Southern films have dominated the global platform for the past few years. From racking up nominations, winning prestigious international awards, and screening the film at participating film festivals around the world, Southern cinema’s rise to intercontinental fame is nothing short of enviable. This article takes a closer look at some of the talented actors from the southern film industry who crossed the border and made their way to Hollywood.
5 Southern Actors Who Made it to Hollywood
rajinikanth
Well, Kollywood’s Thalaiba, Rajinikanth is one of the stars who has redefined cinema on many levels. In fact, he was one of the first Southern stars to be cast in a Hollywood film. The Bettain star appeared in the 1988 action-adventure film Bloodstone, directed by Dwight H. Little.
This was Rajinikanth’s only Hollywood film to date, and along with him, Brett Stimely and Anna Nicholas played important roles. The film was later dubbed into Tamil and released as Viravel. Despite being a Hollywood film, extensive filming took place in Bangalore itself.
Dhanush
As an actor, Dhanush has always prioritized diversity above all else. Through his extensive filmography, you can definitely witness the various projects and roles he has been involved with. Apart from Indian films, the actor has also ventured into Hollywood and is dominating the charts as usual.
He made his Hollywood debut in 2018 with the film The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir. The film, directed by Ken Scott, is based on the novel of the same name written by Roman Puertolas. Moreover, in 2022, he also starred in another classic American action thriller film, The Gray Man, directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo. Dhanush gave groundbreaking performances in both the films.
GV Prakash
Music composer turned actor GV Prakash has proven that he is indeed a man of many talents. The artiste showed his mettle in the southern film industry with a long list of films and then took the leap of faith to jump directly into Hollywood. Yes, that’s right! GV Prakash appeared in the 2021 film Trap City.
Directed by Tel Ganesan, the film had Brandon T. Jackson, Clifton Powell and Phylicia Lloyd in important roles along with the South stars. GV Prakash plays the role of a doctor who convinces the protagonist to take up music.
pooja kumar
Pooja Kumar is best known for her role in Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam and its sequel Vishwaroopam 2. The actress has gained a foothold in Indian as well as international films over the years. She has appeared in numerous Tamil and Telugu films alike.
But she also made her way into Hollywood. The diva appeared in her first American film, Anything for You in 2010. After that, she went on to appear in many other Hollywood projects, including “Drawing With Chalk,” “Man On A Ledge,” and “Brawl In Cell Block 99.”
napoleon
Iconic Tamil star Napoleon has left an indelible impression through his work over the years. Although he is currently pursuing a political career, his filmography remains a testament to his versatility and, above all, great cinema.
The actor made his Hollywood debut in 2019 with the movie “Christmas Coupon.” He then appeared in the film “Devil’s Night: Dawn of the Nine Rouges”, which was released in the same year. Napoleon also shared screen space with GV Prakash in Trap City.
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