Vishnu Vishal, born Vishal Kudawla on 17 July 1984 in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, is an acclaimed Indian actor and film producer known for his versatile performances in Tamil cinema. He grew up in a middle-class family; his father, Ramesh Kudawla, is a retired DGP of the Tamil Nadu Police, and his mother is Asha Kudawla. He has an elder sister, Anchal, and a younger brother, Rudra.

A sports enthusiast from childhood, Vishnu excelled in cricket, representing Tamil Nadu in the TNCA league and even playing for India’s Under-19 team. However, a severe leg injury ended his cricketing aspirations. During his recovery, he developed a passion for films, which led him to pursue acting.

He made his acting debut with Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (2009), directed by Suseenthiran, undergoing rigorous training to portray a kabaddi player authentically. The role earned him the Edison Award for Best Debut Actor. He followed it with films like Bale Pandiya (2010), Drohi (2010), Neerparavai (2012), Mundasupatti (2014), Jeeva (2014), and the sci-fi hit Indru Netru Naalai (2015). His career-defining performance came in the psychological thriller Ratsasan (2018), which became a modern Tamil classic.

In 2015, he launched his production house, VV Studioz, producing films such as Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016), Katha Nayagan (2017), and FIR (2022).

Vishnu married Rajini Natraj in 2010, with whom he has a son, Aryan, before divorcing in 2018. He later married badminton champion Jwala Gutta in April 2021, and the couple welcomed a daughter, Mira, in 2025.

Balancing commercial entertainers with content-driven cinema, Vishnu Vishal continues to be one of Tamil cinema’s most bankable and respected stars, admired for his dedication, discipline, and ability to reinvent himself on screen