# Nassar (நாசர்) (actor)
**Nassar** (நாசர்; born 1958) is an Indian film actor, director, producer, and dubbing artist who works mainly in Tamil and [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema). His full name is given as Mehaboob Nassar, with Nassar used as his stage name[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/movie-actor/nassar). Born in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, to Mehaboob Basha and Mumtaz[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0621937), he made his screen debut in 1985 in K Balachander's *[Kalyana Agathigal](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalyana-agathigal)* and gained recognition as a police officer in [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam)'s *Nayakan* (1987). His career spans more than 700 films[3](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/every-project-feels-like-a-new-school-says-nassar-about-dealing-with-success-and-failure/cid/2119527).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0621937) • [4](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/nassar/filmography.html) |
| Debut | Supporting role in K Balachander's *Kalyana Agathigal* (1985)[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2025/Jul/09/kb-at-95-when-k-balachander-introduced-nassar-to-the-world-of-cinema-he-practised-what-he-preached) |
| Breakthrough | Police officer role in Mani Ratnam's *Nayakan* (1987)[3](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/every-project-feels-like-a-new-school-says-nassar-about-dealing-with-success-and-failure/cid/2119527) |
| Output | Over 700 films across Tamil, Telugu, and other industries[3](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/every-project-feels-like-a-new-school-says-nassar-about-dealing-with-success-and-failure/cid/2119527) |
| Languages | Films in seven languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, English, and Bengali[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2023/Aug/05/actor-nasser-the-celluloid-juggler-2601598.html) |
| Other roles | Director, producer, dubbing artist, singer; former President of the Nadigar Sangam (South Indian Artistes' Association)[7](https://csim.in/Unsung-Beacons/unsung-beacons-vol7.pdf) |
| Recent work | *Thug Life*, *Retro*, and *Test* (2025); Bijjaladeva in *Baahubali: The Epic* (2025)[8](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nassar/upcoming-movies.html) • [9](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/nasaar) |
## Training and debut
Nassar received his training at a pair of acting institutions: the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce's Film Institute, as well as the Tamil Nadu Institute for Film and Television Technology.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0621937) He has recalled that when K Balachander learned of his film-institute training and theater background, the director promised him a better role than the small part first offered in a Kannada remake of *Iru Kodugal*, and kept his word by casting him in *Kalyana Agathigal* (1985)[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2025/Jul/09/kb-at-95-when-k-balachander-introduced-nassar-to-the-world-of-cinema-he-practised-what-he-preached). He has repeatedly described Balachander as his guru and repeats his advice to be a learner always[3](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/every-project-feels-like-a-new-school-says-nassar-about-dealing-with-success-and-failure/cid/2119527).
## Acting career
**From villain to character actor.** After his debut he played villainous roles for about two years before gaining prominence as a police officer in Mani Ratnam's *Nayakan* (1987)[10](https://indiaglitz.com/nassar-tamil-cinema-mani-ratnam-kamal-haasan-thevar-magan-tamil-news-362664). Performances in *Roja*, *Thevar Magan* (1992), and *Aavarampoo* followed; the panchayat scene in *Thevar Magan* is described as iconic[10](https://indiaglitz.com/nassar-tamil-cinema-mani-ratnam-kamal-haasan-thevar-magan-tamil-news-362664). His later films include *Bombay* (1995), *Iruvar* (1997), and *Anbe Sivam* (2003)[3](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/every-project-feels-like-a-new-school-says-nassar-about-dealing-with-success-and-failure/cid/2119527).
He is known for his long collaboration with [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan), appearing in films such as *Kuruthipunal* and taking comic roles such as in *Magalir Mattum* after Haasan recognized his comic potential[10](https://indiaglitz.com/nassar-tamil-cinema-mani-ratnam-kamal-haasan-thevar-magan-tamil-news-362664). In *Baahubali* he played Bijjaladeva, a role he reprised in *Baahubali: The Epic* (2025)[10](https://indiaglitz.com/nassar-tamil-cinema-mani-ratnam-kamal-haasan-thevar-magan-tamil-news-362664) • [9](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/nasaar). A 2020 network analysis of film actors using centrality measures listed Nassar, alongside [Christopher Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher-lee), Sukumari, Michael Caine, Om Puri, Jackie Chan, and [Robert De Niro](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-de-niro), among the most central actors, identifying those with lengthy acting careers[11](https://arxiv.org/abs/2002.11103).
