Anandaraj

Anandaraj (born 10 November 1958) is an Indian actor. He has acted in mainly in villain roles and comedic roles in several Tamil films and appeared in over a three hundred films in different languages including Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.

Early life

Anandaraj was born and brought up in Pondicherry. After schooling, his father wanted him to become a police officer, but Anandaraj wanted to try something different as he was fascinated with films. His family supported his dreams. He joined M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute, Chennai for a course. Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar was his classmate.

Career Anandaraj was under the impression that offers would come his way, but later he had to struggle for an opportunity and finally started off with the 1988 film Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam, starring Prabhu and Sivakumar, and later En Thangachi Padichava, directed by P. Vasu, gave him the much-needed break in all the four south Indian languages. He did Suresh Krissna’s Raja Kaiya Vacha (1990) with Prabhu, in which he essayed a positive role. However, he appeared with Vijayakanth and starred in several films together.

On playing the hero roles, Anand Raj mentioned: "When one gets popular being a villain, people around you always push you to take the next step and it was one of those phases when I took up offers to play the lead role". He went on to play lead roles in the films Palaivana Paravaigal, Kaaval Nilayam, Thambi Oorukku Puthusu, Government Mappillai, Pokkiri Thambi, Kizhakku Veluthathchu, David Uncle, En Rajangam, Puthiya Aatchi and My India. Even though directors offered him good scripts, the films just didn't work well at the box office. The huge popularity that Anandaraj gained during the late eighties elevated him to the status of hero and he and R. Sarathkumar together starred in a few action films. While Sarathkumar hit stardom, Anandaraj who was billed above him in their films together did not sustain his position and went back to playing small roles.

He has acted as a villain alongside most of the top actors, like Balakrishna (Muddula Mavayya), Vijayakanth (Pulan Visaranai), Chiranjeevi (Gang Leader), Rajinikanth (Baashha), Mammootty (Makkal Aatchi), R. Sarathkumar (Suryavamsam), Arjun (Ezhumalai) and Vijay (Pokkiri).

Anandaraj made a switch to comedy in Mundasupatti, directed by Ramkumar and released in 2014.

Director Prabhu Deva offered Anandaraj the lead in the role and asked him not to react to anything, even though a baddie is expected to give exaggerated expressions. Prabhu Deva wanted Anandaraj to sport a certain look, so he underwent intense training for a year and lost about 12 kilos and fulfilled Prabhu Deva's expectation to get signed for Action Jackson (2014). He played a don in the film and his look was completely different from the one he had tried in the south, as he spots a lizard tattoo on his head. His other films include Maragadha Naanayam (2017) Katha Nayagan (2017), Sathya (2017) and Gulaebaghavali (2018). He's almost perfected the role of the comic villain. For the film Jackpot (2019), Anandaraj received Best comedian from Vikatan. He played a role in Bigil (2019) has expressed his disappointment over the filmmaker for the way he approached his character in the film in post production. He acted in Santhanam's films subsequently such as Biskoth (2020), Dikkiloona (2021) and 80s Buildup (2023).

Personal life

Anandaraj was born in Puducherry. He is the second son in the family of eight. He is married and has a daughter, a son and a grandson

Politics Actor Anandraj is loyal to Jayalalitha and has joined AIADMK under her leadership. He supported BJP and stated that he will personally vote for the party in 2014. After Jayalalitha's death he quit ADMK. He later said Mudaliar community should vote for NOTA.

