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
- 2010 · Aptharakshaka as Dr. Vijay
- 2010 · School Master 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
- 2004 · Sahukara as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
- 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 · Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale as
- 2000 · Deepavali as
- 2000 · Soorappa as Soorappa
- 2000 · Okkadu Chaalu as
- 1999 · Premotsava as
- 1999 · Suryavamsha as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
- 1999 · Habba as Vishnu
- 1999 · Veerappa Nayaka as
- 1998 · Hendithghelthini 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 · Jeevanadi as
- 1996 · Baalina Jyothi as
- 1996 · Dhani as
- 1996 · Appaji as
- 1995 · Himapatha as
- 1995 · Karulina Kudi as
- 1995 · Thumbida Mane 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 · Vishnu Vijaya as
- 1993 · Manikantana Mahime as
- 1993 · Nanendu Nimmavane as
- 1993 · Nishkarsha as Ajay Kumar
- 1993 · Ithu Manjukaalam as Pauli
- 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
- 1991 · Lion Jagapathi Rao as
- 1989 · Deva 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
- 1985 · Nee Thanda Kanike as
- 1985 · Sri Raghavendrar as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
- 1985 · Nee Bareda Kadambari 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 · Onde Guri as
- 1983 · Gandharva Giri as
- 1982 · Pedda Gedda as
- 1982 · Sahasa Simha as Prathap
- 1982 · Karmika Kallanalla as
- 1981 · Snehithara Saval as
- 1981 · Avala Hejje as
- 1981 · Mane Mane Kathe as
- 1980 · Driver Hanumanthu as
- 1980 · Bangarada Jinke as
- 1980 · Makkala Sainya as
- 1980 · Rama Parushurama as
- 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 · Kiladi Kittu as Kittu
- Future · Marudhanayagam as Wajid Khan
- 2016 · Nagarahavu as King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
- 2009 · Bellary Naga as
- 2006 · Neenello Nanalle as
- 2005 · Varsha as
- 2004 · Jyeshta as
- 2002 · Parva as
- 1996 · Karnataka Suputhra as
- 1996 · Hello Daddy as
- 1994 · Kiladigalu as
- 1993 · Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege as Vishnu
- 1992 · Ravi Varma as
- 1990 · Mathe Hadithu Kogile as Anand
- 1990 · Muthina Haara as
- 1990 · Shivashankar as Shivu / Shankar
- 1990 · Ganeshana Maduve as Self
- 1989 · Hrudaya Geethe as
- 1988 · Jana Nayaka as
- 1987 · Shubha Milana as
- 1986 · Viduthalai as Amar
- 1986 · Karna as
- 1986 · Sathya Jyothi as Ravi Varma
- 1985 · Eetti as
- 1985 · Veeradhi Veera as
- 1983 · Mutthaide Bhagya as
- 1982 · Jimmy Gallu as
- 1981 · Maha Prachandaru as
- 1980 · Rahasya Rathri as
- 1980 · Kalinga as Prabhakar/ Ranga
- 1979 · Naniruvude Ninagagi as Vijay
- 1979 · Asadhya Aliya as Ashok
- 1978 · Muyyige Muyyi as Sanjay
- 1978 · Sirithanakke Saval as
- 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"