Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja (born 28 July 1983), better known by his stage name Dhanush, is an Indian film actor, producer, director, writer, lyricist, screenwriter and playback singer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema.
Dhanush's first film was Thulluvadho Ilamai, a 2002 coming-of-age film directed by his father, Kasthuri Raja. Over the last 15 years, Dhanush has starred in over 25 films. Dhanush won the Best Actor award at the 58th National Film Awards for his performance in Aadukalam (2010). In 2011, Dhanush's popular song "Why this Kolaveri Di" became the first Indian music video to cross 100 million views on YouTube. Dhanush produces films under his production company, Wunderbar Films. He has won three National Film Awards and seven Filmfare Awards.
Born to Tamil film director and producer Kasthuri Raja, Dhanush entered acting after being pressured by his brother, director Selvaraghavan. Dhanush married Aishwarya, Rajinikanth's daughter on 18 November 2004. They have two sons named Yatra and Linga, who were born in 2006 and 2010. He studied at the Thai Sathiya Matriculation High School, Saligramam from Kindergarten (also known as LKG - Lower Kindergarten) to SSLC (also Known as 10th Std.). and St. John's Matriculation Higher Secondary School Alwarthirunagar and shifted to JRK Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Vadapalani, Chennai for attending 12th State Board Exams for the last one and half months due to lack of permission for attending Exam from the previous School.