# Harish Kalyan (ஹரீஷ் கல்யாண்)
**Harish Kalyan** (ஹரீஷ் கல்யாண்) is an Indian actor and playback singer who works primarily in Tamil-language cinema, known for *[Pyaar Prema Kaadhal](https://www.edgepedia.org/pyaar-prema-kaadhal)* (2018), *Parking* (2023), and *[Lubber Pandhu](https://www.edgepedia.org/lubber-pandhu)* (2024).[1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm4945396/bio/) Born in 1990 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, he made his film debut in the rural romantic drama *[Sindhu Samaveli](https://www.edgepedia.org/sindhu-samaveli)* (2010) and later gained wide public recognition as a contestant on the first season of the reality show Bigg Boss Tamil.[2](https://housepulse.in/people/harish-kalyan)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1990, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India[1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm4945396/bio/) |
| Film debut | *Sindhu Samaveli* (2010), written and directed by Samy, opposite Amala Paul[3](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/harish-kalyan-getting-ready-for-marriage-ree0dy) |
| Breakthrough | *Pyaar Prema Kaadhal* (2018), produced and scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja[4](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/actor-harish-kalyan-said-a-shocking-news-10560416) |
| Television | Bigg Boss Tamil season 1, wildcard entry in week 8, finalist placed second runner-up[2](https://housepulse.in/people/harish-kalyan) |
| Music | Trained Hindustani classical singer and keyboard player; independent single "I'm Single" (2016); playback songs including "Marana Matta", "Kannamma", and "Yei Kadavulae"[1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm4945396/bio/) • [5](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231588) |
| Marriage | Married Narmada Udayakumar in 2022; a daughter, Kriya Harish, was born in 2026[1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm4945396/bio/) • [6](https://cinema.dinakaran.com/cinema/harishkalyan_names_his_daughter/amp) |
| Awards | Edison Awards 2019, 2021, and 2022; SIIMA Special Rising Star 2025 for *Lubber Pandhu*[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4945396/awards/) |
## Early life and background
Harish Kalyan was born in 1990 in Chennai into a [Tamil Brahmin](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-brahmin) family with entertainment industry ties; his father, known as Five Star Kalyan, is a Tamil film distributor and music label owner.[2](https://housepulse.in/people/harish-kalyan) He studied at Balalok Matriculation School in Chennai and earned a degree in Visual Communication from [Annamalai University](https://www.edgepedia.org/annamalai-university).[2](https://housepulse.in/people/harish-kalyan) Alongside acting, he trained in [Hindustani classical music](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindustani-classical-music) and plays the keyboard.[2](https://housepulse.in/people/harish-kalyan)
## Career
**Debut and early films.** Harish began his screen career with *Sindhu Samaveli* (2010), a rural romantic drama written and directed by Samy, in which he appeared opposite [Amala Paul](https://www.edgepedia.org/amala-paul).[3](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/harish-kalyan-getting-ready-for-marriage-ree0dy) The film drew mixed reviews and controversy over its subject, and in a later interview he recalled a coordinator telling him after the first show that he had made the wrong film and would struggle to have a career in cinema.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/its-easy-to-become-an-actor-but-pretty-hard-to-sustain-as-one-harish-kalyan/articleshow/67724431.cms) He followed with Tamil films including *Arithu Arithu*, *Sattapadi Kutram*, and *Chandamama*, and made his Telugu debut through Jayasriram's *Kadhali*; he also acted in *Poriyaalan*, produced by Vetri Maaran, and *[Vil Ambu](https://www.edgepedia.org/vil-ambu)* (2016).[3](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/harish-kalyan-getting-ready-for-marriage-ree0dy) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/its-easy-to-become-an-actor-but-pretty-hard-to-sustain-as-one-harish-kalyan/articleshow/67724431.cms) In his own account, his first three films did not work out, and he spent those years attending Koothu-p-pattarai workshops and studying how directors conceive a lead character.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/its-easy-to-become-an-actor-but-pretty-hard-to-sustain-as-one-harish-kalyan/articleshow/67724431.cms)
**Bigg Boss and the 2018 turnaround.** His career gained momentum with *Poriyaalan* (2014) and *Vil Ambu* (2016), but the turning point came with Bigg Boss Tamil, where he entered season 1 as a wildcard contestant in week 8 and finished as second runner-up after 45 days in the house.[2](https://housepulse.in/people/harish-kalyan) The visibility from the show carried into *Pyaar Prema Kaadhal* (2018), a romantic drama produced and scored by [Yuvan Shankar Raja](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuvan-shankar-raja) in which [Raiza Wilson](https://www.edgepedia.org/raiza-wilson) co-starred; the film and its songs found a large youth audience and are widely described as the recognition point of his career.[4](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/actor-harish-kalyan-said-a-shocking-news-10560416) • [9](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/actor-harish-kalyan-celebrates-his-33rd-birthday-today-125818) He won the Edison Award for Romantic Hero of the Year for the film in 2019.[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4945396/awards/)
**Establishing a range.** After *Pyaar Prema Kaadhal*, he took on a deliberately varied run of roles. In *[Ispade Rajavum Idhaya Raniyum](https://www.edgepedia.org/ispade-rajavum-idhaya-raniyum)* (2019), directed by Ranjit Jeyakodi, he played an intense, angry character for the first time, gaining weight and wearing a fabricated cut near his eyebrow for the part; he also sang the film's popular tracks "Yei Kadavulae" and "Kannamma".