Avinash
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- December 22, 1959 (age 66)
- Birthplace
- Mysore, Karnataka, India
Biography
**Avinash Yelandur** (born 22 December 1959), widely known simply as **Avinash**, is a highly acclaimed Indian actor who works predominantly in Kannada and Tamil cinema. Renowned for his authentic portrayals of complex characters, commanding screen presence, and incredible versatility, he is one of the most sought-after and respected supporting actors in South India. Born in the town of Yelandur in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, Avinash initially pursued a career in academia. After earning a Master's degree in English Literature from the University of Mysore, he taught English as a lecturer at the National Institute of Engineering in Mysore and MES College in Bangalore. However, his deep passion for the performing arts led him to train in acting at the Mermaid Theatre in London. Upon returning to India, he became a prominent figure in Kannada theatre, working closely with B. Jayashree's troupe "Spandana" and Shankar Nag's renowned "Sanketh". Avinash transitioned to the silver screen in the mid-1980s and gradually built a monumental filmography of over 400 films across a career spanning nearly four decades. While he appeared in several films early on, he garnered immense critical acclaim for his nuanced performances in parallel and character-driven cinema. His exceptional performance in T. N. Seetharam's *Mathadana* (2001) won him the prestigious Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also earned widespread praise for his work in critically acclaimed classics like *Dweepa* (2002), *Singaaravva* (2003), and *Chigurida Kanasu* (2003). In the mainstream space, Avinash achieved massive commercial success and broader popularity for his pivotal roles in P. Vasu's blockbuster horror franchise, playing the role of Acharya Ramachandra Shastri in the Kannada hit *Apthamitra* (2004) and its sequel *Aptharakshaka* (2010), as well as featuring in the Tamil phenomenon *Chandramukhi* (2005). His performance in *Aptharakshaka* earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has consistently adapted to the changing eras of Sandalwood, delivering standout performances in modern hits like *Ugramm* (2014), *K.G.F: Chapter 1* (2018), and the emotional drama *Sapta Sagaradaache Ello* (2023). Beyond cinema, he is a familiar face on television, most notably starring in the iconic Kannada soap opera *Mayamruga*. It was on the sets of this series that he met his future wife, popular actress and television personality Malavika Avinash, whom he married in 2001. In recognition of his immense contributions to cinema and culture, he was honored with the Rajyotsava Award by the Government of Karnataka.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Kurka
Movie
Laila's Sweet Dream
Movie
Inspector Siva
Movie
Daiji
Movie
One and a half
