Dhanush Biography – a South Indian Actor and Playback Singer
Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, known professionally as Dhanush, is an Indian actor, producer, director, lyricist and playback singer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema.
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| Real Name: | Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja |
| Profession: | Indian Actor |
| Birthplace: | Madras, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Spouse: | Aishwarya Rajinikanth |
| Age: | 40 |
Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja (born 28 July 1983), known professionally as Dhanush, is an Indian actor, producer, director, lyricist, and playback singer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Having starred in 46 films over his career, his accolades include four National Film Awards (two as actor and two as producer), 14 SIIMA Awards, nine Vijay Awards, seven Filmfare Awards South, five Vikatan Awards, five Edison Awards, and a Filmfare Award. He has been included in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list six times, which is based on the earnings of Indian celebrities.
Dhanush’s first film was Thulluvadho Ilamai, a 2002 coming-of-age film directed by his father, Kasthuri Raja. He achieved further success in Polladhavan (2007) and Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), both of which were critically acclaimed and commercially successful. His role as a rooster fight jockey in Aadukalam (2010) won him the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. He continued success with films including Maryan (2013), Velaiilla Pattadhari (2014), Anegan (2015), Kodi (2016), Vadachennai (2018), Asuran (2019), Thiruchitrambalam (2022) and Vaathi (2023). Vadachennai emerged as the highest-grossing A-rated Tamil film of all time, while Thiruchitrambalam and Vaathi entered the 100 Crore Club within a month of their release. During the 2010s, he also starred in the action films Maari (2015), Maari 2 (2018), and Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 (2017).
In 2011, Dhanush’s popular song “Why This Kolaveri Di” from the romantic psychological thriller film 3 (2012) became the first Indian music video to cross 100 million views on YouTube. He made his Bollywood debut with Aanand L. Rai‘s Raanjhanaa (2013). His performance as an obsessive one-sided lover in the film won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut in addition to a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Dhanush produces films through his production company, Wunderbar Films, and he made his directorial debut with Pa Paandi (2017). His song “Rowdy Baby” from Maari 2 became one of the most-viewed Indian songs of all time. It is the only South Indian video song to reach 1 billion views on YouTube. Dhanush won his second National Film Award for Best Actor for Asuran (2019).
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Dhanush Biography
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| Born |
Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja
28 July 1983 Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
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| Years active | 2002–present |
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Table of Contents
Early and personal life
Dhanush was born Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja on 28 July 1983 to a Tamil film director and producer, Kasthuri Raja, & mother, Vijayalakshmi, in Madras, Tamil Nadu. Initially, he wished to go to a school of hotel management and become a chef. However, his brother, director Selvaraghavan, pressured him to become an actor.
Dhanush married Aishwarya, Rajinikanth‘s eldest daughter on 18 November 2004. They have two sons, Yatra and Linga, who were born in 2006 and 2010 respectively. The couple announced their separation on 17 January 2022.
He is an ardent devotee of the Hindu god Shiva and has given his two sons Shaivite names. Dhanush is a vegetarian.
Acting career (Dhanush Biography)
2002–2010: Career beginnings
Venkatesh Prabhu adopted the screen name “Dhanush” after being inspired by the fictional covert operation from Kuruthipunal (1995). He debuted in the 2002 teen drama film Thulluvadho Ilamai, directed by his father Kasthuri Raja, which became a sleeper hit. He then appeared in his brother Selvaraghavan’s first directorial venture, the romantic psychological thriller Kaadhal Kondein in 2003. The film portrayed Dhanush as a mentally-disturbed youth, Vinodh, who yearned for the love of his friend, eventually turning possessive of her. Upon release, the film opened to critical acclaim and proved to be a major commercial success, eventually becoming Dhanush’s breakthrough in Tamil cinema. The film also fetched him his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. His next film was the romantic comedy Thiruda Thirudi (2003), a critical and commercial success.
The following year, the remake of a Telugu film directed by his brother formed the plot line for Dhanush’s next film directed by debutant Mithran Jawahar, later titled Yaaradi Nee Mohini. The romantic comedy proved to be a major critical and commercial success, thus earning Dhanush his third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. He later appeared in a cameo appearance, for his father-in-law Rajinikanth’s venture Kuselan. His subsequent venture was Suraj’s Padikathavan, which was released in January 2009. His performance was praised and well-received. His next two films Kutty and Uthama Puthiran, were both collaborations with director Mithran Jawahar.
