | Vijay Vikram | |
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1979-03-16 | Asadhya Aliya | Ashok |
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1978-12-27 | Singaporenalli Raja Kulla | Raja |
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1978-10-27 | Amarnath | Guest Appearance |
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1978-10-06 | Vasantha Lakshmi | Chandru |
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1978-09-15 | Kiladi Jodi | George |
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1978-07-28 | Sneha Sedu | |
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1978-04-21 | Muyyige Muyyi | Sanjay |
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1978-04-11 | Sirithanakke Saval | |
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1978-03-03 | Kiladi Kittu | Kittu |
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1978-01-27 | Hombisilu | Dr. Nataraj |
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1977-12-16 | Kittu Puttu | Kittu |
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1977-09-16 | Sahodarara Savaal | Kiran |
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1977-05-16 | Chinna Ninna Muddaduve | |
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1977-03-18 | Nagarahole | |
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1976-08-21 | Bangarada Gudi | Vijay |
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1976-01-01 | Hosilu Mettida Hennu | |
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1975-08-11 | Bhagya Jyothi | |
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1975-08-07 | Naga Kanye | |
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1975-07-30 | Onde Roopa Eradu Guna | |
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1975-06-28 | Kalla Kulla | Mahesh aka Kalla |
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1974-03-07 | Boothayyana Maga Ayyu | Gulla |
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1973-09-21 | Gandhada Gudi | Anand |
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1973-07-25 | Seetheyalla Savithri | |
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1973-01-01 | Alaigal | Inspector Raju |
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1972-12-29 | Naagarahaavu | Ramachari |
|
1971-04-01 | Vamsha Vriksha | credited as "Kumar" |