Vishnuvardhan
Born: 1950-09-18 in Mysore, Karnataka, India
Died: 2009-12-30
Known For: Acting
Biography
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.
Filmography
2016
- Nagarahavu as King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
2010
- Aptharakshaka as Dr. Vijay
- School Master
2009
2007
- Ee Bandhana as Harish Raj
- Ekadanta
- Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige as Hoovaiah
2005
2004
- Apthamitra
- Kadamba as Madhukeshawara Kadamba
- Jyeshta
- Sahukara as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
- Malla as Self - Narrator (voice)
2002
- Parva
- Simhadriya Simha as Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
- Jameendarru
2000
- Soorappa as Soorappa
- Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale
- Yajamana as Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
- Okkadu Chaalu
- Deepavali
1999
- Habba as Vishnu
- Suryavamsha as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
- Veerappa Nayaka
- Premotsava
1998
- Nishyabdha as Major Vishwanath
- Yaare Neenu Cheluve
- Simhada Guri
- Hendithghelthini
1994
- Zaalim as Inspector Mohan
- Halunda Tavaru
- Time Bomb
- Kiladigalu
- Samrat
- Mahakshathriya
- Kunthi Puthra
- Kotreshi Kanasu
1993
- Ashaant as Vishnu
- Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege as Vishnu
- Nanendu Nimmavane
- Nishkarsha as Ajay Kumar
- Vishnu Vijaya
- Manikantana Mahime
- Ithu Manjukaalam as Pauli
- Sangharsha
1992
- Kauravar as Haridas I.P.S.
- Ravi Varma
- Belliyappa Bangarappa
- Harakeya Kuri
1991
1990
- Ganeshana Maduve as Self
- Muthina Haara
- Shivashankar as Shivu / Shankar
- Mathe Hadithu Kogile as Anand
1989
1988
- Suprabhatha as Vijay Kumar
- Krishna Rukmini
- Jana Nayaka
- Daada as Daada
- Nammoora Raja
1987
- Malgudi Days as Venkat / Venkat Rao
- Shubha Milana
- Sowbhagya Lakshmi as Shyam / Chandru
- Jayasimha
- Jeevana Jyothi
1986
- Sathya Jyothi as Ravi Varma
- Karna
- Viduthalai as Amar
- Krishna Nee Begane Baaro
1985
- Nee Thanda Kanike
- Veeradhi Veera
- Eetti
- Nee Bareda Kadambari
- Sri Raghavendrar as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
1984
- Aaradhane as Rajesh
- Bandhana as Dr. Harish
- Maduve Maadu Thamashe Nodu as Ganesha
- Prachanda Kulla
- Huli Hejje
- Khaidi
- Benki Birugali as Vishnu
- Police Papanna as Guest Appearance
1982
- Jimmy Gallu
- Pedda Gedda
- Sahasa Simha as Prathap
- Karmika Kallanalla
1980
- Rama Parushurama
- Bangarada Jinke
- Makkala Sainya
- Driver Hanumanthu
- Rahasya Rathri
- Kalinga as Prabhakar/ Ranga
1979
- Naniruvude Ninagagi as Vijay
- Asadhya Aliya as Ashok
- Vijay Vikram
1978
- Kiladi Kittu as Kittu
- Vamsha Jyothi as Mahesh
- Sirithanakke Saval
- Sneha Sedu
- Muyyige Muyyi as Sanjay
- Hombisilu as Dr. Nataraj
- Amarnath as Guest Appearance
- Kiladi Jodi as George
- Singaporenalli Raja Kulla as Raja
- Vasantha Lakshmi as Chandru
1977
- Galaate Samsaara as Vasudev Rao
- Sahodarara Savaal as Kiran
- Nagarahole
- Chinna Ninna Muddaduve
- Kittu Puttu as Kittu
1976
- Hosilu Mettida Hennu
- Bangarada Gudi as Vijay
1975
- Onde Roopa Eradu Guna
- Kalla Kulla as Mahesh'Kalla'
- Naga Kanye
- Bhagya Jyothi
1974
- Boothayyana Maga Ayyu as Gulla
1973
- Seetheyalla Savithri
- Gandhada Gudi as Anand
- Alaigal as Inspector Raju
1972
- Naagarahaavu as Ramachari
1971
- Vamsha Vriksha as credited as "Kumar"