30 Best South Indian Actors Name with Photos | Most Popular South Heros

Updated on January 3, 2024 | By Annu Jain

Here is a list of some legendary South Indian Actors who are ruling the hearts of their viewers!

South Indian Actors have garnered a massive fan base in recent years, not just in the South’s movie industry but also in Bollywood, south heroes have a huge fan following. South Indian movies have emerged as one of the biggest industries, taking the box office collections to new heights all thanks to their intriguing storylines, dynamic characters, and stellar performances by the South Indian actors and actresses of the film.

No matter how much ‘masala’ is added to the film, we as the audience cannot get enough of it, and the nail-biting action sequences, no matter how unrealistic they may be, are worth the watch. How can we forget the charming South heroes who lead the story with their first-rate performances?

In this post, we introduce you to the top South movie actor names.

Let’s delve into the list of the top 30 South Indian actors! Don’t worry, we have included your favorite South Indian heroes with their names and photos.

Also Read: Top 31 Malayalam Actress Name List with Photos To Look At In 2023

Rajinikanth- Thalaivar of Tamil Film Industry

One of Asia’s highest-paid actors, Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, who goes by the South hero name Rajinikanth, is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Tamil cinema, with an acting career spanning over 48 years. The Thalaiver has done more than 160 films and has a cult following across generations.

The actor is not only hailed as the top actor in the South hero name list

but is also worshipped by his fans worldwide, which just shows that Rajinikanth is the No. 1 actor in India. Recently, Rajinikanth returned to the movie industry with his movie Jailer.

Mohanlal- Universal Star

This South Indian actor name often referred to as the ‘King of Kerela’ Mohanlal has become a household name in Mollywood, aka the Malayalam film industry. With an acting career spanning over 4 decades, Mohanlal has starred in more than 400 films, and his continuous contribution to Malayalam cinema has made him the actor he is today.

This South hero name is worthy of every applause for his versatility and range in acting, from delivering serious roles to portraying mischievous characters, making him the best South Indian actor. Moreover, the actor surely gives the younger generation of actors tough competition.

Talking about his filmography, Mohanlal has given several blockbuster hits, including Lucifer, Drishyam, and Drishyam 2.

Pawan Kalyan- The Power Star

The popular South hero, Pawan Kalyan is a renowned personality who mainly works in Telugu cinema. Making his debut with the film Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi in 1996, he has now become one of the most lovable actors in the South.

Apart from being an actor, he is a well-known politician who founded the Jana Sena Party in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. We love to add this South movie actor name to our list as we’re impressed with his dedication and hard work.

Nagarjuna- The Celluloid Scientist

Nagarjuna is the South movie actor name who doesn’t need any introduction! He is one of the most successful and richest actors in India with a net worth of crores. Being an action South hero, he never disappoints his fans and always gives jaw-dropping performances.

This amazing South hero has acted in more than 100 films and won the hearts of not only South Indians but North Indians as well. We feel proud that this South Indian hero was born in our country and blessed us with numerous masterpieces including Manmadhudu, Bhai, and more.

Kamal Haasan- The World Hero

A recipient of the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian cinema, the famous South hero Kamal Haasan stepped into the world of cinema at the age of 6 and won the award for best child actor for his debut movie, Kalathar Kannamma.

The South Indian hero returned to the film industry after a 7-year hiatus and went on to carve his name in the industry by starring in films of multiple genres and languages.

Among South Indian actors, he had a prolific acting career spanning over 5 decades and is a superstar with multiple box-office hits under his name. Furthermore, his latest movie, Vikram (2022), is among the fans. Now people are eagerly waiting for the Vikram 2 (Rolex) movie release date.

Ravi Teja- The Mass Maharaja

Here is another famous South actor Ravi Teja who is also a very amazing actor and deserves a place in the South all actor name list. Popular by the name Mass Maharaja, he is a heart hacker who knows very well how to blow someone’s mind. His name is taken in one of the highest-paid actors in the South.

His super-hit films include Dhamaka, Raja: The Great, Ravanasura, Waltair Verrayya, and more.

Chiranjeevi- The Mega Star

When we’re talking about the South movie actor names, how we can forget the legendary actor Chiranjeevi?

This South hero name will be remembered in the history of Indian cinema as he has contributed over four decades of his life to the entertainment industry. Not only adults but youngsters also have deep respect for him and love to watch his films. The 1992 film Gharana Mogudu is one of his most successful works that provided him great recognition and gave a boost to Chiranjeevi’s net worth.

Lastly, he appeared in the film Bhola Shankar and amazed everyone with jaw-dropping action sequences.

Ram Charan Teja- The Mega Power Star

South all actor name list is too long but our favorite Ram Charan comes at the top. The young South hero is not only an amazing actor but a producer and entrepreneur as well. The fantasy action film Magadheera helped to set his foot in the South Indian film industry and made him a superstar.

No doubt, this South Indian hero name is enough for the audience to visit the theatre. Movies freaks wait eagerly for Ram Charan upcoming movies that will break numerous records for sure.

