Dhanush

has slept many nights without a meal. His father, the renowned film director, Kasthuri Raja, had to struggle for 15 long years to become an assistant director. Before that he did odd jobs like working in mills and made a living. He would travel 11 km by foot to save bus ticket money. The family was huge while the earning was less. His father was creatively gifted and in leisure would write stories which his cunning friends used to take from him and give petite amount of Rs 50/- and would earn huge money by selling it to film producers. This would hurt his father but he would control his anger. Since he had to support the family hence he had to work and on Sundays he would go out and hunt film directors and producers. Thus it took him 15 long years to eventually become assistance to a film director and later another five years to direct his independent film.

Dhanush wanted to become a Marine Engineer but became actor for his father’s sake Few may be aware that Dhanush wanted to became a Marine Engineer or a Chef in a five star hotel but his dream was cut short and he was forced to become an actor for his father’s sake. Readers may wonder why for father’s sake? Well after assisting for many years Dhanush’s father Kasthuri Raja got an opportunity to direct his career’s first film Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002), a story about six school boys. Raja was very happy to make his career’s first film independently but his joy was short lived as on the first day of the shoot, among the six boys selected for key roles, one boy did not turn up. There was chaos and Raja was in a tight corner when his family asked him to cast Dhanush, who was in class XI and suited the character to a perfect ‘T’. Thus Dhanush was cajoled to act in the film but Dhanush declined as his ambition was to study and become a Marine Engineer. When pressure mounted on him, Dhanush threatened to go on hunger strike. Finally Dhanush’s father black-mailed him emotionally saying if he won’t act in his film then his father’s ambition of becoming an independent director will be lost forever and he will die as an assistance. This moved Dhanush emotionally and for his father, Dhanush agreed to play the role. Incidentally the film was a hit and made his father a famous film maker and Dhanush a star. Though the film was hit but critics mocked Dhanush’s ordinary looks! Readers would be surprised to know that though the film Thulluvadho Ilamai was a hit but film critics ripped apart Dhanush for his ordinary boy –next-door image. A leading national newspaper in its review went ahead and wrote – With such an ordinary looking face, how did Dhanush dared to stand in front of the camera! It’s reported this review made Dhanush so let down and felt humiliated at his ordinary looks. But being a director’s son he was not shattered as he knew what makes a film run is a good story and quality performance hence he focused on his acting and selected films that had a strong story. Dhanush proved his genius winning 4 Filmfare awards consecutively for four years!! After a successful debut Dhanush waited for the right script and then signed a Tamil film Kadhal Kondein (20003). The movie was box office hit. In his next film Pudhupettai (2006), Dhanush played a terrifying gangster. Though the role was much against his skinny persona and boyish look but Dhanush infused terror in his eyes and won many compliments for his performance in the film. After this he never looked back and his ordinary looks became favorite of his fans and he gave many blockbuster hit films like Polladhavan (2007), Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), Padikathavan (2009) etc. From 2011 to 2014 Dhanush wrote a new history and won four Filmfare Award consecutively for films Aadukalam (2011); 3 (2012) ; Maryan ( 2013) and Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014). In fact for Aadukalam (2011), Dhanush also won Best actor National Award. Anegan in 2015, Kodi in 2016, Vada Chennai in 2018, Asuran in 2019 , Thiruchitrambalam in 2022, Vaathi in 2023 , Raayan in 2024.  Most of these films emerged as the highest grossing films.