# Prabhu Deva (பிரபு தேவா)
Born in 1973, **Prabhu Deva** (பிரபு தேவா) is an Indian choreographer of dance who also directs, produces, and acts in cinema, with credits across the Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada industries. In a career spanning more than three decades, he has performed and designed a wide range of dancing styles and has won two National Film Awards for Best Choreography.[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VOWxifiiQU) He is widely known as "India's Michael Jackson" for his fast dancing skill.[2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1973, Mysore, Karnataka, India[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VOWxifiiQU) |
| Real name | Shankupani (per a 2013 Mumbai Mirror interview)[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/no-one-else-wouldve-directed-abcd-better-than-remo-prabhu-deva/articleshow/18427275.cms) |
| Father | Mugur Sundar (Sundaram Master), a well-known choreographer for South Indian films[4](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu-deva/) |
| First choreography | Vetri Vizha (1989)[2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html) |
| Acting debut | Indhu (1991), directed by Pavithran[5](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf) |
| Breakthrough | Kaadhalan (1994), directed by Shankar[6](https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/prabhu-deva-swinging-sensation-1995-from-the-india-today-archives-2703527-2025-04-03) |
| National Film Awards | Best Choreography for Minsara Kanavu (1997) and Lakshya (2004)[7](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/prabhu-deva) |
| Directional debut | Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005, Telugu)[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Prabhudeva) |
## Early life and training
Prabhu Deva was born in Mysore, Karnataka, to [Mugur Sundar](https://www.edgepedia.org/mugur-sundar), known in the industry as Sundaram Master, and Mahadevamma. His birth name is Shankupani.[2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html) • [3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/no-one-else-wouldve-directed-abcd-better-than-remo-prabhu-deva/articleshow/18427275.cms) His father was a notable dance choreographer in South Indian cinema, and the family later moved from Mysore to Chennai.[2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html) He has two brothers, [Raju Sundaram](https://www.edgepedia.org/raju-sundaram) and Nagendra Prasad, both of whom also work in film.[4](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu-deva/)
He began learning [Bharatanatyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharatanatyam), an [Indian classical dance](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-classical-dance) form, and later mastered Western dance styles as well.[2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html) He entered the film industry at the age of 14 as an assistant choreographer to his father.[5](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf) His first screen appearance was as a background dancer in a song in [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam)'s 1988 Tamil film *Agni Natchathiram*, choreographed by his father.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/no-one-else-wouldve-directed-abcd-better-than-remo-prabhu-deva/articleshow/18427275.cms) • [2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html) In 1989, he worked as a dance choreographer for the first time on the film *Vetri Vizha*.[2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html) • [4](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu-deva/)
## Choreography career
Over the years, Prabhu Deva has choreographed songs for almost all the leading film stars in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema).[4](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu-deva/) By the time of the 52nd [National Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-awards) (2005), he had choreographed more than 250 films in various languages.[5](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf) His work is known for its speed and physical control; a 1995 *India Today* profile described his "jelly joints" and noted that every song he choreographed took between three and five days of rehearsal until he perfected the steps.[6](https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/prabhu-deva-swinging-sensation-1995-from-the-india-today-archives-2703527-2025-04-03)
