Rashin Rahman (born 23 May 1967), commonly known by his surname Rahman, is an Indian actor. He has worked in around 200 films, primarily in Malayalam cinema, in addition to Tamil, Hindi and Telugu cinema, and has won several awards.[1] In Tamil and Telugu cinema, he is also known by the screen names Raghuman and Raghu.
He made his acting debut in Koodevide (1983), for which he won his first Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor. He was a popular teen idol in Malayalam cinema during the 1980s, which heightened his stardom in Malayalam film industry. He eventually shifted to playing lead roles in Tamil and Telugu films during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He made a comeback in Malayalam films in 2004.[2]
In 1983, Rahman, while still in high school in Ooty, was spotted by noted Malayalam director Padmarajan who offered him the lead role in his film Koodevide. The film became a big hit and the teenager became an instant sensation. He was well appreciated for his acting and went on to win the Kerala State Award for Second Best Actor in his debut role at the age of 16. In 1984, he acted in Kaliyil Alpam Karyam directed by Sathyan Anthikad and Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove by Bharathan. He won critical acclaim and awards for the performance in the latter. In the same year, he acted in Kanamarayathu directed by I.V. Sasi, which went on to become a critical and commercial success. The song Oru Madhurakinavin, which is picturised on him and Shobana, became very popular and was a chartbuster all over Kerala. It is considered an iconic dance number in Malayalam cinema even today.
In 1987, he starred in I. V. Sasi's family drama Ithrayum Kaalam and Sathyan Anthikad directorial Gaayathridevi Ente Amma along with Seema. His next release was Aankiliyude Tharattu which was also dubbed into Tamil language. His first release of 1988 was Moonnam Pakkam, a sentimentaldrama film directed by Padmarajan and then Mukthi by I. V. Sasi. Then, he played dual roles in the thriller filmCharithram which was commercially and criticallly appreciated.[citation needed] Then, he acted in Kaalal Pada along with Jayaram and Suresh Gopi. He acted in the films of almost all the major Malayalam directors at that time including Padmarajan, Bharathan, and I. V. Sasi. He was absent from the Malayalam film industry in the early 1990s as he concentrated on Tamil and Telugu films.
In 1999, he acted in the Tamil film Sangamam, directed by Suresh Krishna, which depicts the feud between classical and folk dance. The music of the film was composed by A. R. Rahman. The Tamil film Ethiri (2004) was the first film Rahman dubbed for in his own voice. In 2005, after a long gap in Telugu, Rahman acted in Dhairyam (2005), a film that was well received. Rahman then performed in the Tamil films Raam and Thoothukudi, which were released in 2005 and 2006 respectively. He played the villain in Billa (2007), and reprised his role as the main antagonist in the Telugu film of the same name, released in 2009.
After his debut with Suhasini as the heroine, he worked with her again after a gap of 25 years for the Tamil movie, Balam (2009).[20] His next film Vaamanan, directed by Ahmed (who has worked as assistant to director Kathir), did well throughout South India. Rahman's next Telugu film Simha was released worldwide on 30 April 2010. It went on to become the highest grosser of 2010, and the 5th highest-grossing movie in the Telugu Film Industry. He then appeared in Oosaravelli and Vanthaan Vendraan. In 2014, he acted as the protagonist's father in the movie Govindudu Andarivadele, directed by Krishna Vamsi. In 2016, he starred in the Tamil-language thriller film Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru. He also played the main roles in Pagadi Aattam (2017) and Oru Mugathirai (2017). He played Madhurantakan in the historical fiction epic drama, Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) directed by Mani Ratnam.[21]
Personal life
Rahman's wife Meherunnisa is the sister of Saira Banu, music director A. R. Rahman's estranged wife. The couple has two children.
Awards
Rahman won the State Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in his first film, Koodevide. He also won the Film Critics Award and Chamber Award for this role.
In 1984, he won the Kerala Film Chamber Award for Best Actor for the film Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove.
Rahman won the Trendsetter Award in Malayalam cinema at the Etisalat Everest Film awards held in Dubai in 2007. The public voted for Rahman from nominees including Kamal Haasan, Sreedevi, Manju Warrier and Nadhiya.
Rahman's Malayalam film Manjadikkuru, directed by Anjali Menon, won two awards at the 2008 International Film Festival in Kerala.
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