37 Facts About Gemini Ganesan

Ramasamy Ganesan, better known by his stage name Gemini Ganesan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema.

Gemini Ganesan was referred to as the Kaadhal Mannan for his romantic roles in films.

Gemini Ganesan was one of the few college graduates to enter the film industry then.

Gemini Ganesan made his debut with Miss Malini in 1947 but was noticed only after playing the villain in Thai Ullam in 1953.

However, unlike Sivaji Ganesan or Ramachandran, Gemini Ganesan was not a stage performer and was never involved in politics.

Gemini Ganesan was born in a Devadasi family as Ramasamy Ganesan in 1920 to Ramasamy Iyer and the Telugu Devadasi Gangammal.

When Gemini Ganesan was in the sixth grade, his grandfather died, and not long after that, his father too died.

Gemini Ganesan was instrumental in ensuring the passage through parliament of the Devadasi Abolition Act.

Gemini Ganesan heaped many insults on the two widowed women and ensured that they did not show their faces to any guests who visited the house.

Gemini Ganesan got an interview from the Indian Air Force.

Finally, Gemini Ganesan worked as a lecturer in the Chemistry department of Madras Christian College.

Gemini Ganesan debuted in film from the casting department of the Studio itself.

Gemini Ganesan was then cast as a hero for the first time with Manam Pola Mangalyam.

Gemini Ganesan starred in Kalathur Kannamma, which was the debut for Kamal Haasan, who would later become one of the leading actors in Tamil cinema.

Gemini Ganesan co-starred with rival actor M G Ramachandran in Mugarasi, which was their only film together.

Gemini Ganesan produced Naan Avan Illai, in which he played a womaniser.

Gemini Ganesan's other known works include Missiamma, School Master, Kanavane Kankanda Deivam, Meenda Sorgam, Shanti Nilayam, Vaazhkai Padagu, Karpagam, Ramu, Thamarai Nenjam and Punnagai.

Gemini Ganesan acted in a few Hindi films, most of which were remakes of his Tamil films.

Gemini Ganesan played the lead role in Devta, the Hindi version of his own Tamil film Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam.

Gemini Ganesan acted in the Ruritanian epic film Raj Tilak, based on his own Vanjikottai Valiban.

Gemini Ganesan later appeared in a guest role in Nazrana, the Hindi remake of his own Kalyana Parisu.

Later in his career, Gemini Ganesan switched to character roles, most notably the Telugu film Rudraveena, its Tamil remake Unnal Mudiyum Thambi, and Avvai Shanmughi, in which he played the role of an old man longing for an old maid.

Unlike Sivaji Ganesan and M G Ramachandran, Gemini Ganesan was not originally a theatre actor, thus making his acting "refreshingly credible".

Gemini Ganesan abstained from politics to the point of refusing a Rajya Sabha MP offer by Rajiv Gandhi.

Apart from acting, Gemini Ganesan was a businessman and invested heavily in real estate and property development.

Gemini Ganesan was skilled in various sports such as tennis, golf, and badminton, and captained his college's cricket team.

Gemini Ganesan has widely been praised for his versatility in acting, having performed a "wide range of roles".

Gemini Ganesan was "at his best" with Savitri, with whom he had acted in several successful films.

Gemini Ganesan took part in a World Tamil Conference in Kuala Lumpur, notably because he "loved Tamil language".

Lyricist Vairamuthu said: "'Gemini' Ganesan was not envious of anyone and promoted many actors by recommending them to producers and directors".

Gemini Ganesan did not acknowledge Rekha's paternity during her childhood.

Gemini Ganesan did not even attend her father's funeral in 2005.

Gemini Ganesan later married Savitri while still married to his first wife.

Savitri and Gemini Ganesan have two children: a daughter, Vijaya Chamundeswari, and Gemini Ganesan's only son, Satheesh Kumar.

Gemini Ganesan was survived by seven daughters and a son.

Dulquer Salmaan was cast as Ganesan, and Ashwin revealed that his portrayal of Gemini Ganesan would go beyond the physical resemblance, to better depict the character's emotional side.

Gemini Ganesan's funeral was not attended by his estranged daughter Rekha, who was then in Himachal Pradesh shooting a film.