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.
Acting
Movie
Naagarahaavu
as Ramachari
1972
Movie
Kauravar
as Haridas I.P.S.
1992
Movie
Aptharakshaka
as Dr. Vijay
2010
Movie
Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
as Hoovaiah
2007
Movie
Ashaant
as Vishnu
1993
Movie
Boothayyana Maga Ayyu
as Gulla
1974
Movie
Apthamitra
2004
Movie
Zaalim
as Inspector Mohan
1994
Movie
Viduthalai
as Amar
1986
Movie
Bandhana
as Dr. Harish
1984
Movie
Sri Raghavendrar
as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
1985
Movie
Muthina Haara
1990
Movie
Sahasa Simha
as Prathap
1982
Movie
Gandhada Gudi
as Anand
1973
Movie
Simhadriya Simha
as Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
2002
Movie
Ganeshana Maduve
as Self
1990
Movie
Ithu Manjukaalam
as Pauli
1993
Movie
Hombisilu
as Dr. Nataraj
1978
Movie
Sahodarara Savaal
as Kiran
1977
Movie
Vamsha Vriksha
as credited as "Kumar"
1971
Movie
Suryavamsha
as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
1999
Movie
Kotreshi Kanasu
1994
Movie
Kotigobba
as Nanjunda
2001
Movie
Yajamana
as Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
2000