Check Out: Ram Charan Net Worth 2023, Lifestyle, Car Collection, and Upcoming Movies

Dhanush- The Indian Bruce Lee

I am sure you have sung along to Dhanush’s song ‘Why This Kolavari D’ which became the first music video to surpass 100 million views on YouTube. Dhanush movies list is proof of his success and the reason to put him on the best South Indian actors list. Dhanush is no doubt a dynamic South hero with a vast fan base spread across India and abroad.

Many Bollywood cinephiles recognize this South hero name from his movie Raanjhanaa. This movie is much loved by fans, and now after so long the sequel to this movie is soon coming up with the name of Tere Ishq Mein (Raanjhanaa 2) with Dhanush in the lead role and a whole new look.

Mahesh Babu- The Prince of Tollywood

Fondly referred to as the Prince of Tollywood for his charming looks and phenomenal acting prowess, this South movie actor’s name is Mahesh Babu, he easily ranks a spot in the Top South Indian actors list. With over 11.2 million followers on Instagram, South Hero certainly knows how to hold his audience captive.

You have seen many famous Mahesh Babu movies and his superb acting in films. Furthermore, the actor is a hero off-screen too; Mahesh Babu actively participates in charity events and initiatives that just add to his charm.

Allu Arjun- Bunny the Icon Star

Making a way in the hearts of many fans across India, here is the Pushpa famed actor Allu Arjun. This South Indian hero is among the highest-paid actors in India, and if acting wasn’t enough, the South hero is also widely recognized for his impeccable dancing skills.

This actor has carved his path and emerged as one of the most influential personalities in South Indian cinema. Everyone in India knows that Allu Arjun movies are always exciting and no one gets bored while the South Indian actor is on the big screen.

Vijay- The Thalapathy

Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, popularly referred to as Vijay kicked off his career with Vetri in 1984. The movie was directed by his father, and later, the South Indian actor rose to heights by starring in multiple movies that gave him recognition in the South Indian Film industry.

Vijay Thalapathy movies made him soar to new heights, and now he reigns over top actors across India. Some of his notable performances include Master, Bigil, and Thuppaki. As of this moment, the actor has become a top choice among many directors and producers; furthermore, Vijay’s latest movie Leo made him more loved among the fans.

Suriya- The Hero of the Performance

Suriya is one of the top South Indian actors who is married to one of the most beautiful South Indian actresses of all time, Jyothika. Suriya is often referred to as the complete actor, with a unique and young persona that captivates the audience.

Moreover, he has given some remarkable performances in movies including 24, Jai Bhim, and Singam.

Yash- The Rocking Star

With over 13.2 million followers on his Instagram account, Naveen Kumar Gowda, aka Yash, is one of the highest-paid South Indian actors in Kannada cinema. I am sure you’ve heard of Rocky Bhai from KGF. The KGF actor’s name is Yash, he rose to fame in Pan India with KGF Chapter 1 and created history by breaking several records at the box office.

The Kannada hero even won best actor in India for KGF Chapter 1 at the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA). Later, when KGF Chapter 2 was released in theaters the film, superstar Yash’s fame rose to its peak. Fans have been eagerly waiting for the release of the KGF 3 movie.

Prabhas- The Rebel Star

Prabhas is a popular South Indian hero who shot to nationwide popularity with his movie Baahubali Part 1: The Beginning. Many leading publications have called this South actor ‘one of the most humble and down-to-earth Indian actors’ in their articles, and we agree.

The Pan-Indian star is widely recognized for his work in both Baahubali movies and has instantly become a crowd favorite with his spellbinding performance. Although Prabhas is one of the top South Indian actors, his recent movie, Adipurush has sparked controversies.

Moreover, this South hero’s latest movie Salaar release date is announced to hit the silver screen on 22 December 2023. Fans of Tollywood cinema have high expectations from the actor.

Dulquer Salmaan- Salu

This list cannot be complete without mentioning this handsome South actor name. He is on the rise after the massive success of his movie Sita Ramam, Dulquer Salmaan is certainly a talented and charismatic South hero who has taken the South Indian film industry by storm.

His powerful on-screen presence and boyish charm make him among the most popular South Indian heroes. Furthermore, he is among the few South heroes who have worked in all languages, including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.

Vijay Deverakonda- The Rowdy

Among the South all hero name list, Vijay Deverakonda name also comes. After the release of the blockbuster film Arjun Reddy, his career graph took a great turn and he became one of the highest-paid actors of Telugu cinema. As of 2023, Vijay Deverakonda net worth is 55 crore INR.

No other actor can’t beat him in terms of charming looks. Despite having a huge fan following, he is the most humble and down-to-earth South Indian hero we have known. There are numerous superhit Hindi Dubbed movies of Vijay Devarakonda that are must-watchs and can make your weekend fruitful.

N. T. Rama Rao Jr- The Jr. NTR

Who doesn’t know the South hero name—N. T. Rama Rao? Well, we all enjoyed the epic period action drama film, RRR directed by S.S. Rajamouli. This masterpiece raised the level of South Indian cinema and made watching the Jr. NTR movies the favorite work of moviegoers to kill time.