Movie · as Balvanth Singh
Ustaad Bhagat Singh
Movie · as Miya Bhai
Balaramana Dinagalu
Movie · as Colonel Deviah
Detective Teekshanaa
Movie
Achyuta Avataaram
Movie · as Madan Master
Father
Movie
Sardar 2
Movie · as Agent 'Chetta' Victor
Mookuthi Amman 2
Movie
Brindavihari
Movie
Raakshasa
TV · 7 eps
Vaamana
Movie
Forest
Movie
Rudra Garuda Purana
Movie
Kothalavadi
Movie
Aaryan
Movie · as Ravi Chakrapani
Flirt
Movie
I Am God
Movie
Rehna Nahi Bin Tere
Movie
Juni
Movie
Samarthya
Movie
Bhairathi Ranagal
Movie · as Khandre
Bagheera
Movie · as Ramakanth Appayya
Suvarna Sundari
Movie · as Raja Ram Bahadur
19.20.21
Movie
Love Birds
Movie
Sapta Sagaradaache Ello – Side A
Movie · as Shankare Gowda
Sheela
Movie
Tantiram
Movie · as Adhiban
Theedhum Soodhum Endhan Mugavari
Movie
Yadha Yadha Hi
Movie · as Avinash Bhat
Kabzaa
Movie
Champion
Movie
Connect
Movie · as Father Alex
James
Movie
Sardar
Movie · as Agent 'Chetta' Victor
Akhanda
Movie · as Akhanda and Murali's father
Border
Movie
Premam Poojyam
Movie
Yuvarathnaa
Movie · as Jaipal
Shivaji Surathkal: The Case of Ranagiri Rahasya
Movie · as Rajeev Ravi
Mathe Udbhava
Movie
Mounam
Movie
ACT-1978
Movie · as Chief Minister
LAW
Movie
Arishadvarga
Movie · as Manjunath Bhat
Pailwaan
Movie · as Rukmini's Father
Neeya 2
Movie
Kurukshetra
Movie · as Gandhara Raja Subala
Dasharatha
Movie
Katha Sangama
Movie
Prema Antha Easy Kadu
Movie
Natasaarvabhowma
Movie
Ellidde Illi Tanaka
Movie
Adhyaksha In America
Movie
Gultoo
Movie · as Circle Inspector Avinash
Orange
Movie
Brihaspathi
Movie
Vaasu Naan Pakka Commercial
Movie
Amma I Love You
Movie
Upendra Matte Baa
Movie · as Rudraraju
Raaga
Movie
Hebbuli
Movie · as ACP Prathap
Raju Gari Gadhi 2
Movie · as Priest
Bharjari
Movie
Athiratha
Movie
Raajakumara
Movie · as Jagadish
Eradane Sala
Movie
Kotigobba 2
Movie · as Land Owner
Bullet Rani
Movie · as Rajesh
Gethu
Movie · as Craig's Boss
Moondraam Ullaga Por
Movie · as Subramaniam
Jaguar
Movie · as College Principal
Jessie
Movie
Lakshmana
Movie
Akira
Movie
Shivalinga
Movie · as Krishna Bhatta, Sangeetha's father
Santheyalli Nintha Kabira
Movie · as Kabir's father
Yennai Arindhaal
Movie · as Hemanika's father
Sandamarutham
Movie
Killadi
Movie · as SP Easwarapandiyan
Mrugashira
Movie
Vajrakaya
Movie
Ranna
Movie · as Udaya Chandra
Ouija
Movie · as Iliyas
Mr. Airavata
Movie · as Commissioner
Rana Vikrama
Movie · as Kusti Ranganna
Namo Bhootatma
Movie · as Karadi Shivanna
Veeram
Movie · as Aavudaiyappan
Meaghamann
Movie · as Avinash Bhote (Knight)
Ragini IPS
Movie · as Hiremath
Ugramm
Movie · as Shivarudra Lingaiah
Ninnindale
Movie · as Venktaesh
Power
Movie · as Bharath's Higher Officer and Prasanthi's father
Maanikya
Movie
Udhayam NH4
Movie · as Avinash Patel
Madarangi
Movie
Victory
Movie · as DCP Rajendra
CID Eesha
Movie
Jinke Mari
Movie
Romeo
Movie
Sagar
Movie
Anna Bond
Movie · as Major Chandrakanth
Dashamukha
Movie
Siruthai
Movie · as Bavuji
Paramathma
Movie
Doubles
Movie · as Louie
Rajapattai
