Siddharth – More than just an actor

Siddharth turns 46 today. After completing his MBA, he was introduced to Maniratnam by PC Shriram. Siddharth became a directorial assistant in Kannathil Muthamitaal and even made an uncredited appearance as a bus passenger. The film’s scriptwriter, Sujatha, insisted that Siddharth should audition for Shankar’s Boys – something that Siddharth reluctantly agreed to.

After a memorable debut in Shankar’s Boys, he starred in Maniratnam’s multi-starrer, Aayudha Ezhuthu. He then turned his attention to Telugu and Hindi movies.

He returned to Tamil movies in the film Kaadhalil Sodhupuvadhu Yeppadi where he was also the producer. The film was a runaway hit.

In 2013, Siddharth starred in the English film Midnight’s Children – based on a novel by controversial author, Salman Rushdie.

In the next two years, he impressed film critics with Jigarthanda and Kaaviya Thalaivan, both films breaking away from the traditional commercial format.

After returning to the masala genre in Sundar’s Aranmanai 2, he experimented again in Sivappu Manjal Pachai and Aruvum.

After the failure of Takkar at the box-office, he bounced back when he produced and starred the in the 2023 blockbuster hit, Chiththa. He had two more misses with Indian 2 and Miss You, but reasserted his presence with the recently released Test where he shared the lead with R. Madhavan, Nayanthara and Meera Jasmine.

As a voice artist, he lent his voice to Simba in the Tamil dubbing of Disney’s The Lion King and for the alien character in Sivakarthikeyan’s Ayalaan.

Siddharth is also a talented singer and has recorded 23 songs in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Siddharth has won numerous acting awards, including state and international awards for his roles in Boys, Jigarthanda, Kaaviya Thalaivan and Chiththa.

On the personal front, Siddharth married his childhood friend, Megna in 2003 but the couple were divorced in 2007. In 2024, he married actress Aditi Rao Hydari.