# Kavin (கவின்) (actor)
**Kavin** (Tamil: கவின்; full name Kavin Raj, born 1990) is an Indian actor who works in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) and television. He became familiar to Tamil television audiences through the Vijay TV serial *Saravanan Meenatchi* and the reality show *Bigg Boss Tamil* (season 3), and later built a film career with lead roles in *[Dada](https://www.edgepedia.org/dada-2023-film)* (2023), *[Star](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-2024-film)* (2024), and *Bloody Beggar* (2024).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9066645/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7084920/fullcredits/) • [3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1990, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu (some databases list Chennai as residence)[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin-vijay-tv-fame/upcoming-movies.html) • [5](https://www.maalaimalar.com/movie-celebrities/kavin-23692-movie-celebrities-123692) |
| Television breakthrough | *Saravanan Meenatchi* on Vijay TV, in which he played Murugan and later Vettaiyan[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin.html) • [6](https://theireview.com/people/kavin) |
| Reality TV | Contestant on *Bigg Boss Tamil* season 3 (2019), appearing in 96 episodes as Kavin[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7084920/fullcredits/) |
| First film lead | *Natpuna Ennanu Theriyuma* (2019), after starting his film career in 2012 with a cameo in *Pizza*[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/May/06/a-star-is-not-just-a-successful-actor-but-someone-we-look-up-to-kavin) • [4](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin-vijay-tv-fame/upcoming-movies.html) |
| Breakthrough film | *Dada* (2023), directed by Ganesh K Babu, opposite Aparna Das; rated 3.5/5 by Samayam Tamil's critic and 8.1 on IMDb[8](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-review/kavin-starrer-dada-movie-review-and-rating/articleshow/97764307.cms) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9066645/) |
| Spouse | Monicka David[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9066645/) • [5](https://www.maalaimalar.com/movie-celebrities/kavin-23692-movie-celebrities-123692) |
| Upcoming work | *Per Sollum Pillai* (dir. Ram Sangaiah) and *Kavin 11*, a family drama by debutant Praveen Paramasivam[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kavin-pairs-up-with-sanjana-krishnanmoorthy-for-new-film-gets-a-nostalgic-kamal-haasan-film-title/articleshow/132012637.cms) • [10](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Apr/22/kavins-next-to-be-a-family-drama) |
## Television career
Kavin entered acting through short films made with friends while still in college, and his acting debut came with the serial *Kana Kaanum Kaalangal* on [Star Vijay](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-vijay), in which he played Shiva.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin.html) • [6](https://theireview.com/people/kavin) He became widely known through *Saravanan Meenatchi*, playing Murugan in the first part and [Vettaiyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/vettaiyan) in the second.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin.html) • [6](https://theireview.com/people/kavin) IMDb lists the series under his credit with 471 episodes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9066645/)
His public profile rose further as a contestant on *Bigg Boss Tamil* season 3 in 2019.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7084920/fullcredits/) He has since worked as a television presenter, hosting the reality show *Kings of Dance* on Star Vijay.[6](https://theireview.com/people/kavin)
## Film career
**Supporting roles and first lead.** Kavin began his film career in 2012 with a cameo in [Karthik Subbaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/karthik-subbaraj)'s *[Pizza](https://www.edgepedia.org/pizza-2012-film)* and had a comic cameo in *Indru Netru Naalai* (2015) as Anu's imaginary husband.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin-vijay-tv-fame/upcoming-movies.html) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9066645/) He played Dr. Chandran in *Sathriyan* (2017). His first lead role came seven years into his film career, in *Natpuna Ennanu Theriyuma* (2019).[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/May/06/a-star-is-not-just-a-successful-actor-but-someone-we-look-up-to-kavin) The horror-thriller *Lift* (2021), opposite [Amritha Aiyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/amritha-aiyer) and directed by Vineeth Varaprasad, was critically well-received but, according to an interview with Kavin, largely went under the radar commercially.