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R. Parthiban Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth15 November 1957

Age65 Years (as of 2022)

BirthplaceChennai, Tamil Nadu, India

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseSeetha (m. 1990; div. 2001)

FamilyDaughters - Abhinaya and Keerthana; Adopted Son - Raakhi

R. Parthiban Biography

R. Parthiban is an Indian actor, director, producer, writer and narrator who has been a visible figure in Tamil cinema since the early 1980s. Known for his

Early life and background

Radhakrishnan Parthiban was born on 15 November 1957 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He grew up in the same city that became the base for his long career in Tamil cinema. Parthiban attended college but did not complete a degree.

Career

Parthiban’s entry into the film world began through theatre and assistant-directing roles in Madras. He moved to the city in 1980 and joined a drama company, and within a year made his first on-screen appearance in the 1981 film Ranuva Veeran. He then worked as an assistant director and voice dub artist, and by the mid-1980s was working closely with filmmaker K. Bhagyaraj on numerous projects.

He made his directorial debut with Pudhiya Paadhai (1989), a film he also wrote and starred in. The film brought him widespread recognition and several state and national awards. Over the following decades Parthiban alternated between acting and directing, building a body of work that spans mainstream and offbeat projects. As an actor he has appeared in notable films including Bharathi Kannamma (1997), Azhagi (2002), Aayirathil Oruvan (2010), Melvilasom (2011) and Oththa Seruppu Size 7 (2019). As a filmmaker he has directed and produced more than two dozen Tamil films, with Pudhiya Paadhai and Housefull (1999) among the titles cited for critical acclaim.

Parthiban has also contributed to film music as a singer and lyricist. He sang the track "Hey Kala Kala" in the 1995 film Sarigamapadani and later voiced songs for other films. He wrote lyrics for the film Kudaikul Mazhai (2004) and was responsible for the songs of the 2011 film Vithagan. In addition to acting, directing and writing, he has worked as a narrator for films and a web series, lending his voice to projects such as 12B (2001), Athiradi Vettai (2014), Time Enna Boss (2020) and Koogle Kuttappa (2022).

Oththa Seruppu Size 7 (2019) marked a significant recent milestone: Parthiban directed, produced and performed the film, which earned the Special Jury Award at the 67th National Film Awards and received multiple festival honors, including jury awards at the Toronto Tamil Film Festival. He described the project as a long-held ambition and has spoken of a personal drive to attempt things no one else has done before.

Public profile

Parthiban has been recognized with several awards over his career, including a National Film Award early in his career for Pudhiya Paadhai and a National Film Award – Special Jury Award for Oththa Seruppu Size 7 in 2019. He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor in 1997 and a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil in 2010. In late 2018 he was appointed Vice President of the Tamil Film Producers Council.

Outside the film set he has published books, and one of his poetry collections was released by a prominent political leader. He also runs a charitable trust called R. Parthepan Manidha Neya Mandram.

Personal life

Parthiban married actress Seetha in 1990 after the pair met during the making of Pudhiya Paadhai. They have two daughters, Abhinaya and Keerthana, and an adopted son, Raakhi. The couple divorced in 2001. His hair is described as salt-and-pepper and he has black eyes.

Latest updates

In 2022 Parthiban appeared in the films Yutha Satham and Ponniyin Selvan. He remains active on social media, with a substantial following on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. In May 2022 he participated in a music launch for his film Iravin Nizhal alongside composer A. R. Rahman and later apologised for an on-stage incident that received media attention.

Parthiban continues to take on diverse roles in front of and behind the camera, maintaining a presence in contemporary Tamil cinema while pursuing personal projects and occasional literary work.
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Recent Work

Oththa Seruppu Size 7

Directed, produced and acted in the film; won the Special Jury Award at the 67th National Film Awards and multiple festival honors.

2019
Yutha Satham

Acted in the film.

2022
Ponniyin Selvan

Acted in the film.

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted as an actor in Ranuva Veeran (1981)
  2. Directorial debut with Pudhiya Paadhai (1989), a nationally awarded film
  3. Won National Film Award – Special Jury Award for Oththa Seruppu Size 7 (2019)
  4. Appointed Vice President of the Tamil Film Producers Council (2018)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was R. Parthiban born?

15 November 1957

What is R. Parthiban known for?

Actor

What is R. Parthiban’s marital status?

Divorced

Who is R. Parthiban married to?

Seetha (m. 1990; div. 2001)