**Signature songs.** His choreography for the song "Chik buk raile" in Shankar's *Gentleman* made him a national name, and the "Mukkala Muqabla" number in *Kaadhalan* (1994) cut across ethnic and linguistic lines and set the nation's feet tapping.[6](https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/prabhu-deva-swinging-sensation-1995-from-the-india-today-archives-2703527-2025-04-03) "Kay Sera Sera" from *Pukar* (2000) brought together [Madhuri Dixit](https://www.edgepedia.org/madhuri-dixit) and Prabhu Deva and is regarded as a defining moment in Bollywood dance history; Madhuri Dixit did more than 20 rehearsals for the song.[9](https://www.easterneye.biz/all-about-prabhu-deva/) • [10](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/prabhudeva-explains-he-cannot-imagine-life-without-dance-1832438) "Rowdy Baby" from *Maari 2* (2018) became the first South Indian video song to cross one billion views on YouTube.[11](https://epaper.indianchronicledaily.com/media/2026-05/ic-may-3-2026-%281%29-main.pdf)
**Awards.** He won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for *Minsara Kanavu* (1997), for the song "Vennilave Vennilave", and for *Lakshya* (2004).[7](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/prabhu-deva) • [2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html) He has also received Filmfare Awards for Best Choreography, including for *Lakshya* (2005) and *Pokkiri* (2005), and [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south) for *Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana* (2006), *[Style](https://www.edgepedia.org/style-2006-film)* (2007), and *Maari 2* (2019).[12](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu-deva/awards/) • [2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html) He has been awarded the [Padma Shri](https://www.edgepedia.org/padma-shri).[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/-prabhu-deva)
## Acting career
Prabhu Deva made his acting debut in 1991 with a lead role in the Tamil film *Indhu*, directed by Pavithran.[5](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf) His breakthrough as a leading man came with Shankar's *Kaadhalan* (1994), a musical romance produced by K.T. Kunjumon that grossed Rs 20 million (Rs 2 crore) in its first week of release.[6](https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/prabhu-deva-swinging-sensation-1995-from-the-india-today-archives-2703527-2025-04-03) The film's success pushed his fee to around Rs 5 million (Rs 50 lakh) per film, and at age 21 he was reported to be charging the highest in the country for a dancer-actor.[6](https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/prabhu-deva-swinging-sensation-1995-from-the-india-today-archives-2703527-2025-04-03)
Through the 1990s and early 2000s he appeared in commercially successful films including *Kadhalan* (1994), *Minsara Kanavu* (1997), and *VIP* (1997), followed by the comedy *Kaathala Kaathala* (1998) and the family drama *Vanathai Pola* (2000).[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Prabhudeva) His later acting career did not sustain that early box-office run, and he moved increasingly toward direction.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Prabhudeva) In 2013 he returned to acting in *ABCD (Any Body Can Dance)*, India's first 3D dance film, playing the dance teacher Vishnu.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/no-one-else-wouldve-directed-abcd-better-than-remo-prabhu-deva/articleshow/18427275.cms) • [14](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/aadalam-boys-chinnatha-dance/aadalam-boys-chinnatha-dance-review.html)
## Direction career
Prabhu Deva moved into direction with the 2005 Telugu film *Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana*, whose success brought him further offers as a director.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Prabhudeva) By February 2013 he had directed ten Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films, including the blockbusters *[Wanted](https://www.edgepedia.org/wanted-2009-film)* (2009) and *Rowdy Rathore* (2012).[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/no-one-else-wouldve-directed-abcd-better-than-remo-prabhu-deva/articleshow/18427275.cms) *Wanted*, starring [Salman Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/salman-khan), revived Khan's career and established Prabhu Deva as a sought-after director in Bollywood.[15](https://tamilurl.com/filmographies/prabhu-deva-movies/) His commercially successful films across Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil include *Pokkiri* (2007), *Wanted* (2009), *Rowdy Rathore* (2012), and *Singh Is Bliing* (2015).[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Prabhudeva)
He has not directed a film since *Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai* (2021), though he has said he is not ruling out a return to direction.[16](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/prabhu-deva-on-returning-behind-the-camera-i-am-not-saying-never-again-to-direction-exclusive/articleshow/119938841.cms)