[10](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/mar/17/only-breaking-stereotypes-can-elevate-an-actor-harish-kalyan-10582.html) • [5](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231588) He then appeared in *[Dharala Prabhu](https://www.edgepedia.org/dharala-prabhu)* (2020), the Tamil remake of the Hindi film *Vicky Donor*, *Oh Manapenne* (2021), a remake of the Telugu film *Pelli Choopulu* opposite Priya Bhavani Shankar, and the ensemble film *[Kasada Thapara](https://www.edgepedia.org/kasada-tabara)* (2021), for which he won the 2022 Edison Award for Best Anti Hero Role.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Harish-Kalyan/news) • [12](https://l-cinema.dinamalar.com/celebrity-interviews/100270/cinema/Harish-Kalyan-interview.htm) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4945396/awards/) In a 2021 interview he described his approach as taking balanced risks and choosing scripts by story and budget rather than volume of work.[12](https://l-cinema.dinamalar.com/celebrity-interviews/100270/cinema/Harish-Kalyan-interview.htm)
**Recent work.** *Parking* (2023), directed by Ramkumar Balakrishnan, and *Lubber Pandhu* (2024), directed by Tamizharasan Pachamuthu, became major successes for him; the latter earned him a SIIMA Special Rising Star award in 2025 and a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.[6](https://cinema.dinakaran.com/cinema/harishkalyan_names_his_daughter/amp) • [13](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/harish-kalyan.html) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4945396/awards/) He then moved into action with *[Diesel](https://www.edgepedia.org/diesel-2025-film)* (2025), directed by Shanmugam Muthusamy, a crude-oil smuggling thriller in which he appeared in a mass action avatar alongside Athulya Ravi and [Vinay Rai](https://www.edgepedia.org/vinay-rai).[13](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/harish-kalyan.html) • [14](https://www.tv9tamilnews.com/entertainment/harish-kalyan-and-athulya-ravis-mafia-themed-diesel-movie-x-reviews-tamil-36299.html) Trade listings for 2026 place him in *Nooru Kodi Vaanavil* and *Dashamakan*.[15](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/trade-guide-feb-2026.pdf)
## Music
Beyond acting, Harish is a trained Hindustani classical singer and released an independent single, "I'm Single", in 2016.[1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm4945396/bio/) His recorded playback and single releases include "Marana Matta" (2018), "Yei Kadavulae" and "Kannamma (Reprise)" from *Ispade Rajavum Idhaya Raniyum*, and "Aaruyire Reprise" on the *Diesel* soundtrack EP (2025).[5](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231588)
## Personal life
Harish married Narmada Udayakumar in 2022.[1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm4945396/bio/) The couple announced the birth of a daughter in 2026 and named her Kriya Harish on Tamil New Year's Day, sharing photographs on social media.[6](https://cinema.dinakaran.com/cinema/harishkalyan_names_his_daughter/amp) In 2020 he was voted Chennai Times Most Desirable Man, topping the list from among under-40 men.[16](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/chennai-times-most-desirable-man-2020-harish-kalyan/articleshow/83176341.cms)
## References
1. [Harish Kalyan – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm4945396/bio/)
2. [Harish Kalyan – Bigg Boss Tamil Season 1 Contestant Profile, HousePulse](https://housepulse.in/people/harish-kalyan)
3. [Harish Kalyan Getting Ready For Marriage, Asianet News Tamil](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/harish-kalyan-getting-ready-for-marriage-ree0dy)
4. [Harish Kalyan on Sindhu Samaveli and Pyaar Prema Kaadhal, Indian Express Tamil](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/actor-harish-kalyan-said-a-shocking-news-10560416)
5. [Harish Kalyan – Movies and Music, Apple Snapshot](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231588)
6. [Harish Kalyan names his daughter, Dinakaran Cinema](https://cinema.dinakaran.com/cinema/harishkalyan_names_his_daughter/amp)
7. [Harish Kalyan – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4945396/awards/)
8. [It's easy to become an actor, but pretty hard to sustain as one: Harish Kalyan, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/its-easy-to-become-an-actor-but-pretty-hard-to-sustain-as-one-harish-kalyan/articleshow/67724431.cms)
9. [Harish Kalyan 33rd birthday profile, ABP Nadu](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/actor-harish-kalyan-celebrates-his-33rd-birthday-today-125818)
10. [Only breaking stereotypes can elevate an actor: Harish Kalyan, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/mar/17/only-breaking-stereotypes-can-elevate-an-actor-harish-kalyan-10582.html)
11. [Harish Kalyan News, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Harish-Kalyan/news)
12. [Harish Kalyan interview, Dinamalar L-Cinema](https://l-cinema.dinamalar.com/celebrity-interviews/100270/cinema/Harish-Kalyan-interview.htm)
13. [Harish Kalyan filmography, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/harish-kalyan.html)
14. [Diesel movie review, TV9 Tamil](https://www.tv9tamilnews.com/entertainment/harish-kalyan-and-athulya-ravis-mafia-themed-diesel-movie-x-reviews-tamil-36299.html)
15. [Tamil Films of Lead Actors Expected in 2026, TFAPA Trade Guide](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/trade-guide-feb-2026.pdf)
16. [Chennai Times Most Desirable Man 2020: Harish Kalyan, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/chennai-times-most-desirable-man-2020-harish-kalyan/articleshow/83176341.cms)
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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 › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames K to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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