R. Sarathkumar
Sarathkumar Ramanathan (born 14 July 1954) is an Indian actor, politician, filmmaker and former bodybuilder who works predominantly in Tamil cinema in addition to Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. He has acted in more than 145 films and won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.
R. Sarathkumar | |
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Sarathkumar participating in the American Tamil Sangam Parade | |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 25 July 2001 – 31 May 2006 | |
| Leader of the House | |
| Constituency | Tamil Nadu |
| Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 23 May 2011 – 21 May 2016 | |
| Chief Minister | J. Jayalalithaa |
| Preceded by | V. Karuppasamy Pandian |
| Succeeded by | S. Selvamohandas Pandian |
| Constituency | Tenkasi |
| President of the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi | |
| Assumed office 31 August 2007 | |
| Vice-President | |
| General Secretary |
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| Preceded by | position established |
| General Secretary of the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi | |
| Assumed office 27 January 2016 | |
| President | Himself |
| Preceded by | Karu. Nagarajan |
| President of the South Indian Artistes' Association | |
| In office 2006–2015 | |
| Preceded by | Vijayakanth |
| Succeeded by | Nassar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ramanathan Sarathkumar 14 July 1954 New Delhi, India |
| Political party | All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (2007–present) |
| Other political affiliations | |
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| Children | 4 (including Varalaxmi) |
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| Education | |
| Occupation |
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Originally a bodybuilder and later journalist, in 1986, Sarathkumar started his acting career in the Telugu film Samajamlo Sthree. He first acted in negative roles, and later played supporting roles before establishing himself as a lead actor in subsequent years, earning him the titles Supreme Star and Super Hero in Tamil cinema.
In 2007, he launched a new political party All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) in Tamil Nadu, claiming to carry out the ideals of K. Kamaraj. He is the former Member of Legislative Assembly of Tenkasi constituency. He served as the president of the Nadigar Sangam from 2006 to 2015 for three consecutive terms.