Vishnuvardhan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 18, 1950
- Died
- December 30, 2009 (aged 59)
- Birthplace
- Mysore, Karnataka, India
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.
Known For
Filmography
Marudhanayagam
Movie · as Wajid Khan
Nagarahavu
Movie · as King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
Aptharakshaka
Movie · as Dr. Vijay
School Master
Movie
Bellary Naga
Movie
Namyajamanru
Movie
Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
Movie · as Hoovaiah
Ekadanta
Movie
Ee Bandhana
Movie · as Harish Raj
Neenello Nanalle
Movie
Sirivantha
Movie
Vishnu Sena
Movie
Varsha
Movie
Sahukara
Movie · as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
Malla
Movie · as Self - Narrator (voice)
Apthamitra
Movie
Kadamba
Movie · as Madhukeshawara Kadamba
Jyeshta
Movie
Raja Narasimha
Movie
Hrudayavantha
Movie
Simhadriya Simha
Movie · as Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
Parva
Movie
Jameendarru
Movie
Diggajaru
Movie · as Wodeya
Kotigobba
Movie · as Nanjunda
Okkadu Chaalu
Movie
Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale
Movie
Yajamana
Movie · as Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
Soorappa
Movie · as Soorappa
Deepavali
Movie
Habba
Movie · as Vishnu
Suryavamsha
Movie · as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
Veerappa Nayaka
Movie
Premotsava
Movie
Yaare Neenu Cheluve
Movie
Nishyabdha
Movie · as Major Vishwanath
Simhada Guri
Movie
Hendithghelthini
Movie
Laali
Movie
Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda
Movie
Janani Janmabhoomi
Movie
Mangala Suthra
Movie
Karnataka Suputhra
Movie
Appaji
Movie
Dhani
Movie
Baalina Jyothi
Movie
Jeevanadi
Movie
Hello Daddy
Movie
Mojugara Sogasugara
Movie
Thumbida Mane
Movie
Himapatha
Movie
Karulina Kudi
Movie
Bangarada Kalasha
Movie
Halunda Tavaru
Movie
Kotreshi Kanasu
Movie
Zaalim
Movie · as Inspector Mohan
Kiladigalu
Movie
Kunthi Puthra
Movie
Samrat
Movie
Mahakshathriya
Movie
Time Bomb
Movie
Ithu Manjukaalam
Movie · as Pauli
Manikantana Mahime
Movie
Nanendu Nimmavane
Movie
Ashaant
Movie · as Vishnu
Nishkarsha
Movie · as Ajay Kumar
Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege
Movie · as Vishnu
Vishnu Vijaya
Movie
Sangharsha
Movie
Kauravar
Movie · as Haridas I.P.S.
Belliyappa Bangarappa
Movie
Harakeya Kuri
Movie
Ravi Varma
Movie
Jagadeka Veera
Movie
Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare
Movie
Lion Jagapathi Rao
Movie
Police Matthu Dada
Movie
Inspector Dhanush
Movie
Muthina Haara
Movie
Ganeshana Maduve
Movie · as Self
Shivashankar
Movie · as Shivu / Shankar
Mathe Hadithu Kogile
Movie · as Anand
Deva
Movie
Hrudaya Geethe
Movie
Suprabhatha
Movie · as Vijay Kumar
Daada
Movie · as Daada
Krishna Rukmini
Movie
Nammoora Raja
Movie
Jana Nayaka
Movie
Olavina Aasare
Movie
Jayasimha
Movie
Jeevana Jyothi
Movie
Sowbhagya Lakshmi
Movie · as Shyam / Chandru
Shubha Milana
Movie
Malgudi Days
TV · as Venkat / Venkat Rao · 12 eps
Krishna Nee Begane Baaro
Movie
Viduthalai
Movie · as Amar
Karna
Movie
Sathya Jyothi
Movie · as Ravi Varma
Eetti
Movie · as Inspector Prasad
Sri Raghavendrar
Movie · as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
Nee Bareda Kadambari
Movie
Nee Thanda Kanike
Movie
Veeradhi Veera
Movie
Benki Birugali
Movie · as Vishnu
Bandhana
Movie · as Dr. Harish
Huli Hejje
Movie
Khaidi
Movie
Maduve Maadu Thamashe Nodu
Movie · as Ganesha
Prachanda Kulla
Movie
Police Papanna
Movie · as Guest Appearance
Aaradhane
Movie · as Rajesh
Onde Guri
Movie
Simha Gharjane
Movie
Gandharva Giri
Movie
Mutthaide Bhagya
Movie
Sahasa Simha
Movie · as Prathap
Karmika Kallanalla
Movie
Jimmy Gallu
Movie
Pedda Gedda
Movie
Mane Mane Kathe
Movie
Snehithara Saval
Movie
Avala Hejje
Movie
Maha Prachandaru
Movie
Kalinga
Movie · as Prabhakar/ Ranga
Makkala Sainya
Movie
Bangarada Jinke
Movie
Rahasya Rathri
Movie
Driver Hanumanthu
Movie
Rama Parushurama
Movie
Asadhya Aliya
Movie · as Ashok
Vijay Vikram
Movie
Naniruvude Ninagagi
Movie · as Vijay
Hombisilu
Movie · as Dr. Nataraj
Kiladi Kittu
Movie · as Kittu
Muyyige Muyyi
Movie · as Sanjay
Vasantha Lakshmi
Movie · as Chandru
Amarnath
Movie · as Guest Appearance
Singaporenalli Raja Kulla
Movie · as Raja
Kiladi Jodi
Movie · as George
Sneha Sedu
Movie
Sirithanakke Saval
Movie
Vamsha Jyothi
Movie · as Mahesh
Sahodarara Savaal
Movie · as Kiran
Kittu Puttu
Movie · as Kittu
Nagarahole
Movie
Chinna Ninna Muddaduve
Movie
Galaate Samsaara
Movie · as Vasudev Rao
Bangarada Gudi
Movie · as Vijay
Hosilu Mettida Hennu
Movie
Kalla Kulla
Movie · as Mahesh'Kalla'
Bhagya Jyothi
Movie
Naga Kanye
Movie
Onde Roopa Eradu Guna
Movie
Boothayyana Maga Ayyu
Movie · as Gulla
Alaigal
Movie · as Inspector Raju
Gandhada Gudi
Movie · as Anand
Seetheyalla Savithri
Movie
Naagarahaavu
Movie · as Ramachari
Vamsha Vriksha
Movie · as credited as "Kumar"