Vikram life and biography

Vikram (born John Kennedy) is a Tamil film actor who has been a prominent figure in Indian cinema, as well as a playback singer and as a dubbing artist. Vikram began his career appearing in series of unsuccessful small budget films throughout the early 1990s. He made his film debut in En Kadhal Kanmani (1990). Following the failure of his early films, Vikram appeared as a dubbing artiste to prominent actors, whilst trying to find a breakthrough in terms of his acting career. After the critical and commercial success of Sethu (1999) he has been part of numerous other commercially successful films and has earned major critical acclaim for many of his performances. During his years in the Indian film industry, he has won three Filmfare Awards, as well as securing India's most prestigious film award, by achieving the National Film Award for Best Actor. While some of Vikram's best-known films, Dhill (2001), Dhool (2002), Gemini (2002) and Saamy (2003), remain some of Tamil cinema's biggest hits, performances in films like Sethu (1999), Kasi (2002), Pithamagan (2003) and Anniyan (2005) have won him critical acclaims and awards, making Vikram one of the most successful actors of Tamil cinema.

Vikram was born to Vinod Raj and Rajeshwari in Chennai on 17 April 1966. His father was from Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram district. Vikram did his schooling at Montfort School, Yercaud. While in school, his love of drama and pursuit of his dream were nurtured. With his parents wanting him to finish college, he graduated in English from Loyola College, Chennai, and followed it up with an M.B.A degree.

His father is also a film actor. Vikram and his father starred together in the movie Kanthaswamy. His mother is a retired sub-collector. Vikram married Shylaja, a psychology teacher from Kannur, Kerala, in 1992. They have two children, a daughter Akshita and a son Dhruv.

Awards:

Civilian Honours:
Honorary Doctorate from the University of Milan, Italy (2011)
Kalaimamani Award (2004)

National Film Awards:
Best Actor for Pithamagan (2004)

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards:
Special Jury Award for Best Actor for Sethu (1999)
Best Actor for Pithamagan (2003)
Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Sivaji Ganesan Award (2006)

Filmfare Awards South:
Special Award – Sethu (1999)
Best Actor for Kaasi (2001)
Best Actor for Pithamagan (2003)
Best Actor for Anniyan (2005)
Best Actor for Raavanan (2010)

Asianet Film Awards:
Special Honour Jury Award for Anniyan (2005)

Vijay Awards:
Icon of the Year 2006
Best Actor for Raavanan (2010)

Amrita Film Awards:
Best Actor in Tamil – Raavanan (2010)

Filmography:

2010 Raavan
2011 Deiva Thirumagal
2011 Rajapattai
2012 Karikalan

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