## Michael Jackson connection
Prabhu Deva is popularly called "India's Michael Jackson" for his fast dancing.[2](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html) He secretly practiced [Michael Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-jackson)'s moves during his Bharatanatyam classes, reconstructing a dance he had seen exactly once, without music, in front of a mirror.[17](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/why-prabhu-devas-most-prized-memory-of-michael-jackson-exists-only-in-his-mind-10656546/lite/) In 1999, with A.R. Rahman and [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema)'s dancing troupe, he performed at Michael Jackson's tribute concert, MJ & Friends, at Munich's Olympic Stadium in Germany.[7](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/prabhu-deva) • [17](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/why-prabhu-devas-most-prized-memory-of-michael-jackson-exists-only-in-his-mind-10656546/lite/)
## Personal life
Prabhu Deva married Ramlath in 1995; the marriage ended in 2011. He married Himani Singh in 2020.[4](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu-deva/) He has three sons from his first marriage and a daughter born in 2023.[4](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu-deva/)
## Recent work
In 2026, Prabhu Deva and A.R. Rahman joined forces again after twenty-seven years for *Moonwalk*, a dance-driven Tamil entertainer set for a Diwali 2026 release, with Rahman composing all five songs and also directing.[18](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/prabhu-deva/news) At the film's audio launch, Prabhu Deva delivered a ten-minute dance tribute to Rahman, performing to all five *Moonwalk* songs.[19](https://epaper.wakeuptelangana.com/media/2026-01/6-janury.pdf) Director Karthik Subbaraj has confirmed casting Prabhu Deva alongside Upendra and Atharvaa in an upcoming film.[20](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Sep/25/karthik-subbaraj-confirms-casting-of-upendra-and-prabhu-deva-in-next-with-atharvaa)
## References
1. [Prabhu Deva - Biography, YouTube (People & History)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VOWxifiiQU)
2. [பிரபுதேவா வாழ்க்கை வரலாறு – Prabhu Deva Biography, TamilItsTamil](https://www.itstamil.com/prabhu-deva.html)
3. [No one else would've directed 'ABCD' better than Remo: Prabhu Deva, Times of India / Mumbai Mirror (2013)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/no-one-else-wouldve-directed-abcd-better-than-remo-prabhu-deva/articleshow/18427275.cms)
4. [Prabhu Deva: News, Movies, Photos, Videos & Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu-deva/)
5. [52nd National Film Award Catalogue, NFA India](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf)
6. [Prabhu Deva: Swinging sensation (1995), India Today archives](https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/prabhu-deva-swinging-sensation-1995-from-the-india-today-archives-2703527-2025-04-03)
7. [Prabhu Deva — Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/prabhu-deva)
8. [Prabhudeva: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Prabhudeva)
9. [All about Prabhu Deva, EasternEye](https://www.easterneye.biz/all-about-prabhu-deva/)
10. [Prabhu Deva Explains He 'Cannot Imagine Life Without Dance', NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/prabhudeva-explains-he-cannot-imagine-life-without-dance-1832438)
11. [Indian Chronicle Daily e-paper, May 2026](https://epaper.indianchronicledaily.com/media/2026-05/ic-may-3-2026-%281%29-main.pdf)
12. [Prabhu Deva Awards: Achievements & Honors, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/prabhu-deva/awards/)
13. [Prabhu Deva topic page, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/-prabhu-deva)
14. [Aadalam Boys Chinnatha Dance Movie Review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/aadalam-boys-chinnatha-dance/aadalam-boys-chinnatha-dance-review.html)
15. [Prabhu Deva Movies: Complete Filmography (1994-2026), Tamil URL](https://tamilurl.com/filmographies/prabhu-deva-movies/)
16. [Prabhu Deva on returning behind the camera, Times of India (2025)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/prabhu-deva-on-returning-behind-the-camera-i-am-not-saying-never-again-to-direction-exclusive/articleshow/119938841.cms)
17. [Why Prabhu Deva's most prized memory of Michael Jackson exists only in his mind, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/why-prabhu-devas-most-prized-memory-of-michael-jackson-exists-only-in-his-mind-10656546/lite/)
18. [Prabhu Deva News | Latest News of Prabhu Deva, Times of India Entertainment](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/prabhu-deva/news)
19. [Wake Up Telangana e-paper, January 2026](https://epaper.wakeuptelangana.com/media/2026-01/6-janury.pdf)
20. [Karthik Subbaraj confirms casting of Upendra and Prabhu Deva, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Sep/25/karthik-subbaraj-confirms-casting-of-upendra-and-prabhu-deva-in-next-with-atharvaa)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Directors, producers, and screenwriters › Indian and South Asian film directors › Tamil cinema directors*
*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 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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