Leadership
R. Sarathkumar
Non-Executive Director
Supreme Star of Tamil cinema. Industry statesman.
R. Sarathkumar, known to audiences as the Supreme Star, is an actor, producer and public figure with a career of 160 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi. Born in New Delhi in 1954, he took his Pre-University degree at Loyola College and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from The New College, Chennai, coming to cinema after early careers in journalism and championship bodybuilding, winning the Mr. Madras University title in 1974.
Cinema
He debuted in the 1986 Telugu film Samajamlo Sthree and rose to become one of Tamil cinema's defining leading men. Landmark films include Nattamai (1994), Suryavamsam (1997), Natpukkaga (1998), Ayya (2005), Kanchana (2011) and Chennaiyil Oru Naal (2013). His recent work includes Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar in Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan films (2022 to 2023), the investigative thriller Por Thozhil (2023), his 150th film The Smile Man (2024), and 3BHK and Dude (2025). In 2026 he appeared in Aazhi, Mr. X and the Hindi film Daadi Ki Shaadi.
Industry leadership
He served as President of the South Indian Artistes' Association (Nadigar Sangam) for three consecutive terms from 2006 to 2015, and remains one of the industry's most respected voices. At Radaan, his experience continues to open new frontiers for the company. In public life he has served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha (2001 to 2006) and as an elected member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for the Tenkasi constituency (2011 to 2016).
Selected work
Honours
Kalaimamani (1993)
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor (1994, 1998)
M.G.R. Award (1996)
Filmfare Award for Best Actor, Tamil (1994, 1997, 1998)
Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actor (2011)
SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actor, Tamil (2011)
SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role, Telugu (2018)