# Arjun Sarja filmography
**Arjun Sarja** is an Indian actor, director, producer and screenwriter whose filmography spans Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) across more than four decades; [BookMyShow](https://www.edgepedia.org/bookmyshow) credits him with more than 150 films as an actor and a director and calls him the "Action King" of Kollywood ([Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema)).[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/) He was born in 1962 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, and is also credited under the names Ashok Babu and Seenu.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) • [3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/filmography)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962, Bangalore, Karnataka, India[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) |
| Occupations | Actor, director, producer, writer, screenplay and dialogue writer, voice cast[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/filmography) |
| Screen count | More than 150 films as actor and director[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/) |
| Signature award | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor, 1999, for *Mudhalvan*[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/) |
| Recent negative roles | Harold Das in *Leo* (2023), Rakshith in *Vidaamuyarchi* (2025)[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) |
| As filmmaker | Wrote, produced and directed *Seetha Payanam* (2026), the screen debut of his daughter Aishwarya Arjun[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Jul/27/arjun-sarja-joins-polimera-3) |
Birthplaces vary across databases: Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes list [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore), BookMyShow lists Mysore, and IMDb lists Madhugiri in the then Mysore State.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) • [3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/filmography) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035018/)
## Career overview
Sarja's career is built on action roles, and Tamil and Kannada audiences have long known him by the nickname Action King.[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/) His credit list goes well beyond acting: BookMyShow lists him as actor, director, producer, writer, screenplay writer, dialogue writer and voice cast, and Rotten Tomatoes credits him with producing, screenwriting and even film editing on individual titles.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/filmography) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/arjun_sarja)
Recognition followed early and late. In 1999 he received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for his role in *Mudhalvan*, and in 1993 he won the Cinema Express Award for Best Actor (Special) in the Tamil film industry and a Creative Award for Best Actor.[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/) • [7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/arjun-sarja/bio/3030070417/) SIIMA nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Negative Role came in 2014 (Tamil), 2018 (Telugu) and 2019 (Tamil), and he won the 2024 SIIMA Tamil award in that category.[7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/arjun-sarja/bio/3030070417/)
## Selected acting credits
**2010s: negative turns and thrillers.** Fandango lists *Kadal* (2013) as Bergsman, *LIE* (2017) as Padmanabham, and *[Nibunan](https://www.edgepedia.org/nibunan)* (2017) as Ranjith Kalidoss.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) In 2018 he played Sathyamoorthy, also called White Devil, in *Abhimanyudu*, and Professor Rama Krishnam Raju in *Naa Peru Surya Naa Illu India*.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) The 2019 slate includes Karthikeyan in *Kolaigaran*, Karna in the Kannada epic *[Kurukshetra](https://www.edgepedia.org/kurukshetra-2019-film)*, Daniel Abraham in *Jack & Daniel*, and Sathyamoorthy in *Shakthi* (released in Telugu as *Hero*).[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/arjun_sarja) • [8](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/arjun-sarja/)
**2020s: screen villain and character roles.** He played Anandan Mangattachan in Priyadarshan's historical *Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea* (2021), which released in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi versions, and Sylender in *Friendship* (2021).[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) • [3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/filmography) In 2022 he was Arjun Bharadwaj in the Telugu action thriller *[Khiladi](https://www.edgepedia.org/khiladi-2022-film)*.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) The gangster film *Leo* (2023), directed by [Lokesh Kanagaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/lokesh-kanagaraj) and released on 19 October 2023, cast him as Harold Das and is his highest-rated title on Rotten Tomatoes at 82 percent with critics.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/arjun_sarja) • [9](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/arjun-sarja/filmography/) In 2024 he appeared as Deva Narayanan in the Malayalam thriller *Virunnu* and as Inspector Magudapathy in the Tamil crime thriller *Theeyavar Kulai Nadunga* (2025).