# Pasupathy
**Pasupathy** is an Indian film actor who works mainly in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) and is known for character and villain roles across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam films. His full name is reported differently by sources: IMDb and TamilMDb give his birth name as Pasupathy Masilamani, while other biographical sites give Pasupathy Ramasaamy Solai or Pasupathy Ramaswamy Solai.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367730/bio/) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/6193/pasupathy) • [3](https://starsunfolded.com/pasupathy/) • [4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/movie-actor/pasupathy)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1969, Madras (Chennai area), Tamil Nadu, per IMDb and TamilMDb; Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes list 1967, and one Malayalam database gives 1968[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367730/bio/) • [5](https://www.fandango.com/people/pasupathy-931269) • [6](https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Pasupathy&category=actors) |
| Film debut | *Housefull* (Tamil, 1999), as a corrupt cop, uncredited[3](https://starsunfolded.com/pasupathy/) • [7](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/pasupathy/) |
| Theatre background | Joined the Chennai theater group Koothu-P-Pattarai at age 15 and worked there for about 13 years[3](https://starsunfolded.com/pasupathy/) |
| Major awards | Filmfare Award Tamil Best Supporting Actor for *E* and *Sarpatta Parambarai* (2022); Tamil Nadu State Film Award (Best Villain, Creative Award) for *E*; Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award 2021 for *Sarpatta Parambarai*[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367730/awards/) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/6193/pasupathy) |
| Signature roles | Kothaala Thevan in *Virumandi* (2004), Nellai Mani in *E* (2006), Murugesan in *Veyyil* (2006), Rangan Vaathiyar in *Sarpatta Parambarai* (2021), Gengupattar in *Thangalaan* (2024), Veeran in *Kalki 2898 AD* (2024), Velusamy in *Bison Kaalamaadan* (2025)[9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/e615c789-dbb9-3aab-bac2-4a3a63150896) • [3](https://starsunfolded.com/pasupathy/) • [7](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/pasupathy/) |
| Languages | Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam films[3](https://starsunfolded.com/pasupathy/) |
## Early career
Pasupathy trained in theater before entering films. At the age of 15 he joined Koothu-P-Pattarai, a well-known Tamil theater group in Chennai, where he learned acting and worked for almost 13 years.[3](https://starsunfolded.com/pasupathy/) His film career began with the 1999 Tamil film *Housefull*, in which he appeared as a corrupt cop in an uncredited role.[3](https://starsunfolded.com/pasupathy/) • [7](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/pasupathy/) The Times of India described him in a later profile as one of the talented actors of Tamil cinema, known for noteworthy supporting roles.[10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/arul-to-asuran-five-ever-memorable-roles-of-the-versatile-actor-pasupathy/amp_etphotostory/82707795.cms)
## Notable films and roles
Pasupathy's filmography spans more than two decades of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema). Early prominent roles include Aadhi in *Dhool* (2003), Kothaala Thevan in [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan)'s *Virumandi* (2004), and Balakrishnan in the comedy-drama *[Kuselan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kuselan)* (2008), in which he played the lead role.[9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/e615c789-dbb9-3aab-bac2-4a3a63150896) • [10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/arul-to-asuran-five-ever-memorable-roles-of-the-versatile-actor-pasupathy/amp_etphotostory/82707795.cms) In 2006 he played Nellai Mani in *E*, a performance that won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in Tamil and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Villain, and he played Murugesan in *Veyyil* the same year.[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367730/awards/) • [3](https://starsunfolded.com/pasupathy/) • [9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/e615c789-dbb9-3aab-bac2-4a3a63150896)
The 2020s brought a second wave of visibility. He appeared as Murugesan in the critically and commercially successful *Asuran* (2019), then drew wide praise as the boxing coach Rangan Vaathiyar in [Pa. Ranjith](https://www.edgepedia.org/pa-ranjith)'s *Sarpatta Parambarai* (2021), released on Amazon Prime Video. The role won him the 2022 Filmfare Award Tamil for Best Supporting Actor and an Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award.[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367730/awards/) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/6193/pasupathy) • [11](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/man-behind-rangan-vadhiyar-pasupathy-opens-life-living-and-acting-153402) He followed this with roles in Manikandan's *[Kadaisi Vivasayi](https://www.edgepedia.org/kadaisi-vivasayi)* (2022), *Thandatti* (2023), the Telugu-language thriller series *Dhootha* (2023), Pa. Ranjith's *Thangalaan* (2024) as Gengupattar, and [Nag Ashwin](https://www.edgepedia.org/nag-ashwin)'s *Kalki 2898 AD* (2024) as Veeran.[7](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/pasupathy/) • [12](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/pasupathi/upcoming-movies.html)