The song “Un Mele Aasaidhaan” from the action-adventure film Aayirathil Oruvan, which featured him alongside his wife Aishwarya Rajinikanth, won him his first Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Tamil.
2011–2014: Critical success
Dhanush’s first release in 2011, which he had shot for over three years, was Aadukalam, marking his second collaboration with Vetrimaran. Dhanush played the role of a local cockfighter and described the venture as his “dream project” during production. The film gained widespread critical acclaim and won six awards at the 58th National Film Awards, with Dhanush receiving the National Film Award for Best Actor, becoming the youngest actor to win the award. He also won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for his performance in the film. Dhanush appeared in an extended guest appearance in Subramania Siva’s Seedan. His next two ventures were the action films, Mappillai, a remake of his father-in-law’s same-titled 1989 film, and Venghai, by Hari, which received mixed reviews but was a commercial success.
Dhanush’s first film of 2014 was the comedy-drama Velaiilla Pattadhari, which was also his 25th film and was directed by Velraj. It received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, ranking among the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2014. Dhanush won his third Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for his performance in the film. The Telugu dubbed version, Raghuvaran B. Tech, was also a success.
His next release was Shamitabh (2015), which was also his second Hindi film directed by R. Balki. It opened to highly positive reviews and was praised for the concept, but failed at the box office. His next film Anegan, a psychological thriller directed by K. V. Anand, received positive reviews and became a box-office success. The film earned Dhanush his eighth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil.
2015–present: Experimental projects
Dhanush’s next release in 2015 was the action comedy Maari, featuring Kajal Aggarwal, Robo Shankar, and Vijay Yesudas. Directed by Balaji Mohan and composed by Anirudh Ravichander, it was released worldwide on 17 July 2015 and received mixed reviews. He also appeared in Thanga Magan, directed by Velraj with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Amy Jackson, K. S. Ravikumar, and Raadhika. In 2016, Dhanush appeared Thodari, which was an action thriller film set on a train, and Kodi, a political action thriller, which earned him his ninth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil.
Dhanush’s first 2021 role was his starring role in Karnan, directed by Mari Selvaraj, and featuring Lal, Natarajan Subramaniam, Yogi Babu, Rajisha Vijayan, Gouri Kishan, Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli alongside him. The film was released on 9 April, to critical acclaim. For his performance in the film, Dhanush received his eleventh nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. His next project was the black comedy gangster film, Jagame Thandhiram, written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj, which was released on 18 June 2021. It also featured Joju George (in his Tamil debut), Aishwarya Lekshmi (in her Tamil debut), and James Cosmo (in his Tamil debut). It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. He also starred in Aanand L. Rai’s August 2021 Hindi-language film Atrangi Re, co-starring Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan.
In 2022, Dhanush starred in Thiruchitrambalam, directed by Mithran Jawahar, and featuring Nithya Menen, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Rashi Kanna, Bharathiraja, Prakash Raj, Munishkanth, all alongside Dhanush. The film was released on 18 August 2022, in theatres. It went on to become the highest-grossing film in his career.
Filmography (Dhanush Biography)
- All films are in Tamil unless mentioned otherwise.
