Udhayanidhi Stalin

Udhayanidhi Stalin (born 27 November 1977) is an Indian film producer, politician and former actor who prominently works in Tamil cinema. He was appointed as Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Special act implementation Department of Tamil Nadu in the ministry by his father the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M. K. Stalin on December 2022. He is a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, representing the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly constituency. He entered the film industry as a producer and distributor with his production studio Red Giant Movies, making films including Kuruvi (2008), Aadhavan (2009), Manmadan Ambu (2010) and 7aum Arivu (2011). He subsequently made his debut as an actor in the romantic comedy, Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (2012) and since then continued producing and starring in his own films. He ceased his acting career in 2023 to focus on politics. Early life and family Udhayanidhi Stalin is the son of M. K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and the grandson of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi. He attended Don Bosco school and has a degree in Commerce from Loyola College in Chennai. Several of his relatives have been actively involved in politics, and Tamil cinema since the 1950s. His cousins Arulnithi and Dayanidhi Azhagiri are actor and producer, respectively. Film career Udhayanidhi's first film as a producer with Red Giant Movies was Kuruvi (2008), starring Vijay and Trisha. He also produced two films directed by K. S. Ravikumar, Aadhavan (2009) and Manmadan Ambu (2010). He produced AR Murugadoss's science fiction film 7aum Arivu (2011), while also working as a distributor, achieving success through his four 2010 releases: Gautham Vasudev Menon's Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, A. L. Vijay's Madrasapattinam, M. Rajesh's Boss Engira Bhaskaran and Prabhu Solomon's Mynaa.