Vishnuvardhan
September 18, 1950 (75 years old) in Mysore, Karnataka, India
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
Credits
- 2016 · Nagarahavu as King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
- 2010 · Aptharakshaka as Dr. Vijay
- 2010 · School Master as
- 2009 · Bellary Naga as
- 2009 · Namyajamanru as
- 2007 · Ee Bandhana as Harish Raj
- 2007 · Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige as Hoovaiah
- 2007 · Ekadanta as
- 2006 · Sirivantha as
- 2005 · Vishnu Sena as
- 2005 · Varsha as
- 2004 · Jyeshta as
- 2004 · Apthamitra as
- 2004 · Malla as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2004 · Kadamba as Madhukeshawara Kadamba
- 2003 · Hrudayavantha as
- 2003 · Raja Narasimha as
- 2002 · Simhadriya Simha as Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
- 2002 · Jameendarru as
- 2001 · Kotigobba as Nanjunda
- 2001 · Diggajaru as Wodeya
- 2000 · Yajamana as Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
- 2000 · Deepavali as
- 2000 · Okkadu Chaalu as
- 1999 · Premotsava as
- 1999 · Suryavamsha as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
- 1999 · Habba as Vishnu
- 1999 · Veerappa Nayaka as
- 1998 · Simhada Guri as
- 1998 · Yaare Neenu Cheluve as
- 1998 · Nishyabdha as Major Vishwanath
- 1997 · Laali as
- 1997 · Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda as
- 1997 · Janani Janmabhoomi as
- 1997 · Mangala Suthra as
- 1996 · Baalina Jyothi as
- 1996 · Dhani as
- 1996 · Karnataka Suputhra as
- 1996 · Appaji as
- 1995 · Himapatha as
- 1995 · Karulina Kudi as
- 1995 · Bangarada Kalasha as
- 1995 · Mojugara Sogasugara as
- 1994 · Zaalim as Inspector Mohan
- 1994 · Halunda Tavaru as
- 1994 · Kotreshi Kanasu as
- 1994 · Mahakshathriya as
- 1994 · Samrat as
- 1994 · Kunthi Puthra as
- 1994 · Time Bomb as
- 1993 · Ashaant as Vishnu
- 1993 · Manikantana Mahime as
- 1993 · Nanendu Nimmavane as
- 1993 · Sangharsha as
- 1993 · Ithu Manjukaalam as Pauli
- 1993 · Nishkarsha as Ajay Kumar
- 1992 · Harakeya Kuri as
- 1992 · Belliyappa Bangarappa as
- 1992 · Kauravar as Haridas I.P.S.
- 1991 · Inspector Dhanush as
- 1991 · Police Matthu Dada as
- 1991 · Jagadeka Veera as
- 1991 · Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare as
- 1991 · Lion Jagapathi Rao as
- 1990 · Mathe Hadithu Kogile as Anand
- 1990 · Ganeshana Maduve as Self
- 1989 · Hrudaya Geethe as
- 1988 · Daada as Daada
- 1988 · Krishna Rukmini as
- 1988 · Nammoora Raja as
- 1988 · Suprabhatha as Vijay Kumar
- 1987 · Jeevana Jyothi as
- 1987 · Jayasimha as
- 1987 · Malgudi Days as Venkat / Venkat Rao
- 1987 · Sowbhagya Lakshmi as Shyam / Chandru
- 1986 · Krishna Nee Begane Baaro as
- 1986 · Viduthalai as Amar
- 1986 · Karna as
- 1985 · Nee Thanda Kanike as
- 1985 · Sri Raghavendrar as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
- 1985 · Eetti as
- 1984 · Maduve Maadu Thamashe Nodu as Ganesha
- 1984 · Aaradhane as Rajesh
- 1984 · Huli Hejje as
- 1984 · Khaidi as
- 1984 · Police Papanna as Guest Appearance
- 1984 · Prachanda Kulla as
- 1984 · Bandhana as Dr. Harish
- 1983 · Simha Gharjane as
- 1983 · Onde Guri as
- 1982 · Jimmy Gallu as
- 1982 · Sahasa Simha as Prathap
- 1981 · Snehithara Saval as
- 1981 · Maha Prachandaru as
- 1981 · Avala Hejje as
- 1981 · Mane Mane Kathe as
- 1980 · Driver Hanumanthu as
- 1980 · Bangarada Jinke as
- 1980 · Makkala Sainya as
- 1980 · Kalinga as Prabhakar/ Ranga
- 1979 · Vijay Vikram as
- 1978 · Singaporenalli Raja Kulla as Raja
- 1978 · Amarnath as Guest Appearance
- 1978 · Vasantha Lakshmi as Chandru
- 1978 · Kiladi Jodi as George
- 1978 · Sneha Sedu as
- 1978 · Sirithanakke Saval as
- 1977 · Kittu Puttu as Kittu
- 1977 · Galaate Samsaara as Vasudev Rao
- 1977 · Chinna Ninna Muddaduve as
- 1977 · Nagarahole as
- Future · Marudhanayagam as Wajid Khan
- 2006 · Neenello Nanalle as
- 2004 · Sahukara as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
- 2002 · Parva as
- 2000 · Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale as
- 2000 · Soorappa as Soorappa
- 1998 · Hendithghelthini as
- 1996 · Jeevanadi as
- 1996 · Hello Daddy as
- 1995 · Thumbida Mane as
- 1994 · Kiladigalu as
- 1993 · Vishnu Vijaya as
- 1993 · Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege as Vishnu
- 1992 · Ravi Varma as
- 1990 · Muthina Haara as
- 1990 · Shivashankar as Shivu / Shankar
- 1989 · Deva as
- 1988 · Jana Nayaka as
- 1987 · Shubha Milana as
- 1986 · Sathya Jyothi as Ravi Varma
- 1985 · Nee Bareda Kadambari as
- 1985 · Veeradhi Veera as
- 1984 · Benki Birugali as Vishnu
- 1983 · Gandharva Giri as
- 1982 · Pedda Gedda as
- 1982 · Karmika Kallanalla as
- 1980 · Rahasya Rathri as
- 1979 · Asadhya Aliya as Ashok
- 1978 · Muyyige Muyyi as Sanjay
- 1978 · Kiladi Kittu as Kittu
- 1978 · Hombisilu as Dr. Nataraj
- 1977 · Sahodarara Savaal as Kiran
- 1976 · Bangarada Gudi as Vijay
- 1976 · Hosilu Mettida Hennu as
- 1975 · Bhagya Jyothi as
- 1975 · Naga Kanye as
- 1975 · Onde Roopa Eradu Guna as
- 1975 · Kalla Kulla as Mahesh aka Kalla
- 1974 · Boothayyana Maga Ayyu as Gulla
- 1973 · Gandhada Gudi as Anand
- 1973 · Seetheyalla Savithri as
- 1973 · Alaigal as Inspector Raju
- 1972 · Naagarahaavu as Ramachari
- 1971 · Vamsha Vriksha as credited as "Kumar"