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
As actor
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Thulluvadho Ilamai | Mahesh | |
| 2003 | Kaadhal Kondein | Vinod | |
| Thiruda Thirudi | Vasudevan | ||
| 2004 | Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan | Saravanan | |
| Sullan | Subramani (Sullan) | ||
| Dreams | Sakthi | ||
| 2005 | Devathaiyai Kanden | Babu | |
| Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam | Srinivasan | ||
| 2006 | Pudhupettai | Kokki Kumar | |
| Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam | Thiru Kumaran | ||
| 2007 | Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram | Azhagu Sundaram (Parattai) | |
| Polladhavan | Prabhu Shankar | ||
| 2008 | Yaaradi Nee Mohini | Vasudevan | |
| Kuselan | Himself | Guest appearance in the song “Cinema Cinema” | |
| 2009 | Padikkadavan | Radhakrishnan (Rocky) | |
| 2010 | Kutty | Kutty | |
| Uthamaputhiran | Siva Ramakrishnan | ||
| 2011 | Aadukalam | K. P. Karuppu | |
| Seedan | Saravanan | Cameo | |
| Mappillai | Saravanan | ||
| Venghai | Selvam | ||
| Mayakkam Enna | Karthik Swaminathan | ||
| 2012 | 3 | Ramachandran (Ram) | |
| 2013 | Proprietors: Kammath & Kammath | Himself | Guest appearance (Malayalam film) |
| Ethir Neechal | Himself | Guest appearance in the song “Local Boys” | |
| Raanjhanaa | Kundan Shankar | Hindi film | |
| Maryan | Maryan | ||
| Naiyaandi | Chinna Vandu | ||
| 2014 | Velaiilla Pattadhari | Raghuvaran | |
| 2015 | Shamitabh | Danish (Shamitabh) | |
| Anegan | Ashwin, Murugappa, Kaali | ||
| Vai Raja Vai | Kokki Kumar | Cameo | |
| Maari | Maari | ||
| Thanga Magan | Thamizh | ||
| 2016 | Thodari | Poochiyappan | |
| Kodi | Kodi, Anbu | ||
| 2017 | Pa Paandi | Pandian Palanisamy | Also director and screenwriter |
| Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 | Raghuvaran | Also screenwriter | |
| VIP 2 | |||
| 2018 | The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir | Ajatashatru Lavash Patel | English film |
| Vada Chennai | Anbhu | ||
| Maari 2 | Maariyappan (Maari) | ||
| 2019 | Asuran | Sivasamy | |
| Enai Noki Paayum Thota | Raghu | ||
| 2020 | Pattas | Sakthi (Pattas), Dhiraviyaperumal | |
| 2021 | Karnan | Karnan | |
| Jagame Thandhiram | Suruli | ||
| Atrangi Re | S. Venkatesh Vishwanath Iyer (Vishu) | Hindi film | |
| 2022 | Maaran | Mathimaaran Sathyamoorthy (Maaran) | |
| The Gray Man | Avik San (Lone Wolf) | English film | |
| Thiruchitrambalam | Thiruchitrambalam Jr. (Pazham) | ||
| Naane Varuvean | Kathir, Prabhu | ||
| 2023 | Vaathi | Balamurugan (Bala) | |
| Sir | Bala Gangadhar Thilak (Balu) | ||
| Captain Miller † | Captain Miller | ||
| 2024 | Tere Ishk Mein † | Kundan Shankar | Hindi film |
| TBA | D50 | TBA | Also writer and director |
As producer
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | Ethir Neechal |
| 2014 | Velaiilla Pattadhari |
| 2015 | Kaaki Sattai |
| Kaaka Muttai | |
| Maari | |
| Naanum Rowdy Dhaan | |
| 2016 | Visaranai |
| Amma Kanakku | |
| 2017 | Cinema Veeran |
| Pa Paandi | |
| Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 | |
| Tharangam | |
| 2018 | Kaala |
| Vada Chennai | |
| Maari 2 | |
| 2023 | Wunderbar Production 15 † |
Music (Dhanush Biography)
Dhanush is a singer, generally for his own films. As a lyricist, he is often credited as “Poetu Dhanush“. He was introduced as a playback singer in Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan, by its composer Yuvan Shankar Raja and collaborated again with him in his brother Selvaraghavan’s directorial, Pudhupettai. He sang further numbers in Selvaraghavan’s films Aayirathil Oruvan and Mayakkam Enna; the former, of which featured him alongside his wife Aishwarya Rajinikanth.
“Why This Kolaveri Di” was released on YouTube in 2011 as part of the soundtrack to the film 3, the directorial debut of Aishwarya Dhanush. The song became the most-searched video in India. Anirudh Ravichander was the soundtrack composer for the film and Dhanush wrote much of the lyrics. He has also sung “No Problem” in the Kannada film Vajrakaya, which earned him a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Kannada, and “Thikka” in the Telugu film Thikka.