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin-vijay-tv-fame/upcoming-movies.html) • [7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/May/06/a-star-is-not-just-a-successful-actor-but-someone-we-look-up-to-kavin)
**Dada and mainstream recognition.** *Dada* (2023), directed by Ganesh K Babu, paired Kavin with Aparna Das in a story about final-year college students whose lives change with an unintended pregnancy; Kavin played Manikandan.[8](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-review/kavin-starrer-dada-movie-review-and-rating/articleshow/97764307.cms) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9066645/) The Samayam Tamil review gave the film 3.5 out of 5 from both critic and user ratings, and the Express interview described *Dada* as showing Kavin's skill for intense performances.[8](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-review/kavin-starrer-dada-movie-review-and-rating/articleshow/97764307.cms) • [7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/May/06/a-star-is-not-just-a-successful-actor-but-someone-we-look-up-to-kavin)
**Star and the 2024 to 2025 run.** *Star* (2024), directed by Elan, released on 10 May 2024 and cast Kavin as Kalai, a young man chasing his dream of becoming a popular Tamil film star; Kavin said he connected personally with the character.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin-vijay-tv-fame/upcoming-movies.html) • [7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/May/06/a-star-is-not-just-a-successful-actor-but-someone-we-look-up-to-kavin) The Federal's review called it an inspirational feel-good drama with a flawed second half but praised Kavin's solid performance.[11](https://thefederal.com/film-reviews/star-review-feel-good-drama-with-flawed-second-half-but-a-must-watch-121669) The project had originally been set to star [Harish Kalyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/harish-kalyan) before being dropped during pre-production, and Kavin acknowledged he was hesitant to take it up for that reason.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/May/06/a-star-is-not-just-a-successful-actor-but-someone-we-look-up-to-kavin)
*Bloody Beggar* (2024), Kavin's Diwali release on 31 October 2024, was directed by Sivabalan Muthukumar.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin-vijay-tv-fame/upcoming-movies.html) • [12](https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/who-is-kavin-meet-actor-who-transitioned-from-television-made-headlines-in-bb-tamil-and-is-gearing-up-for-bloody-beggar-release-1355685) In a September 2025 interview with Sudhir Srinivasan, Kavin said *Star* had made reasonable profits for its producer despite moderate reviews, while *Bloody Beggar* fell short of his expectations; he noted the film received good reviews after its OTT release and said the audience's taste should not be blamed for its failure.[13](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kavin-disappointing-performance-of-star-and-bloody-beggar-cannot-blame-audience-2788771-2025-09-17)
In 2025 he released two more films: *Kiss*, directed by Sathish Krishnan, on 19 September 2025, and *[Mask](https://www.edgepedia.org/mask-2025-film)*, directed by Vikarnan Ashok, on 21 November 2025.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin-vijay-tv-fame/upcoming-movies.html) In *Mask*, he played Velu, a private detective who makes morally dubious decisions; the film co-starred and was co-produced by [Andrea Jeremiah](https://www.edgepedia.org/andrea-jeremiah) and was presented by Vetri Maaran through Grass Root Film Company.[14](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Jan/01/kavins-next-with-director-ram-sangaiah-begins-production) The Central Board of Film Certification cleared *Mask* with a U/A certificate ahead of release.[15](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Avenue-Mail-Nov-20.pdf)
**Hi and the current slate.** Kavin starred opposite [Nayanthara](https://www.edgepedia.org/nayanthara) in *Hi* (2026), the debut directorial of Vishnu Edavan, an assistant director to [Lokesh Kanagaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/lokesh-kanagaraj); the film released on 28 August 2026.[14](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Jan/01/kavins-next-with-director-ram-sangaiah-begins-production) • [4](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin-vijay-tv-fame/upcoming-movies.html) Kavin publicly rejected readings of the film as an age-gap romance, describing it as a simple love story centered on two families.[16](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Kavin/news)
His announced slate includes *Per Sollum Pillai*, directed by Ram Sangaiah of *Thandatti* fame and backed by Prince Pictures, with Sanjana Krishnanmoorthy as the female lead; production began with a pooja ceremony in Chennai in June 2026.