10 Most Popular South Indian Actors in 2022

Saravanan Sivakumar, better known as Suriya, is a popular South Indian actor, TV presenter, producer, and philanthropist. Born in Chennai, India in July 1975, Suriya is the son of actor Sivakumar. He made his acting debut in 1997 with the film "Nerukku Ner" and gained recognition with his role in "Nandha" in 2001.

Suriya's commercial success started with the film "Kaakha Kaakha" in 2003, and he has since risen to massive stardom. He has received numerous awards, including Best Actor awards from Filmfare, Vijay, Tamil Naidu State Film, and the National Film Award. Some of his well-acclaimed and highest-grossing films include "Ghajini," "Vaaranam Aayiram," "Ayan," "7aum Arivu," "24," "Singham 2," and "S3."

In 2013, Suriya established his own production company, 2D Entertainment, which has produced around 14 films and received two National Awards and two International Awards. Apart from his acting career, Suriya is actively involved in social work and has established the Agaram Foundation to carry out philanthropic activities.

Suriya is married to actress Jyotika, and they have two children. He is an ambassador for several brands, including Quikr, Intex, Nescafe, and Aircel. He has also been honored with the Edison Award. Suriya's upcoming film "Etharkkum Thunindhavan" is scheduled for release in March 2022 in four languages.

6. Dhanush

Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, known by his stage name Dhanush, is a multi-talented South Indian actor, producer, director, singer, and lyricist. Born in Chennai, India in July 1983, Dhanush comes from a family with a strong film background. He made his acting debut in 2002 with the film "Thulluvadho Ilamai," directed by his father, Kasthuri Raja.

Dhanush gained widespread recognition and critical acclaim with his role in the film "Aadukalam" in 2010, which earned him the Best Actor award at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, and National Film Awards. He gained international fame with his song "Why this Kolaveri Di," which became the first Indian song on YouTube to gain over 100 million views.

Throughout his career, Dhanush has delivered several successful films, including "Raanjhanaa" (his Hindi debut), "Velaiilla Pattadhari," "Vada Chennai," and "Maari 2." In addition to acting, he has also ventured into production with his own production house, Wunderbar Films, which he co-founded with his former wife, Aishwarya Dhanush, who is a director and singer, and the daughter of Rajinikanth.

Dhanush has been associated with numerous brand endorsements and is considered one of the most popular and influential actors in South India. He and Aishwarya Dhanush separated in January 2022 and have two sons together.

5. N. T. Rama Rao Jr.

Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr., popularly known as Jr NTR, is a prominent South Indian actor born in Hyderabad, India, in May 1983. He comes from a well-known political and filmy family and is the grandson of the legendary actor and politician, N. T. Rama Rao. Jr NTR made his acting debut as a child artist in his grandfather's film "Brahmarshi Vishwamitra" and "Ramayana" at the age of eight.

In 2001, Jr NTR achieved success as a lead actor with the film "Student No.1," and his film "Aadi" in 2002 became the highest-grossing film of that year. He has delivered several blockbuster films, including "Badshah," "Adhurs," "Temper," "Nannaku Prematho," and "Aravinda Sametha."

Apart from his successful acting career, Jr NTR is also known for his philanthropic activities and regularly donates funds to various social causes. In 2017, he made his debut as a television host with the reality show "Bigg Boss," which was a huge success. He has also hosted shows like "Dhee 2," "Dhee 10," and "Evaru Meelo Koteeswarulu."

Jr NTR has received around 30 awards, including 9 Filmfare Awards, and has garnered a massive following for his impressive performances and charismatic presence. He is married to Lakshmi Pranathi, who is related to Chandra Babu Naidu, a prominent political figure in Andhra Pradesh. The highly anticipated film "RRR," co-starring Ram Charan, is set to release in March 2022.

4. Prabhas

Prabhas is a highly successful and popular South Indian actor known for his work primarily in Telugu cinema. He made his acting debut in 2002 with the film "Eeswar" and went on to star in movies like "Varsham," "Chakram," "Billa," and "Ek Niranjan." Prabhas has amassed a massive fan base not only in South India but across the entire country.

One of his career-defining roles came with the Baahubali film series, consisting of "Baahubali: The Beginning" and "Baahubali: The Conclusion." These films became the highest-grossing films in India and propelled Prabhas to nationwide fame. His performance in "Baahubali" earned him accolades, and he received the Highest Grossed Debut Actor Award for his Hindi debut film "Saaho" in 2019.

