Dhanush Wiki, Height, Age, Girlfriend, Wife, Family, Biography & More

June 2024 · 11 minute read

Dhanush is a well-known Indian actor, producer, director, writer, lyricist, screenwriter, and playback singer who principally works in Tamil cinema. He is the son-in-law of the Indian megastar Rajinikanth.

Table of Contents

Wiki/Biography

Dhanush K Raja [1] was born on Wednesday, 28 July 1982 (age 39 years; as of 2021) at Government Children’s Hospital in Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. [2] His zodiac sign is Leo.

A childhood picture of Dhanush with his sisters

He did his schooling at Thai Sathya Matriculation High School, Chennai. [3]

Dhanush with his schoolmates

In one of his tweets, he said that he had never been to college. Later, he pursued a Bachelor of Computer Application (distance education) from Madurai Kamaraj University. [4]

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 9″

Weight (approx.): 70 kg

Eye Colour: Black

Hair Colour: Black

Body Measurements (approx.): Chest 38″, Waist 30″, Biceps 11″

Family & Caste

He was born in a middle-class Hindu family of the Naicker community (Backward Classes). [5] [6]

Parents & Siblings

His father, Kasthuri Raja, is a Tamil film director and producer. His mother’s name is Vijayalakshmi. His brother, Selvaraghavan, is a film director too. He has two sisters, Karthika Devi, who works as a doctor, and his second sister is K. Vimala Geetha.

Dhanush with his parents and wife

Dhanush with his siblings- Selvaraghavan, Vimala Geetha, and Karthiga (starting from the left)

He is the son-in-law of the ace Indian actor Rajinikanth.

Dhanush with his father-in-law, Rajinikanth

Wife & Children

Aishwarya, daughter of the legendary Indian actor Rajinikanth, met Dhanush for the first time at the screening of the Tamil film ‘Kadhal Kondaen’ (2003). She sent Dhanush a bouquet with a message that read,

Good work, keep in touch.”

Later, the rumours of their relationship started which turned out to be true, and the couple decided to tie the knot after a few months of their relationship. [7]

Reportedly, as per some other media sources it was an arranged marriage, and they were only friends before. [8] On 18 November 2004, Dhanush got married to Aishwarya who is two years older than him. It was a lavish traditional Tamil wedding ceremony at Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam, Chennai, and many renowned Indian celebrities attended the wedding.

Dhanush’s wedding picture

On 10 October 2006, the couple was blessed with child, a boy named Yatra Raja, and on 21 June 2010, their second son, Linga Raja, was born.

Dhanush with his sons

In January 2022, Dhanush and Aishwaryaa announced that they were going to end their 18-year-long marriage. [9]

Relationships/Affairs

In 2011, there were rumours that while shooting for the Tamil film ‘3’ he got carried away with his co-star Shruti Haasan while filming a romantic scene. Later, there were rumours that they were dating. His wife Aishwarya ignored all such rumours and denied them. [10]

Dhanush and Shruti Haasan

There were also rumours about Dhanush had an affair with his long time friend Trisha, and their pictures while spending quality time with each other were also leaked in the media. [11]

Dhanush with Trisha

Career

As an Actor

He debuted as an actor in the 2002 Tamil film ‘Thulluvadho Ilamai’ as Mahesh. The film was directed by his father Kasthuri Raja.

Dhanush in ‘Thulluvadho Ilamai’

In 2003, he acted in the Tamil film ‘Kadhal Kondein’ which is the directorial debut of his brother Selvaraghavan.

Dhanush in ‘Kadhal Kondein’

In 2004, he appeared in back to back flop films like ‘Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan,’ ‘Sullan,’ and ‘Dreams.’ He then appeared in Tamil films like ‘Devathaiyai Kanden’ (2005), ‘Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam’ (2005), ‘Yaaradi Nee Mohini’ (2008), and ‘Padikkadavan’ (2009) which did well at the box-office and gave a kick start to his acting career.

Dhanush in ‘Padikkadavan’ (2009)

Dhanush played the role of a rooster fight jockey in the Tamil film ‘Aadukalam’ (2011) for which he won his first National Award. He gained immense popularity after this film, and critics started recognising him as one of the finest South Indian actors.

Dhanush in ‘Aadukalam’ (2011)

In 2012, he became an internet sensation with his song “Why This Kolaveri Di” which became popular not only in India but in other countries also. In the same year, the song was picturised on Dhanush in the Tamil film ‘3’ which is the directorial debut of Dhanush’s wife Aishwarya R. Dhanush.