Filmography Tamil films + Year Film Role Notes1988 Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam Henchmen Thaimel Aanai Johnny Jeeva Main Henchmen En Thangachi Padichava Gaja Paatti Sollai Thattathe Autorickshaw driver Senthoora Poove Udayappan Thaai Paasam Kalicharan Anandraj 1989 Pillaikkaga Nagadevan Rajadhi Raja Kangeyan Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu Maruthupandi 1990 Nalla Kaalam Porandaachu Joe Pulan Visaranai Dharma Paattukku Naan Adimai Vajervelu Pudhu Padagan Arumugam Guest appearance Thangathin Thangam Mariappan's Son Kalyana Rasi Periyathambi Urudhi Mozhi Johnny Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga Kumar Periya Idathu Pillai Anand Velai Kidaichuduchu Baasha Palaivana Paravaigal Machi Vellaiya Thevan Semmangkalai Namma Ooru Poovatha Rajappa Raja Kaiya Vacha Japan Ethir Kaatru Devaraj 1991 Kaaval Nilayam Raja Maanagara Kaaval Robin Cinema Express Award for Best Villain Iravu Sooriyan Moondrezhuthil En Moochirukkum Amirtharajah Thambi Oorukku Pudhusu 1992 Government Mappillai Sundarapandian Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen Maarithevan Bharathan Gangadharan Pokkiri Thambi Thambidurai Kizhakku Velathachu Thaali Kattiya Raasa David Uncle David 1993 Kattalai Rajadurai Mayandi 1994 En Rajangam Gopalakrishnan Vandicholai Chinraasu Santhanapandian Jallikattu Kaalai Loose Gounder Magudikkaran 1995 Baashha Indaran Kattumarakaran Thottil Kuzhandhai Rajarathnam Puthiya Aatchi Marappan Nandhavana Theru Rajasekhar Thirumoorthy Govindan Thedi Vandha Raasa Mr. Madras Thiruttani Makkal Aatchi Rangachari Ragasiya Police Azhagam Perumal Maaman Magal Paramasivam Thondan Ilavenil Varraar Sandiyar Maruthu 1996 Aruva Velu Alavanthar Kizhakku Mugam Nagaraj Sengottai Inspector Thangamani Guest appearance Manikkam Andha Naal Father James 1997 Aravindhan Ramanathan My India Suryavamsam Dharamalingam Gounder Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best VillainCinema Express Award for Best Villain Abhimanyu Guest appearance Adimai Changili Janakiraman Arasiyal Vikram Guest appearance1998 Moovendhar Velliangiri Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar Thief Sandhippoma Kalyana Galatta Simmarasi Maragatham Dinakaran Cinema Award for Best Villain Actor Desiya Geetham Urimai Por J. K. B. Pudhumai Pithan Guest appearance Pooveli Maha's uncle 1999 Periyanna Kummi Paattu Pachhamalayan Oruvan Peter Fernandez Malabar Police Varadappan Kannupada Poguthaiya Maniyaandar Kanmani Unakkaga Prathap Unnaruge Naan Irundhal Jamindar Paattali Rajarathinam Time Local Rogue 2000 Vaanathaippola Rajadurai Vetri Kodi Kattu Dubai Job Agency's Middleman Krodham 2 Yogaraj Anbudan Vanna Thamizh Pattu Rasappan Independence Day 2001 Seerivarum Kaalai Police Inspector Narasimha Thilagarnambi 2002 Varushamellam Vasantham Police Inspector Guest Appearance Ezhumalai Nagalingam's brother in law Style Marthandam 2003 Aasai Aasaiyai Commissioner Srinivas IPSKadhaludan Guest appearance Yes Madam Sena Mastan Bhai Diwan Meenakshi's father Vadakku Vaasal Inspector Alex Pandian 2004 Campus Engal Anna Durairaj Arasatchi Advocate Brammanadham Giri Pasupathy, Pasupathy's father Meesai Madhavan Rani's father 2005 Iyer IPS Pasupathy Kannadi Pookal Sakthivel's Friend 2006 Perarasu DCP Kesavan Nair 2007 Pokkiri Narasimha 2008 Ashoka Chandramohan Vallamai Tharayo Nandita's father Nayagan Gang leader 2009 Villu J.D 2010 Kola Kolaya Mundhirika Veerappan Goa Village Rowdy Indrasena Agam Puram Muthuraj Guest appearance 2011 En Ullam Unnai Theduthey 2014 Mundasupatti Zamindar Ekambaram 2015 Pulan Visaranai 2 John Paayum Puli Inspector Manikandan Naanum Rowdydhaan Pondicherry Don 2016 Dhilluku Dhuddu Kumar's father 2017 Bruce Lee Inspector Shanmugapandiyan Maragadha Naanayam 'Twinkle' Ramanathan Katha Nayagan Dubai Sheik Sathya Inspector Chowdhary 2018 Gulaebaghavali Munish's boss Thaanaa Serndha Koottam Gandhi Appa (Kuthaalingam) Pakka Nattamai Iravukku Aayiram Kangal Murugesan Kalavani Mappillai Thulasi's father Evanukku Engeyo Matcham Irukku Annachi Johnny Prakash Silukkuvarupatti Singam Share Auto Chandran 2019 Ayogya 'Bullet' Rajendran Gurkha Alex Jackpot Maanasthan / Inspector Maanasthi Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best comedian Bigil Anand (Rock) 2020 Biskoth Narasimhan 2021 Vanakkam Da Mappilei Ramachandran Dikkiloona Arivu's Boss 2022 Idiot Raasu Gounde Cobra Laundry Man Prince Inspector Muthupandi Naai Sekar Returns Dass 2023 Vallavanukkum Vallavan Inspector Poonthamalli Rayar Parambarai Gopal, Mortuary worker 80s Buildup Gopal Conjuring Kannappan Devil Armstrong 2024 Vithaikkaaran ‘Dollar’ Azhagu Uyir Thamizhukku Pazhakadai Ramachandran Vasco Da Gama Lakshana's father 2025 Baby and Baby Rajan Chennai City Gangsters Split Soosai Madharas Mafia Company Pungavanam Galatta Family Singa Pandian 2026 Vaa Vaathiyaar M. G. Ramachandran imitator Love Insurance Kompany H. A. Subbu

Telugu films

Other language films + Year Film Role Language1994 The City Raja Malayalam Jaana Anand Kannada 1996 Palegara 1997 Raaja 2000 Mahathma Papigala Lokadalli Krishnarjuna Independence Day 2003 Kiccha Minister Vijaya Dashami 2004 Sathyam Commissioner Mambally Mukundan Menon Malayalam 2006 Jayam Bharathan 2008 Indra Kannada 2009 Machaa 2010 Meshtru 2011 Doubles Pathan Malayalam 2012 Swaranjali Kannada 2014 Action Jackson Xavier Fonseca Hindi