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.
Filmography
Nagarahavu
as King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
Nagarahavu
as King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
Aptharakshaka
as Dr. Vijay
Aptharakshaka
as Dr. Vijay
School Master
School Master
Namyajamanru
Namyajamanru
Ee Bandhana
as Harish Raj
Ee Bandhana
as Harish Raj
Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
as Hoovaiah
Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
as Hoovaiah
Ekadanta
Ekadanta
Sirivantha
Sirivantha
Neenello Nanalle
Neenello Nanalle
Vishnu Sena
Vishnu Sena
Varsha
Varsha
Sahukara
as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
Sahukara
as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
Apthamitra
Apthamitra
Malla
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Malla
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Kadamba
as Madhukeshawara Kadamba
Kadamba
as Madhukeshawara Kadamba
Hrudayavantha
Hrudayavantha
Jameendarru
Jameendarru
Diggajaru
as Wodeya
Diggajaru
as Wodeya
Yaare Neenu Cheluve
Yaare Neenu Cheluve
Nishyabdha
as Major Vishwanath
Nishyabdha
as Major Vishwanath
Laali
Laali
Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda
Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda
Janani Janmabhoomi
Janani Janmabhoomi
Mangala Suthra
Mangala Suthra
Jeevanadi
Jeevanadi
Baalina Jyothi
Baalina Jyothi
Dhani
Dhani
Karnataka Suputhra
Karnataka Suputhra
Appaji
Appaji
Hello Daddy
Hello Daddy
Himapatha
Himapatha
Thumbida Mane
Thumbida Mane
Bangarada Kalasha
Bangarada Kalasha
Mojugara Sogasugara
Mojugara Sogasugara
Zaalim
as Inspector Mohan
Zaalim
as Inspector Mohan
Halunda Tavaru
Halunda Tavaru
Mahakshathriya
Mahakshathriya
Samrat
Samrat
Kunthi Puthra
Kunthi Puthra
Time Bomb
Time Bomb
Ashaant
as Vishnu
Ashaant
as Vishnu
Vishnu Vijaya
Vishnu Vijaya
Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege
as Vishnu
Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege
as Vishnu
Ithu Manjukaalam
as Pauli
Ithu Manjukaalam
as Pauli
Nishkarsha
as Ajay Kumar
Nishkarsha
as Ajay Kumar
Ravi Varma
Ravi Varma
Kauravar
as Haridas I.P.S.
Kauravar
as Haridas I.P.S.
Inspector Dhanush
Inspector Dhanush
Jagadeka Veera
Jagadeka Veera
Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare
Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare
Ganeshana Maduve
as Self
Ganeshana Maduve
as Self
Hrudaya Geethe
Hrudaya Geethe
Deva
Deva
Jana Nayaka
Jana Nayaka
Nammoora Raja
Nammoora Raja
Jeevana Jyothi
Jeevana Jyothi
Sowbhagya Lakshmi
as Shyam / Chandru
Sowbhagya Lakshmi
as Shyam / Chandru
Krishna Nee Begane Baaro
Krishna Nee Begane Baaro
Viduthalai
as Amar
Viduthalai
as Amar
Nee Thanda Kanike
Nee Thanda Kanike
Huli Hejje
Huli Hejje
Sahasa Simha
as Prathap
Sahasa Simha
as Prathap
Mane Mane Kathe
Mane Mane Kathe
Bangarada Jinke
Bangarada Jinke
Makkala Sainya
Makkala Sainya
Nagarahole
Nagarahole
Vamsha Vriksha
as credited as "Kumar"
Vamsha Vriksha
as credited as "Kumar"
Marudhanayagam
as Wajid Khan
Marudhanayagam
as Wajid Khan