Suriya

Suriya is an Indian actor and producer who works primarily in Tamil language films. He made a commercially successful cinematic debut in Vasanth's Nerrukku Ner (1997).[1][2] This was followed by roles in a series of critical and commercial failures, including Kaadhale Nimmadhi (1998), Sandhippoma (1998) and Periyanna (1999).[3] Suriya collaborated with Vasanth again in Poovellam Kettuppar (1999), his first film with future wife Jyothika.[1][4]

In 2001, Suriya starred in Bala's Nandha as an ex-convict trying to find his place in society.[5] The film was critically acclaimed and became a turning point in his career.[6][7] His roles as a police officer in Gautham Menon's 2003 action film Kaakha Kaakha and a con man in Bala's drama, Pithamagan (2003), established him as one of Tamil cinema's leading actors.[1][8] Suriya's performances in both films were praised, winning him a Best Actor nomination for the former and the Best Supporting Actor for Pithamagan at the 51st Filmfare Awards South.[9] The following year, he played dual roles—a hunchback and a college student—in Perazhagan. Suriya's performance was again praised, and he received his first Filmfare Best Actor award.[5][10] He was also acclaimed for his performance as a student leader in Mani Ratnam's Aaytha Ezhuthu (2004).[5] 

In 2005, Suriya starred in three films: Maayavi, Ghajini and Aaru. His performance in Ghajini as a businessman with anterograde amnesia was widely praised.[7][11] Maayavi and Aaru were moderately successful.[12][13] Over the next two years, Suriya starred in Sillunu Oru Kaadhal (2006) and Vel (2007). Although the former was a box office bomb,[14] Vel, where he played twins, was commercially successful.[15][16] Suriya's next appearance was in the romantic drama, Vaaranam Aayiram (2008).[17] His dual role as father and son earned him another Filmfare Best Actor award.[18] 

Suriya's next three films were Ayan (2009), Aadhavan (2009) and Singam (2010). The latter, in which he starred with Anushka Shetty, was his most commercially successful film to date and spawned two sequels: Singam II (2013) and Si3 (2017).[19][20][a] The actor made his Hindi and Telugu cinema debuts in Ram Gopal Varma's two-part gangster drama Rakta Charitra (2010).[1][21] Suriya then played the Buddhist monk and creator of Shaolin Kung Fu, Bodhidharma, and his fictional descendant Aravind, in 7aum Arivu (2011).[22][23] His only 2012 release was Maattrraan, in which he played conjoined twins.[24] In 2015, Suriya released 36 Vayadhinile, the first film from his 2D Entertainment production company.[25] He played three roles for the first time in Vikram Kumar's science fiction film, 24 (2016).[26] It became one of the year's highest-grossing Tamil films and his performances earned him a Critics Award for Best Actor at Filmfare.[27][28]