[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kavin-pairs-up-with-sanjana-krishnanmoorthy-for-new-film-gets-a-nostalgic-kamal-haasan-film-title/articleshow/132012637.cms) • [14](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Jan/01/kavins-next-with-director-ram-sangaiah-begins-production) In April 2026, Beyond Pictures announced *Kavin 11*, a family drama written and directed by debutant Praveen Paramasivam, an associate director on the National Award-winning *Parking*, with filming scheduled to begin by the end of May.[10](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Apr/22/kavins-next-to-be-a-family-drama) He also has a film with Priyanka Mohan directed by Ken Royson.[14](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Jan/01/kavins-next-with-director-ram-sangaiah-begins-production)
## Notes on career pattern
His 2026 releases have drawn mixed audience reactions, with commentary praising his emotional performance in *Dada* and *Star* while debating his comic roles.[11](https://thefederal.com/film-reviews/star-review-feel-good-drama-with-flawed-second-half-but-a-must-watch-121669) He has also worked behind the camera, with assistant-director credits on *Beast* (2022) and *Doctor* (2021) listed in his filmography.[17](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/kavin-raj?context.unit=H)
## References
1. [Kavin Raj, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9066645/)
2. [Bigg Boss Tamil (2017) full cast and crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7084920/fullcredits/)
3. [கவின் (Kavin): biography and filmography, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin.html)
4. [Kavin Movies: new and upcoming movies of Kavin, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/kavin-vijay-tv-fame/upcoming-movies.html)
5. [கவின், Maalai Malar movie celebrities](https://www.maalaimalar.com/movie-celebrities/kavin-23692-movie-celebrities-123692)
6. [Kavin (Acting): biography, movies and filmography, TheIReview](https://theireview.com/people/kavin)
7. [A star is not just a successful actor but someone we look up to: Kavin, The New Indian Express (6 May 2024)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/May/06/a-star-is-not-just-a-successful-actor-but-someone-we-look-up-to-kavin)
8. [டாடா விமர்சனம் (Dada review), Samayam Tamil (9 February 2023)](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-review/kavin-starrer-dada-movie-review-and-rating/articleshow/97764307.cms)
9. [Kavin pairs up with Sanjana Krishnanmoorthy for new film, gets a nostalgic Kamal Haasan film title, The Times of India (26 June 2026)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kavin-pairs-up-with-sanjana-krishnanmoorthy-for-new-film-gets-a-nostalgic-kamal-haasan-film-title/articleshow/132012637.cms)
10. [Kavin's next to be a family drama, Cinema Express (22 April 2026)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Apr/22/kavins-next-to-be-a-family-drama)
11. [Star review: feel-good, inspirational drama with flawed second half, The Federal (10 May 2024)](https://thefederal.com/film-reviews/star-review-feel-good-drama-with-flawed-second-half-but-a-must-watch-121669)
12. [Who is Kavin? Meet actor who transitioned from television, made headlines in BB Tamil and is gearing up for Bloody Beggar release | PINKVILLA: Entertainment](https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/who-is-kavin-meet-actor-who-transitioned-from-television-made-headlines-in-bb-tamil-and-is-gearing-up-for-bloody-beggar-release-1355685)
13. [Actor Kavin discusses Bloody Beggar's disappointing run: can't blame audience, India Today (17 September 2025)](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kavin-disappointing-performance-of-star-and-bloody-beggar-cannot-blame-audience-2788771-2025-09-17)
14. [Kavin's next with director Ram Sangaiah begins production, Cinema Express (1 January 2026)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Jan/01/kavins-next-with-director-ram-sangaiah-begins-production)
15. [The Avenue Mail, 20 November 2025, CBFC clears Mask with U/A certificate](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Avenue-Mail-Nov-20.pdf)
16. [Kavin News, Times of India entertainment topic page](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Kavin/news)
17. [Kavin Raj movies and TV shows, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/kavin-raj?context.unit=H)
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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 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 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