Siddharth Suryanarayan – South Indian actor with “pan-Indian” appeal

Siddharth Suryanarayan, credited as Siddharth in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films is a very successful actor with numerous hit films to his credit. After his appearance in Rang De Basanti co-starring Aamir Khan, he got pan-Indian appeal, and is equally loved by Bollywood and South Indian audience. He got his first break to films through S. Shankar’s Boys in 2003 and shot to instant fame. His second film, Aayutha Ezhuthu directed by Mani Ratnam brought him critical acclaim, and there was no turning back after that. Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005) and Rang De Basanti (2006), his debut in Telugu and Hindi respectively, followed by Bommarillu (2006) cemented his position in Indian film industry as a successful young lead actor with pan-Indian appeal.

Siddharth was born in Chennai in 1979. He studied business management, and worked as an assistant of Mani Ratnam before foraying into acting. He came to limelight since the release of his debut film, Boys itself, and within a short time span, he established as one of the most sought actors of south Indian cinema. One of the finest looking south Indian actors, he is mostly seen as a romantic young hero of Indian screen. After the release of Rang De Basanti in 2006, he did only less number of films for the next five years. Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam was a hit film made during this period. Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi, 180, Chashme Baddoor, Jigarthanda, Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru, Kaaviya Thalaivan, Enakkul Oruvan, Aranmanai 2 etc are his major works after 2010.

Siddharth in the popular ‘Nee Korinaal’ romantic song

In 2014 his roles for Jigarthanda and Kaaviya Thalaivan earned him Norway Tamil Film Awards For Best Actor, apart from several nominations. Kaaviya Thalaivan bagged him the single state award for best actor. Telugu movie Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana earned him Filmfare best actor award in 2005. Siddharth married his neighbour Meghna in 2003 at a very young age. They got legally divorced in 2007. In 2018 he marked his debut in Malayalam films in a supporting role through Dileep starrer Kammara Sambhavam.

Siddharth – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. His full name is Siddharth Suryanarayan, and he is also known as Siddharth Narayan and Siddhu.

2. Apart from acting he is also a screenwriter, producer and playback singer.

3. He has learned Carnatic music and has also produced a musical album.

4. Kannathil Muthamittal was his first film as an assistant director, and he was seen as a passenger of a bus in the film (uncredited role). It was his first screen appearance.

5. Before entering films, he worked as a dubbing artist of ad-world in the late 1990s for a brief period, and also as stage actor in Delhi-based theatre group, Players.

6. Aside Siddharth, Genelia D’Souza, Bharath, Nakul, Thaman and Manikandan also marked their screen debut with youth-oriented film, Boys in 2002.

7. For the most popular song of Boys, ‘Alai Alai’, for the first time in Tamil cinema, cinematographer Ravi K Chandran used 62 still cameras and linked it using a time freeze technique.

8. After separating from his wife, Sidharth has been linked with his co-stars – Soha Ali Khan, Shruthi Hassan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Deepa Sannidhi.

9. He played male lead in Prabhu Deva’s directorial debut, Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana in 2005. It was the first Indian movie to be remade in seven languages.

10. He acted in the short film “Blood Brothers”, which was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.

11 Despite winning positive reviews for Kaaviya Thalaivan and Enakkul Oruvan, both were commercial failures which discouraged him a lot.

12. In the bilingual film Yuva/Ayudha Ezhuthu, Vivek Oberoi reprised his role in Hindi version. Interestingly both the actors made their screen debut almost at the same time, and were speculated as future super stars.

13. It’s said that he is a bit arrogant, and this nature damaged his career a little bit as well, especially in Telugu cinema.

14. He kept his personal life under wraps, and even divorce was kept secret. His ex-wife rarely appeared before media and it’s also rumoured that he has one son.

15. Without any filmy background or godfathers, he achieved stardom in three different languages, not an easy task to achieve.