Currently, the South Indian actor is busy with the shoot of his upcoming films like Devara: Part One and War 2 which are scheduled to release in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

Vijay Sethupathi- Makkal Selvan

Let’s talk about another superstar who holds a great place in the South all actor name list. Vijay Sethupathi aka Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi is a well-known name in the South film industry. He is the recipient of several accolades and has been entertaining the audience for several years.

He is one of those South Indian actors who struggled a lot and began their careers as background artists before playing the lead in the films. Which movie of Vijay do you love the most? Our favorite is Mumbaikar.

Rana Daggubati- Rana

Remember the strong and powerful man Bhallaladeva from the film Baahubali which is considered the second-highest-gross opening for an Indian film? We can’t even describe in words how skillfully the South Indian hero Rana Daggubati played the role of antagonist in this megahit.

He is one of the few South Indian actors who were able to achieve pan-Indian appeal and played roles in numerous movies of different languages such as Tamil, Telugu, etc.

Vikram- Chiyaan

Kennedy John Victor aka Vikram is among the most celebrated South movie actors who has an umpteen fan following. We’re damn sure you’re unaware of the fact that he is the first Indian actor who receives the Doctorate in the European Universities in acting.

Recently, this South actor was seen in the epic historical action drama film, Ponniyin Selvan: II and grabbed the eyeballs with his thrilling performance.

Sudeep Sanjeev- Kichcha

I still remember when I was a kid, I saw the South Indian hero Sudeep in the film Makkhi which is the Hindi dubbed version of the film Eega for the first time. This movie provided him nationwide recognition and helped to get a place in the top 7 Kannada film actors who have an astonishing fan base.

He was last seen in his Kabzaa movie. And even at the age of 52, this South actor name is on the lips of millions of movie freaks. Are you also a fan of this superstar?

Venkatesh Daggubati- The Victory Venkatesh

This South movie hero name is Daggubati Venkatesh in reality. He is about to complete four decades in the South Indian film industry. In such a large career span, he made us laugh and cry and taught us various lessons through his inspiring characters in the movies.

The South hero has given numerous box office hits such as Srinivasa Kalyanam, Brahma Puthrudu, Prema, Dhruva Nakshatram, Bobbili Raja, Kshana Kshanam, and more.

Prithviraj Sukumaran- Raju

South all hero name list is incomplete without the handsome hunk Prithviraj Sukumaran who has the cutest smile. He can easily make anyone fall for himself with his killing personality. This South Indian actor has put more than 100 films in his bag.

This South movie actor has a huge collection of films that you can watch on different OTT platforms as Jana Gana Mana is available on Netflix.

Nani- The Natural Star

Known by his screen name Nani, Ghanta Naveen Babu is also a top South hero. He is a versatile actor who predominantly works in Telugu cinema. His debut film Ashta Chamma which is a romantic comedy was a box office hit and helped him to make a place in the South film industry.

This extremely talented young South actor also owns a production house, Wall Poster Cinema that has produced superhit movies like HIT: The First Case and HIT: The Second Case.

Vishal- The Revolutionary Leader

We’re sure you’ve heard about the South movie hero name—Vishal whose real name is Vishal Krishna Reddy. He stepped into the film industry as an assistant director for the South director Arjun Sarja. Later, he became an actor and also opened his own production house with the name Vishal Film Factory.

The notable works of this South Indian hero are Sandakozhi, Thimiru, Thaamirabharani, and more.

Ajith Kumar- Thala (the Leader)

Another Indian actor who secured a place in the South hero name list is Ajith Kumar. He began his acting career in 1990 and played a small role in the film En Veedu En Kanavar. After that, he never looked back on his life and established himself as a great South hero.

Apart from acting, the South Indian actor loves driving and is a sports car racer who participated in the MRF Racing series in 2010. He is one of those few top South heroes who drive in the International arena.

R. Madhavan- Maddy Madhavan

R. Madhavan is not only a South Indian hero name but it is the epitome of simplicity, calmness, and talent. He is one of the most successful Bollywood actors in Indian cinema. Within a career span of over two decades, he has won several prestigious awards including the National Film Award, Filmfare Awards South, and Tamil Nadu State Film Award.

This famous South hero is mainly known for his superhit movies like Tanu Weds Manu, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, and more.

Mammootty- The Big Brother

Here is the second last actor that we’ve included in our most popular South hero name list. Although he is no longer a spring chicken, he still has the capacity to attract the audience with his exceptional talent. He is among the few actors who have been working in the films for five decades.

As the South Indian hero entertained the cinephiles a lot, he was honored with the Padma Shri award in 1998 and with the Kerala Prabha Award in 2022.

Nivin Pauly

Last but not least, Nivin Pauly is a South actor name who works predominantly in Mollywood. He got his first breakthrough in a romantic Malayalam movie Thattathin Marayathu released in 2012. His numerous movies including Bangalore Days, Oru Vadakkan Selfie, Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, and Premam are among the top 10 highest-grossing Malayalam films.

The South Indian hero left everyone speechless with his mind-blowing performance in the film Premam and got immense love from the fans.

Wrapping up!

That was all about top South heroes with names and photos. Let us know if we have covered your favorite actor or not. For more entertaining updates, stay tuned to Famousbollywood.

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