Vishnuvardhan
September 18, 1950 (76 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 · Namyajamanru as
- 2007 · Ee Bandhana as Harish Raj
- 2007 · Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige as Hoovaiah
- 2006 · Sirivantha as
- 2005 · Varsha as
- 2004 · Apthamitra as
- 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 · Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale as
- 2000 · Deepavali as
- 2000 · Soorappa as Soorappa
- 1999 · Suryavamsha as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
- 1999 · Habba as Vishnu
- 1999 · Veerappa Nayaka as
- 1998 · Hendithghelthini as
- 1998 · Simhada Guri as
- 1998 · Nishyabdha as Major Vishwanath
- 1997 · Laali as
- 1997 · Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda as
- 1997 · Janani Janmabhoomi as
- 1997 · Mangala Suthra as
- 1996 · Jeevanadi as
- 1996 · Baalina Jyothi as
- 1996 · Karnataka Suputhra as
- 1996 · Appaji as
- 1995 · Himapatha as
- 1995 · Karulina Kudi as
- 1995 · Thumbida Mane as
- 1994 · Zaalim as Inspector Mohan
- 1994 · Kiladigalu as
- 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 · Ithu Manjukaalam as Pauli
- 1993 · Nishkarsha as Ajay Kumar
- 1993 · Sangharsha as
- 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
- 1990 · Mathe Hadithu Kogile as Anand
- 1990 · Muthina Haara as
- 1990 · Shivashankar as Shivu / Shankar
- 1988 · Krishna Rukmini as
- 1988 · Nammoora Raja as
- 1988 · Olavina Aasare as
- 1987 · Sathyam Shivam Sundaram as
- 1987 · Jeevana Jyothi as
- 1987 · Malgudi Days as Venkat / Venkat Rao
- 1987 · Sowbhagya Lakshmi as Shyam / Chandru
- 1986 · Viduthalai as Amar
- Future · Marudhanayagam as Wajid Khan
- 2009 · Bellary Naga as
- 2007 · Ekadanta as
- 2006 · Neenello Nanalle as
- 2005 · Vishnu Sena as
- 2004 · Jyeshta as
- 2004 · Sahukara as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
- 2004 · Malla as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2004 · Kadamba as Madhukeshawara Kadamba
- 2002 · Parva as
- 2000 · Yajamana as Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
- 2000 · Okkadu Chaalu as
- 1999 · Premotsava as
- 1998 · Yaare Neenu Cheluve as
- 1996 · Dhani as
- 1996 · Hello Daddy as
- 1995 · Bangarada Kalasha as
- 1995 · Mojugara Sogasugara as
- 1993 · Vishnu Vijaya as
- 1993 · Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege as Vishnu
- 1992 · Ravi Varma as
- 1991 · Lion Jagapathi Rao as
- 1990 · Ganeshana Maduve as Self
- 1989 · Hrudaya Geethe as
- 1989 · Deva as
- 1988 · Daada as Daada
- 1988 · Jana Nayaka as
- 1988 · Suprabhatha as Vijay Kumar
- 1987 · Shubha Milana as
- 1987 · Jayasimha as
- 1986 · Krishna Nee Begane Baaro as
- 1986 · Karna as
- 1986 · Sathya Jyothi as Ravi Varma
- 1985 · Nee Thanda Kanike as
- 1985 · Sri Raghavendrar as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
- 1985 · Eetti as Inspector Prasad
- 1985 · Nee Bareda Kadambari as
- 1985 · Veeradhi Veera 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
- 1984 · Benki Birugali as Vishnu
- 1983 · Simha Gharjane as
- 1983 · Mutthaide Bhagya as
- 1983 · Onde Guri as
- 1983 · Gandharva Giri as
- 1982 · Jimmy Gallu as
- 1982 · Sahasa Simha as Prathap
- 1982 · Pedda Gedda as
- 1982 · Karmika Kallanalla as
- 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 · Rahasya Rathri as
- 1980 · Makkala Sainya as
- 1980 · Kalinga as Prabhakar/ Ranga
- 1980 · Rama Parushurama as
- 1979 · Naniruvude Ninagagi as Vijay
- 1979 · Vijay Vikram as
- 1979 · Asadhya Aliya as Ashok
- 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 · Muyyige Muyyi as Sanjay
- 1978 · Sirithanakke Saval as
- 1978 · Kiladi Kittu as Kittu
- 1978 · Vamsha Jyothi as Mahesh
- 1978 · Hombisilu as Dr. Nataraj
- 1977 · Kittu Puttu as Kittu
- 1977 · Galaate Samsaara as Vasudev Rao
- 1977 · Sahodarara Savaal as Kiran
- 1977 · Chinna Ninna Muddaduve as
- 1977 · Nagarahole as
- 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'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"