Vijay Sethupathi to Sivakarthikeyan: Movie stars who started their careers on Tamil TV

A lot of big-name Tamil film celebrities kick-started their acting careers in television. Whether it is a popular show or the ones that tanked, these Kollywood stars cannot deny their connections with TV.

From Vijay Sethupathi to Vaani Bhojan, here’s a list of sensational actors who started their careers in Tamil TV.

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Whoever remembers veteran director K. Balachander's classic TV shows like Ramani Vs. Ramani, would have seen actor-director Samuthirakani often making an appearance on the show. He has also played numerous roles in TV series, including serials like Arasi, Anni and others.

Sai Pallavi went from being a contestant in various dance reality shows, including Ungalil Yaar Adutha Prabhu Deva, to a South Indian celebrity crush. The actress made her debut in the Malayalam movie Premam which led her to become a prowess across Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.

Attakathi Dinesh too began his career with TV series Penn where he played the role of Seetha’s son.

The ‘Super Deluxe’ actor has featured in the TV series Penn, which aired from February to November 2006. Vijay Sethupathi was also a part of Nalaya Iyakkunar. The show was more like a short film competition.

Aishwarya Rajesh went from anchoring Asathapoovathu Yaaru to being a contestant in the dance reality show Maanada Maayilada. Eventually, she stepped into the movie industry. The actress received wide recognition for her acting skills in Kakka Muttai, Rummy, and Attakathi.

The list would never be complete without Sivakarthikeyan’s transition from a stand-up comedian to a superstar. Sivakarthikeyan's performance as a contestant in Kalakkapovathu Yaaru earned him much recognition. Pretty soon, he started anchoring shows and become a blockbuster star in his own right.

Santhanam

It is a well-known fact that Santhanam developed his signature humour skills during his days at Lollu Sabha. From a TV comedian to a hero, Santhanam's journey is a spectacular one. But many do not know that the actor had a humble beginning in a local tele-caller show called 'Pondicherry'.