Rajesh (actor)

Rajesh was born in 1949 to Williams Nattar and lily Grace Mankondar at Mannargudi, Tiruvarur district,[3] but his family hails from Anaikkadu, in Thanjavur district.[2][4] He studied in Dindigul, Vadamadurai, Melanatham Aanaikadu and Chinnamanur Theni district. After finishing his PUC in Karaikudi Alagappa College, he joined Pachaiappas College, but unfortunately has not completed his college education. He worked as a teacher in St Paul's High School, Purasawalkam and later at Kellett Higher Secondary School, Triplicane from 1972 to 1979.[2]

In 1974, he got a chance to act in the film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, but he only did a small role in it.[2] His first film as hero was Kanni Paruvathile (1979), produced by Rajkannu.[4] Rajesh acted in Achamillai Achamillai, by K. Balachander. Later, he moved into playing character roles, and acted in many movies with Kamal Haasan.He was a successful actor.

Now he is into the hotel and real estate business and he is a leading builder in the city.[2] He also wrote biographies of Hollywood actors in Tamil.

He is a Christian, later he was active in Periyaar's ideologies then he involved himself in Astrology. He had written many books and articles about Astrology.

In 1983, he married Joan Sylvia, who is the granddaughter of the famous social reformist and Dravidian leader Pattukottai Davis. They have one daughter Divya[5] and one son Deepak, who will be making his acting debut in 2014.[6] His wife died on 6 August 2012.[7]

He was the first Tamil actor to build a bungalow for the purpose of movie shooting in 1985 near KK Nagar, Chennai, which was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran.[8] Much Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi movie shooting happened in that house. He later sold it in 1993, while starting his real estate business. In the early 90s, as advised by his friend Jeppiaar, he started a Real Estate business, then he started hotel and construction business. He was active in politics from 1987 to 1991, supporting the Mrs Janaki w/o M.G Ramachandran. But he always maintained good relationship with Kalaigar Karunanidhi, J. Jayalalitha, Congress leaders and Communist party leaders. He is also a follower of Karl Marx, when he visited UK he paid his tribute to the great leader.

• Official website
• Rajesh at IMDb
• Rajesh at Cinesouth