[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/arjun_sarja) • [10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/arjun-sarja/upcoming-movies.html) He played the villain Rakshith in *Vidaamuyarchi* (2025), released on 6 February 2025 and directed by [Magizh Thirumeni](https://www.edgepedia.org/magizh-thirumeni).[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) • [10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/arjun-sarja/upcoming-movies.html) *Aghathiyaa*, released 28 February 2025, followed.[9](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/arjun-sarja/filmography/)
**2026: Blast and Seetha Payanam.** In *Blast* (2026), directed by debutant Subash K. Raj, Sarja stars with Abhirami and [Preity Mukhundhan](https://www.edgepedia.org/preity-mukhundhan) in a story about a middle-class family with martial arts skills facing a ruthless gang; the film's Telugu release earned him appreciation for his performance.[11](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/May/26/arjun-sarja-on-his-political-entry-good-for-nothing) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Jul/27/arjun-sarja-joins-polimera-3) He also wrote, produced and directed *[Seetha Payanam](https://www.edgepedia.org/seetha-payanam)*, a road-trip romance released on 14 February 2026 under his Shri Ram Films International banner, which marked the screen debut of his daughter Aishwarya Arjun as the female lead; Sarja plays Giri and makes a cameo appearance.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Jul/27/arjun-sarja-joins-polimera-3) • [12](https://epaper.thesouthindiatimes.com/media/2026-02/hyderabad-tsit-16th-feb-2026.pdf)
## Work behind the camera
Sarja has repeatedly combined acting credits with writing and directing duties. Fandango credits him as actor, director, producer and screenwriter on *Prema Baraha* (2018) and as screenwriter on *[Dohchay](https://www.edgepedia.org/dohchay)* (2015), and Rotten Tomatoes credits him as writer and screenwriter on *Martin* (2024) and writer on *[Avatara Purusha 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/avatara-purusha-2)* (2024).[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/arjun_sarja)
His recent directing work centers on *Seetha Payanam*. In interviews in 2026 he said his current focus is helming a new film in Tamil, that he has been approached to direct a Hindi project with negotiations progressing, and that he intends to concentrate on positive characters after his well-received villain turns in *Leo* and *Vidaamuyarchi*.[13](https://keralakaumudi.com/en/cinema/cine-news/arjun-sarja-interview-blast-box-office-50-crore-1760354)
## Current projects
In July 2026 Sarja signed the Telugu film *Polimera 3*, the third installment of the black-magic rural thriller franchise begun with *Maa Oori Polimera* (2021) and *[Maa Oori Polimera 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/maa-oori-polimera-2)* (2023); Dr Anil Viswanath, who directed the first two films, returns as director, and the launch took place in [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad) on 27 July 2026.[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Jul/27/arjun-sarja-joins-polimera-3) The same reporting notes that this marks his return to a straight Telugu film, with his last major Telugu outing being *Khiladi* (2022).[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Jul/27/arjun-sarja-joins-polimera-3)
## References
1. [Arjun Sarja, Movies, Biography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/)
2. [Arjun Sarja Filmography and Movies, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/arjun-sarja-1014680/film-credits)
3. [Arjun Sarja Filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-sarja/17378/filmography)
4. [Arjun Sarja joins Polimera 3, Cinema Express, 27 July 2026](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Jul/27/arjun-sarja-joins-polimera-3)
5. [Arjun Sarja, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035018/)
6. [Arjun Sarja Movies List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/arjun_sarja)
7. [Arjun Sarja Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/arjun-sarja/bio/3030070417/)
8. [Arjun Sarja: Movies & Web Series on OTT, TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/arjun-sarja/)
9. [Arjun Sarja Filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/arjun-sarja/filmography/)
10. [Arjun Sarja Upcoming Movies, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/arjun-sarja/upcoming-movies.html)
11. [Arjun Sarja on his political entry, Cinema Express, 26 May 2026](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/May/26/arjun-sarja-on-his-political-entry-good-for-nothing)
12. [The South India Times, Hyderabad edition, 16 February 2026](https://epaper.thesouthindiatimes.com/media/2026-02/hyderabad-tsit-16th-feb-2026.pdf)
13. [Eternal Action King: In-depth conversation with Arjun Sarja, Kerala Kaumudi, 7 June 2026](https://keralakaumudi.com/en/cinema/cine-news/arjun-sarja-interview-blast-box-office-50-crore-1760354)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actor filmographies and performer list articles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license