Discography (Dhanush Biography)
| Year | Title | Album | Other artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | “Naattu Sarakku” | Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan | |
| 2005 | “Thunda Kaanom” | Devathaiyai Kanden | Anuradha Sriram |
| 2006 | “Enga Area” | Pudhupettai | |
| 2010 | “Un Mele”, “Neemeede Aasaga” | Aayirathil Oruvan | Andrea Jeremiah |
| 2011 | “Oda Oda” | Mayakkam Enna | |
| “Kadhal En Kadhal” | Selvaraghavan | ||
| 2012 | “Why This Kolaveri Di” | 3 | |
| “Kannazhaga”, “Kannuladha” (D) | Shruti Haasan | ||
| 2013 | “Teddy Bear” | Naiyaandi | |
| “Nijamellam” | Ethir Neechal | ||
| 2014 | “Amma Amma” | Velaiilla Pattadhari | |
| “Po Indru Neeyaga” | |||
| “What a Karavad” | |||
| 2015 | “Danga Maari” | Anegan | |
| “No Problem” | Vajrakaya | Kannada song | |
| “Pazhankala” | Irandaam Ulagam | Megha | |
| “Oh Oh”, “Manasa Manasa” | Thanga Magan | Nikhita Gandhi | |
| “Jodi Nilave”, “Odini Lali” | Shweta Mohan | ||
| “Maari Thara Local” | Maari | ||
| “Thappa Dhaan Theriyum” | |||
| “Bagulu Odayam Dagulu Mari” | |||
| 2016 | “Maalai Varum Vannilla” | Nenjam Marappathillai | |
| “Kodi” | Kodi | ||
| “Thikka” | Thikka | Telugu song | |
| 2017 | “Solli Tholaiyen Ma” | Yaakkai | |
| “Soorakathu”, “Venpanimalare” | Pa Paandi | Swetha Mohan, Sean Roldan | |
| “Pudhuvai” | Yaadhumagi Nindraai | ||
| “Life of Raghuvaran” | Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 | ||
| “Torture of Raghuvaran” | |||
| 2018 | “Goindhammavala” | Vada Chennai | |
| “Engleesu Lovesu” | Pakkiri (D) | ||
| “Local Sarakka” | Padaiveeran | ||
| “Ezhava” | Ezhumin | ||
| “Maari Gethu” | Maari 2 | Chinnaponnu | |
| “Rowdy Baby”, “Rowdy Baby (Telugu)” (D) | Dhee (Tamil), M.M Manasi (Telugu) | ||
| 2019 | “Nenjodu Vinaya” | Brother’s Day | |
| “Polladha Bhoomi” | Asuran | ||
| “Kannazhagu Rathiname” | |||
| 2020 | “Chill Bro” | Pattas | |
| “Kaathodu Kaathanen” | Jail | Aditi Rao Hydari | |
| 2021 | “Thattaan Thattaan” | Karnan | |
| “Tata Bye Bye” | Vanakkam Da Mappilei | ||
| “Nethu” | Jagame Thandhiram | ||
| “Rakita Rakita Rakita” | |||
| “Little Little” | Atrangi Re | Hindi Song | |
| Galatta Kalyanam (D) | |||
| 2022 | “Polladha Ulagam” | Maaran | |
| “Chittu Kuruvi” | |||
| “Thaai Kelavi” | Thiruchitrambalam | ||
| “Megham Karukaatha” | |||
| “Mayakkama Kalakkama” | |||
| “Rendu Raaja” | Naane Varuvean | ||
| 2023 | “Onnoda Nadandhaa” | Viduthalai – Part 1 | Ananya Bhat |
| “Hathavidi” | Miss. Shetty Mr. Polishetty | Telugu song |
Lyrics
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | “Kadhal Yen Kadhal” | Mayakkam Enna |
| “Ooda Ooda Thooram” | ||
| “Pirai Thedum” | ||
| 2012 | “Why This Kolaveri Di” | 3 |
| “Come On Girls” | ||
| “Po Nee Po” | ||
| “Nee Partha” | ||
| “Kannazhaga” | ||
| “Boomi Enna Suthude” | Ethir Neechal | |
| “Nijamellam Maranthu” | ||
| “Kadal Raasa Naan” | Maryan | |
| 2014 | “Amma Amma” | Velaiilla Pattadhari |
| “Ey Inga Paru” | ||
| “Vellailla Pattathari” | ||
| “Po Indru Neeyaga” | ||
| “Udhungada Sangu” | ||
| “What a Karuvad” | ||
| “Move Your Body” | Vai Raja Vai | |
| 2015 | “Enna Solla” | Thanga Magan |
| “Jodi Nilave” | ||
| “Oh Oh” | ||
| “Tak Bak” | ||
| “Maari Thara Local” | Maari | |
| “Don’u Don’u Don’u” | ||
| “Oru Vidha Asai” | ||
| 2016 | “Kodi” | Kodi |
| 2017 | “Venpanimalare “ | Pa Paandi |
| “Soorakathu” | ||
| “Life of Raghuvaran” | Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 | |
