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Anu Mohan

Anu Mohan Thiruvananthapuram

Anu Mohan is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Anu Mohan began their career in 1987 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 39 years. With 30 credits to their name, Anu Mohan remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 30+ years, Anu Mohan's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.

Born
Age
68
30+Known Credits
2.9Avg Rating
veteranCareer Phase

Biography

Anu Mohan (born David Stanley, December 3, 1957) is an Indian actor and director who works predominantly in Tamil cinema, known for his character and comedy roles across a long career spanning over two decades. He appeared in the blockbuster Badri (2001) starring Vijay, and featured in films such as Kannodu Kanbathellam (1999), Kamarasu (2002), Bramman (2014), and Pei Irukka Illaya (2017). He gained wider recognition through his comedy support roles in mainstream Tamil productions and was a contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4. His son Arun Mohan made his directorial debut with Sarabham (2014), produced by C. V. Kumar.

Career Milestones

1987

Directorial debut with Tamil film

1997

Acting debut in Tamil cinema

1999

Breakthrough supporting role in major Tamil release

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2001

Prominent comic supporting role alongside Vijay

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2020

Gained nationwide public recognition as Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4 contestant

Iconic Roles

Muthuswami1999

Kannodu Kanbathellam

Personal assistant to protagonist Sitharam (Arjun Sarja), living with him in Chennai; a recurring comic support role.

Defining Moments

1999

Playing Chinnarasu, the comic sidekick to Suryaprakash's character — delivering sharp comic timing in multiple scenes alongside Rajinikanth

Breakthrough role that established Anu Mohan as a reliable comedy supporting actor in Tamil cinema and opened doors for consistent work in mainstream films

1999

Playing Muthuswamy, the personal assistant character, in supporting comedy sequences

Part of his golden year 1999 run that cemented his screen presence in ensemble Tamil films

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2001

Playing Malli, the canteen cook, providing comic relief in a major commercial blockbuster

Appearance in one of Vijay's biggest hits of the era, completing 100-day theatrical run, boosting his visibility as a character actor

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2014

Playing Shanmugam, a comic-villainous character involved in the antagonist's schemes

Career resurgence in a high-profile Rajinikanth film after years in smaller projects, reintroducing him to mainstream audiences

2017

Playing Vincent Roy in the comedy horror genre, blending slapstick and supernatural elements

Demonstrated his versatility in genre comedy, continuing his run as a dependable supporting comedian in Tamil cinema

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The Numbers

Anu Mohan by the Numbers

Total Films0
Back-to-back Watch0 days+ 1h
Hit Ratio0%
Yrs Active0
Versatility0/10
Biggest CollaborationVadivelu4 films together

If you watched every Anu Mohan film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 2 days and 1h. Most-paired with Vadivelu — 4 films together.

Collaboration Network

Collaboration Network

The Constellation

Top 10 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Anu Mohan.

Anu Mohannfilms togetherSee full filmography →

Career Analytics

Genre Breakdown

Drama
33%
Action
33%
Comedy
33%

Language Distribution

Tamil
100%

Films by Decade

2
1980s
4
1990s
8
2000s
3
2010s
4
2020s

Top Co-Actors

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Anu Mohan has worked most frequently with Vadivelu (4 films), Vivek (3 films), Pandu (3 films), Delhi Ganesh (3 films), and Madhan Bob (3 films).

Vadivelu
VadiveluActor
Frequent Co-Stars4 films
Vivek
VivekActor
Frequent Co-Stars3 films
Pandu
PanduActor
Frequent Co-Stars3 films
Mayilsamy
MayilsamyActor
Frequent Co-Stars3 films
Nandha
NandhaActor
Frequent Co-Stars2 films
Devayani
DevayaniActor
Frequent Co-Stars2 films

Did You Know?

1

Anu Mohan began his career as a director before transitioning to acting.

2

He is known for playing secondary comedy roles in Tamil cinema.

3

He acted in the blockbuster film 'Padayappa' starring Rajinikanth.

4

He directed the Tamil film 'Kannodu Kanbathellam' in 1999.

5

He has worked as both an actor and director in the Tamil film industry.

Legacy & Influence

Anu Mohan's career in Tamil cinema presents a distinctive trajectory, marked by a pivot from behind-the-camera work to a recognizable on-screen presence. He began his journey as a director, an initial phase that provided him with a foundational understanding of filmmaking. This background likely informed his later performances, bringing a director's perspective to his acting roles. His most notable contribution to mainstream cinema is his secondary comedy role in the iconic 1999 Rajinikanth-starrer 'Padayappa'. In this film, he played the character of 'Neelambari's Nephew', a part that, while not lead, became memorable within the film's extensive fan following and cultural footprint. His performance in this blockbuster etched him into the memory of a generation of Tamil film audiences. Beyond this, Anu Mohan has maintained a steady presence in the industry, appearing in various supporting and character roles in films like 'Badri' (2001) and 'Punnagai Poove' (2003). His career demonstrates a model of professional adaptability, transitioning from director to a reliable character actor. In recent years, he has continued to work in films such as 'Madurai Manikkuravar' (2021), showing longevity in a competitive industry. His primary contribution lies not in headline-grabbing stardom, but in the consistent embodiment of supporting characters that add texture and humor to Tamil film narratives. He represents a cadre of actors whose work is integral to the ensemble nature of commercial cinema, providing reliable performances that support the central plot. His journey from director to actor also highlights a less common but valuable career path within the film ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions