Vikram

Vikram Biography

Vikram, born Kennedy John Victor on 17 April 1966 and known professionally as Chiyaan Vikram, is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. His father, John Victor — who acted under the screen name Vinod Raj — was a native of Paramakudi who appeared in supporting roles in Tamil films and television serials, while his mother, Rajeshwari, was a government officer who rose to the rank of sub-collector. Vikram adopted his screen name from a blend of his parents’ names, his birth name and his sun sign.

He was educated at Montfort School, Yercaud, and graduated in English literature from Loyola College, Chennai. During college a motorcycle accident left him hospitalised for three years and required more than twenty surgeries to save his leg. Vikram debuted with the romance En Kadhal Kanmani (1990) but waited nine years for his breakthrough, playing a rogue-turned-lover in Bala’s tragedy Sethu (1999). Commercial hits such as Dhill (2001), Gemini (2002), Dhool and Saamy (both 2003) followed, alongside critically acclaimed roles in Kasi (2001), Samurai (2002) and Pithamagan (2003), the last of which won him the National Film Award for Best Actor.

His highest-grossing releases are the romantic thriller I (2015) and Mani Ratnam’s two-part historical epic Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), in which he played the Chola prince Aditya Karikalan. More recently he starred in Pa. Ranjith’s Thangalaan, released in August 2024, and in S. U. Arun Kumar’s neo-noir action thriller Veera Dheera Sooran – Part 2, released on 27 March 2025. Vikram has also worked as a playback singer, recording songs for Kanthaswamy, Deiva Thirumagal and other films.

Basic Details

• Full Name: Kennedy John Victor
• Known As: Chiyaan Vikram
• Date of Birth: 17 April 1966
• Age: 60 (as of 2026)
• Birthplace: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Occupation: Actor, playback singer
• Years Active: 1990 – present
• Education: Montfort School, Yercaud; B.A. English Literature, Loyola College, Chennai
• Father: John Victor, alias Vinod Raj (actor)
• Mother: Rajeshwari (government officer, sub-collector)
• Spouse: Shailaja Balakrishnan (married 1992)
• Children: Akshita (born 1993) and actor Dhruv Vikram (born 1995)

Career Highlights

Major Awards

• National Film Award for Best Actor — Pithamagan (2003)
• Nine Filmfare Awards South, including Best Actor – Tamil for Kasi, Pithamagan, Anniyan, Raavanan, I and Ponniyin Selvan: II
• Four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
• Kalaimamani Award, Government of Tamil Nadu
• SIIMA and IIFA Best Actor awards for Ponniyin Selvan: II
• Listed in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 for 2016 and 2018