| “Torture of Raghuvaran” | ||
| “Angel of Raghuvaran” | ||
| 2018 | “Maari Thara Local” | Maari 2 |
| “Anandhi” | ||
| 2019 | “Ilamai Thirumbuthe” | Petta |
| “Nenjodu Vinaya” | Brother’s Day | |
| 2021 | “Nethu” | Jagame Thandhiram |
| “Little Little” | Galatta Kalyanam (D) | |
| 2022 | “Chittu Kuruvi” | Maaran |
| “Thaai Kelavi” | Thiruchitrambalam | |
| “Megham Karukaatha” | ||
| “Mayakkama Kalakkama” | ||
| “Thenmozhi” | ||
| “Kanneer Sindha” | ||
| “Rendu Raaja” | Naane Varuvean | |
| 2023 | “Vaa Vaathi” | Vaathi |
| “One Life” |
Other work (Dhanush Biography)
Dhanush worked with WWF India to support Earth Hour 2012. In August 2013, Dhanush was signed by Perfetti India Ltd. as their brand ambassador for Center Fresh chewing gum.
He made his directorial debut with the comedy-drama Pa Paandi (2017), which earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil.
Accolades (Dhanush Biography)
Film Awards
National Film Awards
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 (58th) † |
Best Actor | Aadukalam | Won |
| 2014 (62nd) † |
Best Children’s Film (co-producer) | Kaaka Muttai | Won |
| 2015 (63rd) † |
Best Feature Film in Tamil (co-producer) | Visaranai | Won |
| 2019 (67th) † |
Best Actor | Asuran | Won |
Filmfare Awards (Dhanush Biography)
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Best Male Debut | Raanjhanaa | Won |
| Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2022 | Atrangi Re | Nominated |
Filmfare Awards South
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Best Actor | Kadhal Kondein | Nominated |
| 2008 | Yaaradi Nee Mohini | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Best Male Playback Singer | “Un Mele Aasaidhaan” from Aayirathil Oruvan | Nominated |
| 2011 | Best Actor | Aadukalam | Won |
| 2012 | Best Male Playback Singer | “Why This Kolaveri Di” from 3 | Won |
| Best Actor | 3 | Won | |
| 2013 | Maryan | Nominated | |
| Best Actor (Critics) | Won | ||
| 2014 | Best Actor | Velaiyilla Pattathari | Won |
| Best Film | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Kaaka Muttai (co-producer) | Won | |
| Best Actor | Anegan | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Best Film | Visaranai (co-producer) | Nominated |
| Best Director | Pa Paandi | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Kodi | Nominated | |
| Best Male Playback Singer | “No Problem” from Vajrakaya | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Best Film | Vada Chennai | Nominated |
| Best Actor | Won |
Vijay Awards (Dhanush Biography)
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Best Actor | Polladhavan | Nominated |
| Favorite Hero | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Best Entertainer of the Year | Yaaradi Nee Mohini | Won |
| Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Favorite Hero | Aadukalam | Nominated |
| Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| Best Lyricist | “Voda Voda” from Mayakkam Enna | Nominated | |
| Best Crew (actor) | Aadukalam | Won | |
| Best Entertainer of the Year | Aadukalam & Mayakkam Enna | Won | |
| 2012 | Best Actor | 3 | Won |
| Best Male Playback Singer | “Why This Kolaveri Di” from 3 | Nominated | |
| Best Lyricist | “Po Nee Po” from 3 | Won | |
| Favorite Hero | 3 | Won | |
| 2013 | Best Actor | Maryan | Nominated |
| Best Crew (producer) | Ethir Neechal | Won | |
| Favorite Hero | Maryan | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Best Lyricist | “Amma Amma” from Velaiyilla Pattathari | Nominated |