In 2025 he played Velusamy in Mari Selvaraj's *[Bison Kaalamaadan](https://www.edgepedia.org/bison-kaalamaadan)*, released on 17 October 2025, a performance Cinema Express described as being for the ages; he received a SIIMA nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for it.[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367730/awards/) • [12](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/pasupathi/upcoming-movies.html) • [13](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2025/Nov/30/pasupathy-cinema-is-never-a-one-man-show) On streaming, he appeared as Kulandhai Yesu in the [Disney+ Hotstar](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-hotstar) series *[November Story](https://www.edgepedia.org/november-story)* (2021) and leads the Sony LIV series *Kuttram Purindhavan*, directed by debutant Selvamani, which began streaming on 5 December 2025.[7](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/pasupathy/) • [13](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2025/Nov/30/pasupathy-cinema-is-never-a-one-man-show)
## Working method and views on cinema
Pasupathy has described acting as a craft built on the body and observation rather than a fixed formula. In a 2025 interview he said, "An actor should have an understanding of their body and face, and it's a big process to get there," and that he cannot replicate a given performance on another day. He frames the director as the person who knows how the story moves, giving inputs but deferring when they conflict with the director's vision: "No one is bigger than the story we are telling. Cinema is never a one-man show."[13](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2025/Nov/30/pasupathy-cinema-is-never-a-one-man-show) He is selective about roles and said in an earlier interview that he could not make compromises on a medium he loves, even when offers were slow to come; he described waiting patiently through 15 years in the industry without leaving it.[11](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/man-behind-rangan-vadhiyar-pasupathy-opens-life-living-and-acting-153402)
Malayalam director M. A. Nishad, who has cast him, publicly cited his dedication to inhabiting a character and his awareness of his own limitations as reasons for repeated collaboration; Nishad clarified that Pasupathy had worked with him in three of the nine films Nishad directed.[14](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/ma-nishad-opens-up-why-he-cast-actor-pasupathy-in-his-movies-goes-viral-072614.html)
## Personal life
Pasupathy is married to Suriya, an architect.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367730/bio/) • [11](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/man-behind-rangan-vadhiyar-pasupathy-opens-life-living-and-acting-153402) He lives on a farm in Periyapalayam in [Thiruvallur](https://www.edgepedia.org/thiruvallur) district, about a 90-minute drive from Chennai, where he does agriculture and grows vegetables; he has said that when he is not acting he farms, works out, and returns to the screen only when a script renews his interest in acting.[11](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/man-behind-rangan-vadhiyar-pasupathy-opens-life-living-and-acting-153402) • [13](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2025/Nov/30/pasupathy-cinema-is-never-a-one-man-show)
## References
1. [Pasupathy - Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367730/bio/)
2. [Pasupathy, TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/6193/pasupathy)
3. [Pasupathy (Actor) Biography, StarsUnfolded](https://starsunfolded.com/pasupathy/)
4. [Tamil Movie Actor Pasupathy, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/movie-actor/pasupathy)
5. [Pasupathy Overview, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/pasupathy-931269)
6. [Pasupathy / പശുപതി, MalayalaSangeetham.Info](https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Pasupathy&category=actors)
7. [Pasupathy: Movies & Web Series on OTT, TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/pasupathy/)
8. [Pasupathy - Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367730/awards/)
9. [Pasupathy Movies & TV Shows, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/e615c789-dbb9-3aab-bac2-4a3a63150896)
10. [Five ever-memorable roles of the versatile actor Pasupathy, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/arul-to-asuran-five-ever-memorable-roles-of-the-versatile-actor-pasupathy/amp_etphotostory/82707795.cms)
11. [The man behind 'Rangan Vadhiyar': Pasupathy opens up on life, living and acting, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/man-behind-rangan-vadhiyar-pasupathy-opens-life-living-and-acting-153402)
12. [Pasupathi Movies and Upcoming Movies, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/pasupathi/upcoming-movies.html)
13. [Pasupathy: 'Cinema is never a one-man show', Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2025/Nov/30/pasupathy-cinema-is-never-a-one-man-show)
14. [MA Nishad on why he cast Pasupathy, Malayalam FilmiBeat](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/ma-nishad-opens-up-why-he-cast-actor-pasupathy-in-his-movies-goes-viral-072614.html)
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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; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; 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