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

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

Quick Info

Date of birth14 July 1954

Age68 Years

BirthplaceNew Delhi, India

ProfessionActor, Politician, Journalist, Producer, Singer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRaadhika Sarathkumar

FamilyChildren: Rahul, Varalaxmi, Pooja; Stepdaughter: Rayanne Hardy

Net worthRs. 16 crores (as of 2016)

R. Sarathkumar Biography

Ramanathan Sarathkumar is an Indian actor, politician, journalist, producer and singer who has worked across South Indian film industries for more than 130

Early life and background

Ramanathan Sarathkumar was born on 14 July 1954 in New Delhi and grew up in a Tamil family that later relocated to Chennai. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1976 and spent his school years at institutions in Chennai, including Raja Muthiah High School and St. Patrick's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, and at the Central School attached to IIT Madras. As a young man he served as an Air Wing cadet in the National Cadet Corps and marched in the 1970 Republic Day parade. After university he took part in a bodybuilding contest and won the Mr Madras University title in 1974.

Before entering films he worked in the newspaper business. After winning the Mr Madras title he moved to Bengaluru and joined the Tamil daily Dinakaran, initially distributing newspapers and later handling circulation and reporting duties in both Bengaluru and Chennai. He also ran a travel agency in Chennai and is the founder and editor of the weekly magazine Media Voice.

Career

Sarathkumar began acting in the mid-1980s, debuting in Telugu cinema in 1986 and in Tamil cinema in 1988. Over the following decades he became a familiar presence across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films, credited with appearances in more than 130 productions. His early breakthrough Tamil work in the 1990s included films such as Pulan Visaranai (1990), Surieyan (1992), and the 1994 hit Nattamai. He was credited with leading roles through the 1990s and 2000s and reached the milestone of 100 films with Thalaimagan (2006), which he also directed.

Sarathkumar’s career has spanned a variety of screen personas and genres. He has taken on lead roles, character and cameo parts, negative roles and supporting turns. Notable later work includes a role in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: I as Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, a part in the 2020 drama Vaanam Kottatum opposite his second wife Raadhika, and appearances in Telugu films such as Bharat Ane Nenu (special appearance) and the ZEE5 features Meka Suri and Meka Suri 2. He has also worked in animation, lending his voice to Kochadaiiyaan (2014), and has continued to appear in Kannada and Malayalam productions in the 2010s and early 2020s.

On screen Sarathkumar has also taken roles in web series and streaming projects. He portrayed Nagendra Naidu in the 2021 Telugu series Parampara on Disney+ Hotstar and returned for the show's second season. In 2022 he played Robert Vasudevan in the Tamil web series Irai and remained active across both film and digital formats.

Musical and production work

In addition to acting, Sarathkumar has worked as a producer and singer. He produced the Tamil film Kan Simittum Neram (1988) and later wrote and produced Sandamarutham (2015). As a vocalist he recorded a Tamil song for the film Aai in 2004.

Political and industry roles

Sarathkumar’s public life has included extended work in politics and industry bodies. He was affiliated with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the late 1990s and later with AIADMK before founding his own party, All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK), on 31 August 2007. He contested parliamentary and assembly elections multiple times, served a term as a Rajya Sabha member, and won a Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly seat from Tenkasi in 2011. He was President of the South Indian Film Artists’ Association from 2006 to 2015.

Public profile

Sarathkumar has been recognised with several awards over his career, including the Kalaimamani in 1994, multiple state and Filmfare honours for acting, and industry awards in later years for supporting and negative roles. His screen success in the 1990s and 2000s earned him popular sobriquets in Tamil cinema.

Personal life

Sarathkumar has been married twice. His first marriage was to Chaya Devi in 1984; they later divorced. He married actress Raadhika Sarathkumar in 2001. His children include daughter Varalaxmi and daughter Pooja from his first marriage, and a son, Rahul, with Raadhika. He also has a stepdaughter from Raadhika’s earlier relationship. His father, M. Ramanathan, worked with All India Radio and the Press Information Bureau; his mother was Pushpaleela (also known as Leelavathy). He lists non-vegetarian food habits and enjoys reading and football.

Latest updates

In recent years Sarathkumar has continued acting across films and web series. He appeared in high-profile projects such as Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022), worked in the second season of Parampara (2022), and featured in the 2020 film Vaanam Kottatum. He has also made television appearances as a guest and host on Tamil shows, including quiz and reality formats, and remained active in both cinema and digital productions.
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Recent Work

Vaanam Kottatum

Lead role in the 2020 Tamil drama film alongside Raadhika Sarathkumar.

2020
Parampara (web series)

Played Nagendra Naidu in the 2021 Telugu series and returned for season 2 in 2022.

2021
Ponniyin Selvan: I

Portrayed Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar in the 2022 Tamil epic drama film.

2022
Irai (web series)

Played Robert Vasudevan in the 2022 Tamil web series.

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Acted in more than 130 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema
  2. Founded the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) political party in 2007
  3. President of the South Indian Film Artists’ Association (2006–2015)
  4. Reached 100 films with Thalaimagan (2006), which he also directed
  5. Recipient of multiple state and Filmfare awards and the Kalaimamani (1994)
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Net Worth

Rs. 16 crores (as of 2016)

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was R. Sarathkumar born?

14 July 1954

What is R. Sarathkumar known for?

Actor, Politician, Journalist, Producer, Singer

What is R. Sarathkumar’s marital status?

Married

Who is R. Sarathkumar married to?

Raadhika Sarathkumar

What is R. Sarathkumar’s net worth?

Rs. 16 crores (as of 2016)