Mahendran is an Indian actor best known for his work in Tamil and Telugu cinema, with a career that began as a child prodigy.

Born on 23 January 1991 in Hyderabad, Telangana, Mahendran entered the film industry at the age of just three. Fondly called Master Mahendran in his early years, he went on to act in over 100 films across six languages, setting a record as one of India’s most prolific child actors. His debut came with K. S. Ravikumar’s film Nattamai (1994), and he quickly rose to fame, winning the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Child Artist twice (for Thaikulame Thaikulame in 1995 and Kumbakonam Gopalu in 1998) as well as the Nandi Award for Best Child Actor twice (for Devi in 1999 and Little Hearts in 2001).

Transitioning into adult roles, Mahendran’s breakthrough came with the film Vizha (2013), which established him as a serious performer beyond his child star image. He has since appeared in notable films such as Vindhai (2015) and played the younger version of Vijay Sethupathi’s antagonist Bhavani in Master (2021), earning praise for his intense performance. With a career spanning over two decades, Mahendran continues to evolve as an actor, balancing mainstream roles with character-driven performances, and remains a respected figure in South Indian cinema.