In interviews marking 40 years in cinema, he said every project feels like a new school and that the first day with a new director still makes him tense[3](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/every-project-feels-like-a-new-school-says-nassar-about-dealing-with-success-and-failure/cid/2119527). He continues to work with new directors because they are well informed and technically equipped, which he says keeps him learning[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2023/Aug/05/actor-nasser-the-celluloid-juggler-2601598.html).
## Beyond acting
Nassar has worked as a director and producer, directing films such as *Avatharam* and *Devathai*, and he mentored the actor [Pasupathy](https://www.edgepedia.org/pasupathy)[10](https://indiaglitz.com/nassar-tamil-cinema-mani-ratnam-kamal-haasan-thevar-magan-tamil-news-362664). He has been an advocate for folk arts and emerging artists[10](https://indiaglitz.com/nassar-tamil-cinema-mani-ratnam-kamal-haasan-thevar-magan-tamil-news-362664).
As a dubbing artist he has lent his voice to Tamil versions of international titles including *Prince of Persia*, dubbing for [Ben Kingsley](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-kingsley), Steven Spielberg's *The BFG*, *Mufasa: The Lion King*, and the first season of the series *Squid Game*; earlier Tamil-language dubbing work includes *Indian* and *The Lion King*[12](https://www.dtnext.in/amp/story/entertainment/cinema/every-day-is-a-learning-process-says-actor-nassar-on-completing-40-years-in-cinema-844387) • [10](https://indiaglitz.com/nassar-tamil-cinema-mani-ratnam-kamal-haasan-thevar-magan-tamil-news-362664).
He has also participated in industry bodies, holding the post of President of the [Nadigar Sangam](https://www.edgepedia.org/nadigar-sangam), the organization earlier called the South Indian Artistes' Association, which represents [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu)'s film, television, and stage performers and is headquartered in Chennai.[7](https://csim.in/Unsung-Beacons/unsung-beacons-vol7.pdf) Sources also describe him as an actor, producer, writer, director, lyricist, and singer[7](https://csim.in/Unsung-Beacons/unsung-beacons-vol7.pdf).
## Recent and upcoming work
His credits in 2025 include Mani Ratnam's *Thug Life* (as Manikkam), Karthik Subbaraj's *Retro* (as Rajavel Mirasu), *Test*, and [S. S. Rajamouli](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-s-rajamouli)'s recut *Baahubali: The Epic*[9](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/nasaar). Films listed for 2026 include *[Sardar 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/sardar-2)* (as Quartermaster Shekar Dattatri), *Vishwanath and Sons*, *Jana Nayagan* (as CM Arivudai Nambi), and *Meesaya Murukku 2* (as Seshadri)[9](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/nasaar). A Telugu series appearance as Susheel Sivaraman in *[Arabia Kadali](https://www.edgepedia.org/arabia-kadali)* (2025) is also listed[8](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nassar/upcoming-movies.html).
## References
1. [Nassar: Prominent actor contribution to films, Nettv4u](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/movie-actor/nassar)
2. [Nassar, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0621937)
3. ['Every project feels like a new school': Nassar on dealing with success and failure, Telegraph India (PTI)](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/every-project-feels-like-a-new-school-says-nassar-about-dealing-with-success-and-failure/cid/2119527)
4. [நாசர் திரைப்பட பட்டியல், Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/nassar/filmography.html)
5. [KB at 95: When K Balachander introduced Nassar to the world of cinema, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2025/Jul/09/kb-at-95-when-k-balachander-introduced-nassar-to-the-world-of-cinema-he-practised-what-he-preached)
6. [Actor Nasser, the celluloid juggler, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2023/Aug/05/actor-nasser-the-celluloid-juggler-2601598.html)
7. [Unsung Beacons, Volume 7, CSIM](https://csim.in/Unsung-Beacons/unsung-beacons-vol7.pdf)
8. [Nassar Upcoming Movies, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nassar/upcoming-movies.html)
9. [Nassar Movies and TV Shows, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/nasaar)
10. [Legendary Actor Nassar's Iconic Transformation in Tamil Cinema, IndiaGlitz](https://indiaglitz.com/nassar-tamil-cinema-mani-ratnam-kamal-haasan-thevar-magan-tamil-news-362664)
11. [Who is the Centre of the Movie Universe? Using Python and NetworkX to Analyse the Social Network of Movie Stars, arXiv](https://arxiv.org/abs/2002.11103)
12. [Every day is a learning process, says actor Nassar on completing 40 years in cinema, DT Next](https://www.dtnext.in/amp/story/entertainment/cinema/every-day-is-a-learning-process-says-actor-nassar-on-completing-40-years-in-cinema-844387)
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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; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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