In 2013, he made his Bollywood debut in Aanand L Rai’s film ‘Raanjhanaa’ opposite Sonam Kapoor. He played the role of Kundan Shankarin in the film. His acting skills in the film were appreciated by the audience and critics, and he won many awards for this film.

Dhanush in Raanjhanaa

He then acted in the Hindi film ‘Shamitabh’ (2015) along with the legendary Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan and Akshara Haasan (who debuted in the film as an actor).

Dhanush in Shamitabh

In 2015, he played a triple role in the Tamil romantic-thriller film ‘Anegan.’ In 2018, he made his first international appearance as Ajatashatru “Aja” Lavash Patel in the film ‘The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir.’

Dhanush in ‘The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir’

As of 2021, he has completed shooting for the Tamil film ‘Jagame Thandhiram’ and the Hindi film ‘Atrangi Re.’ He is filming for the English film ‘The Gray Man’ and an untitled film by the film director Karthick Naren.

Dhanush in Atrangi Re

As a Producer

On 20 May 2010, he started his film production company ‘Wunderbar Films’ along with his wife Aishwarya. He started his stint as a producer in the Tamil film ‘3’ in 2012. He has worked as a producer in many Tamil films like ‘Ethir Neechal’ (2013), ‘Kaaki Sattai’ (2015), ‘Maari’ (2015), ‘Kaala’ (2018), and ‘Maari 2’ (2018).

As a Singer

He has lent his voice for many Tamil songs including “Un mele” from the film ‘Aayirathil Oruvan’ (2010), “Danga maari” from ‘Anegan’ (2015), “Maalai Varum Vannilla” from ‘Nenjam Marappathillai’ (2016), “Polladha Bhoomi” from ‘Asuran’ (2019), and “Kaathodu Kaathanen” from ‘Jail’ (2020).

As a Lyricist

Dhanush recording for the song Why This Kolaveri Di

In 2011, Dhanush started working as a lyricist and penned down the lyrics of “Kadhal En Kadhal” from the Tamil film ‘Mayakkam Enna’ (2011). Some of the other songs for which he wrote the lyrics are “Why This Kolaveri Di” from ‘3’ (2012), “Po Indru Neeyaga” from ‘Velaiilla Pattadhari’ (2014), “Venpanimalare” from ‘Pa Paandi’ (2017), and “Ilamai Thirumbuthe” from ‘Petta’ (2019).

Controversies

Awards & Honours

National Film Awards

Filmfare Awards (Bollywood)

Filmfare Awards South

Vijay Awards

South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA)

IIFA Utsavam

Edison Awards (India)

Note: He has many more accolades to his name.

Net Worth

Rs. 31.75 crore (as of 2019) [15]

Car Collection

Signature/Autograph

Dhanush’s autograph

Favourite Things

Facts/Trivia

I wanted it so badly that I’d go ask him (neighbour) and he’d refuse to part with it. My brother used to take a used thread spool and try to shape it into something that looked like a car. The days I’ve yearned for that red car I’d never forget.”

My English was pretty bad in 2005. To fix that, I got into the habit of reading English books. It would take me more than six months initially to read a book; I’d fall asleep before finishing a single chapter.”

For a large part of my father’s youth, he worked in a mill and took up odd jobs to make ends meet. We lived in a small room and could only afford a meal a day. Dad would walk 11km every day to save a rupee of bus fare so we could go to school. I’ve seen poverty up close until I was four or five. But dad was a writer from a young age. Even while working in the mill, he would write stories and scripts and sell them to people for Rs 50 or so. They would then sell the stories to directors and producers as their own. Through one such contact, he got a break in the Tamil film industry as an assistant director. He must have been in his late 30s then. He worked hard for 15 years before making his directorial debut.”

He further added,

Of course! I was all of 16, I cried, threw tantrums, fasted. Nothing worked. I am glad it didn’t as I realise today I cannot do anything else. I suffer from stage fright so I blabber on stage and stop midway through my performances. I cannot even write a cheque as it makes me nervous. Being around people makes me nervous. But I’m very comfortable in front of the camera, and this I realised many films later.”

References

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailSuresh Chandra Menon Wiki, Height, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More Default ThumbnailGuru Somasundaram Wiki, Height, Age, Girlfriend, Wife, Family, Biography & More Default ThumbnailJhansi (Anchor) Wiki, Age, Husband, Family, Children, Biography & More Default ThumbnailUrmila Kanetkar Kothare Wiki, Age, Husband, Family, Biography & More

ncG1vNJzZmiamZy7ornEm6CoZpOkunCwx5qlrquYZA%3D%3D