# Prabhu (பிரபு) (actor)
**Prabhu** (பிரபு; full name Prabhu Ganesan) is an Indian film actor and producer who works predominantly in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) and is the son of the veteran actor [Sivaji Ganesan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivaji-ganesan)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694893/bio/) • [2](https://filmi.ai/person/prabhu). Active since his debut in *Sangili* (1982), he was a leading man through the 1980s and 1990s under the nickname "Ilaya Thilagam" and has since moved into supporting and character roles across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films[3](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu/awards/) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jun/13/actor-prabhus-team-quashes-rumours-about-his-health).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; sources give 25 December[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html) or 27 December[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694893/bio/) |
| Family | Son of Sivaji Ganesan and Kamala Ganesan; brother of producer Ramkumar Ganesan[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694893/bio/) |
| Debut | *Sangili* (1982)[3](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu/awards/) |
| Major award | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for *Chinna Thambi* (1991)[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html) |
| Output | More than 125 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema by one count; another counts over 220[3](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu/awards/) • [5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html) |
| Children | Vikram Prabhu, also a Tamil actor, and Aishwarya[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694893/bio/) |
## Family background
Prabhu was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to the actor Sivaji Ganesan and Kamala Ganesan[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694893/bio/). His brother [Ramkumar Ganesan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramkumar-ganesan) is a film producer[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694893/bio/) • [5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html). He married Punitha, and the couple had a daughter, Aishwarya, and a son, [Vikram Prabhu](https://www.edgepedia.org/vikram-prabhu), who became a Tamil actor[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html). Aishwarya married the filmmaker Adhik Ravichandran, who directed Prabhu in *Good Bad Ugly* (2025)[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzmGhmffioc) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jun/13/actor-prabhus-team-quashes-rumours-about-his-health). He was educated at Bishop Cotton Boys' School in [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore) and Loyola College, Chennai[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html).
## Career as a leading man
Prabhu debuted in *Sangili* (1982), appearing alongside his father, and established himself as a leading actor through the 1980s[3](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu/awards/) • [5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html). During the 1980s and 1990s he was among the bankable stars of Tamil cinema, with hits including *Vetri Vizha* (1989) with [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan), *My Dear Marthandan* (1990), *Chinna Thambi* (1991), and *Pudhiya Mugam* (1993)[7](https://tamilurl.com/celebrities/prabhu/). He frequently appeared alongside [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) and Kamal Haasan as well as his father[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html).
His performance in *Chinna Thambi* (1991) won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html) • [7](https://tamilurl.com/celebrities/prabhu/). Filmibeat also lists a Cinema Express Award for Best Actor for *Manasukkul Mathappu* (1988) and a Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Special Prize for *Charlie Chaplin* (2002)[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html). His line in *Chandramukhi* (2005), "Enna kodumai saravanan idhu", became widely quoted[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html).
## Later career
From the 2000s onward Prabhu took supporting and character roles in major Tamil films, including *Billa* (2007) as a Malaysian police officer, *Ayan* (2009), *Kuselan* (2008), [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam)'s *Raavanan* (2010), *Theri* (2016), and *Puli* (2015)[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html) • [8](https://www.studioflicks.com/person/prabhu/). In Mani Ratnam's two-part historical *Ponniyin Selvan* (2022 and 2023) he played Periya Velaar[9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694893/). Recent credits include *Varisu* (2023), *[Laththi](https://www.edgepedia.org/laththi)* (2022), and, in 2025, small roles in *Nesippaya*, *Good Bad Ugly*, *Rajaputhiran*, and *Kiss*[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jun/13/actor-prabhus-team-quashes-rumours-about-his-health).
**Return to a lead role.** After several years in supporting parts, Prabhu was set to headline a film as the sole lead, directed by Franklin Jacob, whose debut *Writer* (2021) was critically acclaimed, with music by [Yuvan Shankar Raja](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuvan-shankar-raja) and production by Romeo Pictures; the title and plot were kept undisclosed at announcement[10](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Aug/22/prabhu-becomes-unrecognisable-in-his-next-as-lead-yuvan-shankar-raja-to-score-musicsee-details). He was also cast in a key role in Karthi's *Marshal*, directed by Tamizh and backed by Dream Warrior Pictures[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jun/13/actor-prabhus-team-quashes-rumours-about-his-health).
## Public profile
In June 2026, social media rumors claimed Prabhu was in critical condition; his family and team dismissed them, describing him as "hale and healthy" and active in the industry[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jun/13/actor-prabhus-team-quashes-rumours-about-his-health) • [11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/actor-prabhu-health-update-family-and-team-dismiss-critical-illness-rumours-confirm-veteran-star-is-hale-and-healthy/articleshow/131715918.cms). Later that year, Prabhu, his son Vikram Prabhu, and son-in-law Adhik Ravichandran met the newly elected Chief Minister Vijay to offer congratulations[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jun/13/actor-prabhus-team-quashes-rumours-about-his-health).
## References
1. [Prabhu - Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694893/bio/)
2. [Prabhu movies, filmi.ai](https://filmi.ai/person/prabhu)
3. [Prabhu Awards: Achievements & Honors, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu/awards/)
4. [Actor Prabhu's team quashes rumours about his health, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jun/13/actor-prabhus-team-quashes-rumours-about-his-health)
5. [Prabhu: Height, Age, Wife, Biography, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/prabhu.html)
6. [பிரபு Family Tree, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzmGhmffioc)
7. [Prabhu (Actor) Age, Movies & Family, Tamil URL](https://tamilurl.com/celebrities/prabhu/)
8. [Prabhu filmography, StudioFlicks](https://www.studioflicks.com/person/prabhu/)
9. [Prabhu, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694893/)
10. [Prabhu becomes unrecognisable in his next as lead, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Aug/22/prabhu-becomes-unrecognisable-in-his-next-as-lead-yuvan-shankar-raja-to-score-musicsee-details)
11. [Actor Prabhu health update, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/actor-prabhu-health-update-family-and-team-dismiss-critical-illness-rumours-confirm-veteran-star-is-hale-and-healthy/articleshow/131715918.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; 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