In addition to his acting career, Prabhas has been associated with various brands and endorsements. In 2015, he became the brand ambassador for Mahindra and Mahindra's TUV300 car. He has several upcoming projects, including "Radhe Shyam," "Adipurush," "Saalar" in 2022, and "Project K" in 2023. "Radhe Shyam" and "Adipurush" are bilingual films in Hindi and Telugu.

3. Allu Arjun

Allu Arjun, often referred to as the "Stylish Star," holds the third position in the list of most popular South Indian actors. He began his journey in the entertainment industry at the young age of three, appearing as a child artist in films like "Vijetha" (1985) and as a dancer in "Daddy" (1986). He made his debut as a lead actor in 2003 with the film "Gangotri," but it was his role in "Arya" in 2004 that brought him fame and earned him three awards.

Allu Arjun is known for his incredible acting skills and exceptional dance performances, which have captivated audiences. He has received 33 awards for his performances, and his highest-grossing films include "Desamuduru," "Parugu," "Arya 2," "Race Gurram," and "Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo."

In recent years, his film "Pushpa: The Rise" became the highest-grossing film of 2021, earning over 3.5 billion rupees. Allu Arjun is also associated with various brands and serves as the ambassador for Hero Motocorp, Redbus, Frooti, Joyalukkas, and PKL (Pro Kabaddi League). He has ventured into the business world by setting up a night bar called 800 Jubilee in collaboration with Buffalo Wild Wings and M Kitchen.

Allu Arjun is married to Sneha Reddy, and they have two children. His daughter's debut in the film "Shakuntalam" is highly anticipated in 2022. His upcoming releases include "AA21" and "Pushpa: The Rule" in 2022.

2. Mahesh Babu

Mahesh Babu, often referred to as the "Salman Khan of the South Film Industry," is the first Telugu superstar to have a wax statue at Madame Tussauds. He holds the second spot on the list of top 10 South Indian actors in 2022. Mahesh Babu made his debut in the film industry with the Telugu film "Raja Kumarudu" in 1999, which also had a Hindi version titled "A Prince."

Throughout his career, Mahesh Babu has delivered numerous successful films, including "Okkadu," "Athadu," "Pokiri," "Businessman," "1 Nenokkadine," "Srimanthudu," and many more. He has received 25 awards and 34 nominations for his outstanding performances. Mahesh Babu is known for his association with various brands and endorsements, with nearly 38 brands under his belt, including Thumbs Up, Flipkart, Denver, BYJU'S, and Whitehat Junior.

In 2015, he established his production house, G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment. Mahesh Babu is married to actress Namrata Shirodkar, and they have two children. His upcoming films include "Sarkaru Vaari Paata" and "SSMB28."

1. Rajinikanth

Rajinikanth is a megastar and the most successful and popular South Indian actor of all time in the history of Indian cinema. Born on December 12, 1950, in Madras (now Chennai), he initially used his birth name, Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, before changing it to Rajinikanth for his debut film.

Rajinikanth gained recognition with his debut film "Apoorva Raagangal" in 1975 and went on to portray various roles in several successful films. In the early phase of his career, he often played negative characters and gradually achieved superstar status. In 1983, he appeared in his first Hindi film, "Andhaa Kanoon," and became a household name across India. He received critical acclaim and his first Filmfare and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for his performance in "Mullum Malarum" in 1976.

Rajinikanth's acting style, gracious dialogue delivery, and larger-than-life superhero image have earned him a dedicated fan following. Some of his highest-grossing and critically acclaimed films include "Baasha," "Sivaji," "Kaala," "Enthiran" (Robot), "Petta," and "2.0." He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Vibhushan, N.T.R National Award, Padma Bhushan, and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Apart from his acting career, Rajinikanth has been actively involved in philanthropy and political activities. He announced his entry into politics in 2017 and launched his political party, Rajini Makkal Mandram, in 2018. However, as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, he had not yet contested in any elections.

Rajinikanth is married to Latha Rajinikanth, and they have two daughters. Despite his superstar status, Rajinikanth maintains a humble and down-to-earth persona, endearing him to his fans and admirers worldwide.