| Favorite Hero | Velaiyilla Pattathari | Nominated | |
| Favorite Film (producer) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Won | ||
| Best Film (producer) | Won | ||
| 2017 | Best Entertainer of the Year | Pa Paandi, Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 | Won |
South Indian International Movie Awards(SIIMA)
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Best Actor | Aadukalam | Won |
| Best Male Playback Singer | “Voda Voda” from Mayakkam Enna | Won | |
| Sensation of South Indian Cinema | Various films | Won | |
| Best Lyricist | “Pirai Thedum” from Mayakkam Enna | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Best Actor | 3 | Won |
| Best Lyricist | “Kannazhaga” from 3 | Won | |
| Best Singer | “Why This Kolaveri Di” from 3 | Won | |
| Best Debutant Producer | Wunderbar Films for 3 | Nominated | |
| Sensation of Innovative Marketing | Won | ||
| 2013 | Best Actor (Critics) | Maryan | Won |
| 2014 | Best Actor | Velaiyilla Pattathari | Won |
| Best Lyricist | “Amma Amma” from Velaiyilla Pattathari | Won | |
| Pride of South Indian Cinema | — | Won | |
| 2015 | Best Film (co-producer) | Kaaka Muttai | Nominated |
| Best Actor | Anegan | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Best Film | Visaranai (co-producer) | Nominated |
| 2017 | Best Debut Director | Pa Paandi | Nominated |
| Best Lyricist | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | Best Actor | Vada Chennai | Won |
| Best Film | Vada Chennai (co-producer) | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Best Actor | Asuran | Won |
| 2021 | Pattas | Nominated |
Edison Awards (India)
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Best Actor | Maryan | Won |
| 2014 | Velaiyilla Pattathari | Won | |
| 2015 | Best Producer | Kaaka Muttai | Won |
| Mass Hero | Maari | Won | |
| 2018 | Best Actor | Vada Chennai | Won |
| 2019 | Asuran | Won |
Vikatan Award
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Best Actor | Velaiyilla Pattathari | Won |
| 2015 | Best Film | Kaaka Muttai | Won |
| 2016 | Visaranai | Won | |
| 2018 | Best Actor | Vada Chennai | Won |
| 2019 | Asuran | Won |
IIFA Utsavam (Dhanush Biography)
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Best Lyricist – Tamil | “Don-u Don-u Don-u” from Maari | Won |
| Best Male Playback Singer – Tamil | “Danga Maari” from Anegan | Nominated | |
| Best Male Playback Singer – Kannada | “No Problem” from Vajrakaya | Won |
Other honors and recognition
- Stylish Star Of South Cinema – Chennai Times Award (2011)
- CNN Top Song Of 2011 Award – Why This Kolaveri Di (2011)
- Asianet Most Popular Actor (Tamil) (2011)
- Chennai Times Award – Best Actor for 3 (2012)
- Behindwoods Gold Medal – Best Acting Performance for Maryan (2014)
- IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year – Male (2014)
- Zee Cine Award for Best Male Debut (2014)
- SICA Award – Best Actor for Velaiyilla Pattathari (2015)
- Tamil Nadu State Film Award -Special Prize for Kaaka Muttai (2017)
- MGR Sivaji Academy Award – Sensational Debut Director for Pa Paandi (2018)
- Vanitha Film Awards- Best Actor Tamil for Vada Chennai (2018)
Nominations
- Big Star Entertainment Awards (2013) – Most Entertaining Debutant Actor for Raanjhanaa (2013)
- Star Screen Award Most Promising Newcomer – Male for Raanjhanaa (2013)
- Star Screen Award Best Actor – Popular Choice for Raanjhanaa (2013)
