He is a leading actor of Tamil cinema who began his career as an assistant director to Arjun Sarja and is the son of a veteran producer of South cinema. The actor has made several hit films in the last few years, even directing his next film himself.
Yes, we are talking about actor-producer Vishal, who has made a name for himself with several commercial films and is known for being vocal on public issues.
Vishal: From assistant director to lead actor
Vishal, who completed his studies in Chennai, finally turned his attention to cinema. Despite getting a chance to work as an assistant to Ram Gopal Varma, the actor’s parents wanted him to do South films and he refused.
This led the actor to begin his career in Tamil cinema and began working as an assistant director to Arjun Sarja in the 2001 romantic drama film Vedham. On the sets of the same film, a producer spotted Vishal and signed him as the lead actor in the 2004 film Chellame, directed by Gandhi Krishna.
Watch a song from Chellame:
To prepare for his first role and hone his skills as an actor, Vishal joined a theatre group called Kuthu-Pattarai. The film was a romantic thriller in which a husband sets out to rescue his wife who has been kidnapped by his insane childhood friend.
Vishal then worked with director Lingusamy in his film Sandakozhi alongside Meera Jasmine in the year 2005. The film soon transformed the actor into an action hero. Later, the actor balanced his filmography by playing the protagonist in action films while also appearing as a comedy romantic lead in a few others.
His film Thimiru was a huge commercial hit, while Shivappathigaram was not as successful at the box office. However, in 2007, actor and director Hari worked together for the first time in a film titled Thaamirabharani.
Watch a song by Thaamirabharani:
The family action drama starring Prabhu, Nadhiya, Bhanu (Muktha), Nassar, Vijayakumar, Rohini and many others was a critical and commercial hit. Despite its release clashing with big films, the film was well accepted by the audience.
Later, the actor appeared in commercially unsuccessful films like Malaikottai and Sathyam, while his films like Thoranai and Theeradha Vilayattu Pillai were average grossers. Sathyam and Thoranai films were also released in Telugu regions but failed to create an impact for the actor.
The actor starred in director Bala’s dark comedy film Avan Ivan on the recommendation of his friend and actor Arya. The film featured him as a stage actor with cross-eyed eyes, which caused him eye problems and headaches during the shoot. However, the actor’s performance was well-received despite the film’s average reception.
The year 2013 began with the actor’s action film Samar, followed by Pattathu Yaanai. The film also marked the debut of Arjun Sarja’s daughter Aishwarya Arjun. Also, the same year saw Vishal stepping into the film production business and making his debut with Pandiya Naadu.
In 2014, he played a man suffering from narcolepsy in the film Naan Sigappu Manithan and did extensive case studies to prepare for the role. Following this, the actor once again worked with director Hari for the film Poojai and later starred in films like Aambala and Paayum Puli.
Watch the trailer of Ambala:
Later, he starred in films like Kathakali, Marudhu and Kaththi Sandai. In 2017, Vishal also debuted in a Malayalam film starring Mohanlal. Directed by B Unnikrishnan, the film featured a neo-noir psychological thriller in which the actor played the lead role of a mentally ill doctor.
In 2017, Vishal starred in Mysskin’s directorial Thupparivaalan, which is one of the most memorable characters he has ever played. Based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, the film featured him in the role of a detective.
After starring in several other films in the last few years, the actor was last seen in films like Mark Antony and Ratnam. While the latter film saw him play a macho action role, the first film was a fun ride with sci-fi elements. The actor is now set to make his debut as a director with the film Thupparivaalan 2.
Vishal’s personal life
Vishal was born to filmmaker GK Reddy and Janaki Devi on August 28, 1977. The actor hails from a Telugu-speaking family in Chennai and completed his schooling in the city itself.
The actor has a degree in Visual Communication and used to be classmates with actor-politician Udhayanidhi Stalin and his now wife director Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi. The actor also has an elder brother named Vikram Krishna, who is married to Salaar actress Sriya Reddy.
Apart from this, Vishal was also the chairman of the Tamil Film Producers Council and started an anti-piracy cell against online piracy. Moreover, the actor has been accused by the Producers Council of misusing their funds during his tenure as the chairman.
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