R. Sarathkumar began his career as a bodybuilder and journalist before entering films in the mid-1980s. His debut came with the Telugu film Samajamlo Sthree (1986), followed by his Tamil debut Kan Simittum Neram (1988). Initially cast in negative roles, he transitioned into lead roles and became one of Tamil cinema’s most bankable stars in the 1990s, winning multiple Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards South. His versatility allowed him to perform in action, drama, and family-oriented films, cementing his reputation as a “Supreme Star.”
Parallel to his film career, Sarathkumar entered politics in 1996 with the DMK, later joining AIADMK briefly, and eventually founding his own party, the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) in 2007. He served as a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha, 2001–2006) and as a Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (2011–2016). In 2024, he merged AISMK with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His dual career in cinema and politics has made him a prominent public figure in Tamil Nadu