 | This article has an unclear citation style .(February 2026) |
Abishan Jeevinth (born 1 June 1999) is an Indian actor, film director and screenwriter who works in Tamil cinema. He is best known for directing Tourist Family (2025), in which he also appeared in a supporting role.
Abishan Jeevinth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 1, 1999 |
| Education | Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Occupation | Actor • Film director • Screenwriter |
| Years active | 2025–present |
| Spouse | Akhila Ilangovan (m. 2025) |
Abishan Jeevinth was born on 1 June 1999 at Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, where he developed an early interest in cinema. [1] [2] He pursued a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication at Loyola College, Chennai. [2] Abishan married his longtime partner, Akhila Ilangovan, on 31 October 2025, after proposing to her during the promotions of Tourist Family (2025). [3] [4]
Abishan created sketch comedy videos on his YouTube channel, Thug Light. He later directed his first short film, Djinn (2019), followed by Nodigal Pirakatum (2020). [2] [5] [6] During his final year in college in 2020, his debut feature film was signed; however, the project was shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India. [2] [7]
During the pandemic, Abishan began writing a script inspired by Kamal Haasan's Thenali (2000), [2] [8] while he also working briefly as a teacher. [9] Although his initial intention was to develop a sequel to the Haasan-starrer, [7] the script eventually evolved into Tourist Family. [10] Produced by Million Dollar Studios and MRP Entertainment, [11] the film featured M. Sasikumar, Simran, Mithun Jai Sankar and Kamalesh Jagan in the lead roles, with Abishan appearing in a supporting role. [12] The film grossed ₹90 crore (US$11 million) worldwide, emerging as one of the highest-grossing film of 2025, as well as one of the most profitable Indian film of the year. [13] [14] It received praise from several Indian film personalities, including actor Nani, [15] and director S. S. Rajamouli. [16] In 2026, the film was announced as one of the four Indian films amongst 201 submissions eligible for the Academy Award for Best Picture for the 2025 ceremony. [17] [18]
With Love (2026) marked Abishan's subsequent project and his debut as a lead actor. [19] The film was directed by Madhan, who had previously served as an associate director on Tourist Family, [20] and was produced by MRP Entertainment in collaboration with Soundarya Rajinikanth's Zion Films. [21] [22] Starring Abishan and Anaswara Rajan in the lead roles, [23] the film premiered on 3 February 2026 at Sathyam Cinemas, with notable atendees including Rajinikanth, Nelson Dilipkumar and Anirudh Ravichander. [24] [25] [26]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Director | Actor | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tourist Family | Yes | Yes | [27] | |
| 2026 | With Love | No | Yes | [28] | |
Santanu Das of Hindustan Times described Abishan as a "major new cinematic voice," highlighting the emphasis on kindness, empathy and social harmony in Tourist Family. [29]
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