Vishnuvardhan
ActingAbout Vishnuvardhan
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.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Vishnuvardhan reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Vishnuvardhan's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 38% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Vishnuvardhan remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Gandhada Gudi, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Vishnuvardhan Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Vishnuvardhan's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Vishnuvardhan.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Nagarahavu | King Nagaraja (created with CGI) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Aptharakshaka | Dr. Vijay | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Ee Bandhana | Harish Raj | Flop | Similar → |
| 2007 | Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige | Hoovaiah | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Ekadanta | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 2005 | Vishnu Sena | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 2005 | Varsha | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | Sahukara | Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | Apthamitra | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Malla | Self - Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2002 | Simhadriya Simha | Narasimha Gowda and Chikka | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Kotigobba | Nanjunda | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Diggajaru | Wodeya | Flop | Similar → |
| 2000 | Yajamana | Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2000 | Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 2000 | Okkadu Chaalu | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1999 | Suryavamsha | Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Habba | Vishnu | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Yaare Neenu Cheluve | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | Karnataka Suputhra | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1994 | Zaalim | Inspector Mohan | Flop | Similar → |
| 1993 | Ashaant | Vishnu | Flop | Similar → |
| 1993 | Ithu Manjukaalam | Pauli | Flop | Similar → |
| 1992 | Kauravar | Haridas I.P.S. | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Lion Jagapathi Rao | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Muthina Haara | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | Ganeshana Maduve | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1989 | Deva | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1988 | Suprabhatha | Vijay Kumar | Flop | Similar → |
| 1986 | Viduthalai | Amar | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Sri Raghavendrar | Sri Yogenthra Tirtha | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Bandhana | Dr. Harish | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Benki Birugali | Vishnu | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | Sahasa Simha | Prathap | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Rahasya Rathri | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1980 | Kalinga | Prabhakar/ Ranga | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | Asadhya Aliya | Ashok | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Singaporenalli Raja Kulla | Raja | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Amarnath | Guest Appearance | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | Vasantha Lakshmi | Chandru | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Kiladi Jodi | George | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Muyyige Muyyi | Sanjay | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Hombisilu | Dr. Nataraj | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Kittu Puttu | Kittu | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Sahodarara Savaal | Kiran | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Bangarada Gudi | Vijay | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Kalla Kulla | Mahesh aka Kalla | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Boothayyana Maga Ayyu | Gulla | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Gandhada Gudi | Anand | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Naagarahaavu | Ramachari | Average | Similar → |
Vishnuvardhan - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Vishnuvardhan?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Vishnuvardhan is "Gandhada Gudi" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Vishnuvardhan acted in?
Vishnuvardhan has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Vishnuvardhan?
Other notable films include "Nagarahavu", "Kalla Kulla", and "Singaporenalli Raja Kulla".