Movie · as Dakshinamoorthy's Son
Sanju Weds Geetha
Movie
Hudugaru
Movie · as Paramashiva Murthy
Prince
Movie · as Hemanth
Nagavalli
Movie · as Acharya Ramachandra
Aptharakshaka
Movie · as Ramachand Acharya
Mr. Theertha
Movie
Modalasala
Movie · as Karthik's Father
Porki
Movie
Premisum
Movie
Prithvi
Movie
Shourya
Movie
School Master
Movie
Nannavanu
Movie
Punda
Movie
Circus
Movie
Kempa
Movie · as Shetty
Aa Okkadu
Movie
Devaru Kotta Tangi
Movie
Nanda
Movie
Kabaddi
Movie
Yodha
Movie
Moggina Manasu
Movie
Indra
Movie
krishna
Movie
Hudugaata
Movie
Madurai Veeran
Movie · as Vishvanathan
Soundarya
Movie
Thayiya Madilu
Movie
Lakshmi Kalyanam
Movie · as Chalamayya
Chellata
Movie
Poi
Movie · as Valluvan
Paramasivan
Movie · as DGP Rajasekar
Vattaram
Movie · as Karuppusamy
Tananam Tananam
Movie
Cyanide
Movie
Dattha
Movie
Thangigagi
Movie · as ACP Chandrashekhar
Jothe Jotheyali
Movie
Sirivantha
Movie
Kadhale En Kadhale
Movie · as Mahendran
Pandu Ranga Vittala
Movie
Aadi
Movie
Sye
Movie · as Sivaji
Amrithadhare
Movie
Chandramukhi
Movie · as Ramachandra Acharya
Aakash
Movie
Namma Basava
Movie
Valmiki
Movie
Ayya
Movie
Rakshasa
Movie
Swamy
Movie · as Aravinda Desai
Deadly Soma
Movie
Rishi
Movie
Auto Shankar
Movie
Durgi
Movie · as Teacher
Kalasipalya
Movie
Jyeshta
Movie
Veera Kannadiga
Movie
Kanti
Movie · as SP Avinash
Avale Nanna Gelathi
Movie
Kiccha
Movie · as Chief Minister
Chigurida Kanasu
Movie · as Shanubhoga Rangaraya
Mani
Movie
Khushi
Movie · as Durga Prasad
Daasa
Movie
Preethisle Beku
Movie · as Inspector Amarasimha
Vikram
Movie
Sri Ram
Movie
Kushalave Kshemave
Movie
Raja Narasimha
Movie
Thayi Illada Thabbali
Movie
Thirumalai
Movie · as Shwetha Father
Appu
Movie · as Police Comisssioner / Suchithra's Father
The Island
Movie · as Ganapa
Dhruva
Movie
Ninagagi
Movie · as Dr. Subramanya
Kotigobba
Movie
Huccha
Movie · as Kiccha's Brother
Mathadana
Movie · as Puttathammayya
Vande Matharam
Movie
Yajamana
Movie · as Devaraj
Chamundi
Movie
Preethsu Thappenilla
Movie
Hrudaya Hrudaya
Movie
Patela
Movie
Jungle Boy
Movie · as Sanjay
Gadibidi Krishna
Movie
Mayamruga
TV · as Krishna Prasad · 77 eps
Jackie Chan
Movie
Yuddha
Movie
Huliya
Movie
Kidnap
Movie
Beladingala Baale
Movie · as Prabhakaran
Alexander
Movie
Kiladigalu
Movie
Swathi
Movie
Lockup Death
Movie
Mayor Prabhakar
Movie
Nishkarsha
Movie · as Ramakrishna
Chinnari Mutha
Movie · as Saavanth
Bombaat Huduga
Movie
Sangharsha
Movie
Akasmika
Movie · as Reggie
Gopi Krishna
Movie
Belli Modagalu
Movie
Belli Kalungura
Movie
Chithralekha
Movie
Goonda Rajya
Movie
Ranachandi
Movie
C.B.I Shiva
Movie
Veerappan
Movie
Garuda Dhwaja
Movie
Poli Kitty
Movie
Uthkarsha
Movie
Swarna Samsara
Movie
S. P. Sangliyana Part 2
Movie
Mathsara
Movie
Deva
Movie
Inspector Vikram
Movie · as Rao
Tarka
Movie · as Inspector Cowry
C.B.I Shankar
Movie · as Vikram
Yuddha Kaanda
Movie
Samyuktha
Movie · as Gopal Rao
Daada
Movie
Aapadbandhava
Movie
Madhavacharya
Movie
27 Mavalli Circle
Movie · as P. R. Arun Kumar