
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.

Zaalim
MOVIE • 1994

Varsha
MOVIE • 2005

Karna
MOVIE • 1986

Nishyabdha
MOVIE • 1998

Ashaant
MOVIE • 1993

Kadamba
MOVIE • 2004

Bandhana
MOVIE • 1984

Dhani
MOVIE • 1996

Sahukara
MOVIE • 2004

Krishna Rukmini
MOVIE • 1988

Kauravar
MOVIE • 1992

Hrudaya Geethe
MOVIE • 1989

School Master
MOVIE • 2010

Sri Raghavendrar
MOVIE • 1985

Marudhanayagam
MOVIE

Makkala Sainya
MOVIE • 1980

Benki Birugali
MOVIE • 1984

Mathe Hadithu Kogile
MOVIE • 1990