# Arun Pandian

Arun Pandian is an Indian actor, film director, film producer and politician who predominately works in Tamil films. He began his career as an actor as part of the critically acclaimed film Oomai Vizhigal (1986). After retiring from acting, he took the post of chief producer for the London-based Ayngaran International, a film production and distribution company, however, he later started his own production and distribution company A&P Groups.
He is the secretary of South Indian Film Financiers Association (Siffa) and he is also the president of South Indian Film Exporters Association (Sifea).

## Politics

He became a Member of Legislative Assembly in 2011 after contesting in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election as a Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) candidate for the constituency of Peravurani. On 21 February 2016, Arun Pandian and nine other MLAs tendered their resignations prior to the Assembly election in the state. On 25 February 2016, he joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in the presence of party general secretary and the then Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa.

## Family and education

Arun Pandian was born on 13 July 1958 as the son of retired Lieutenant colonel D. P. Chellaiah and resides in Tirunelveli. His late brother C. Durai Pandian directed the film Uzhiyan (1994) with Arun Pandian starring in the lead role. He has three daughters, named Kavitha Pandian, Kirana Pandian, and Keerthi Pandian. He holds a Bachelors in economics from Madras University. His daughter Keerthi Pandian and his niece Ramya Pandian are working as actresses.

## Filmography
### Tamil films

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | Ilanjodigal | | |
| 1985 | Chidambara Rahasiyam | Arun | |
| 1986 | Oomai Vizhigal | Vijay | |
| 1987 | Vilangu | Babu | |
| 1987 | Oor Kuruvi | Vasanth | |
| 1990 | Inaindha Kaigal | Major David Kumar | |
| 1991 | Adhikari | Duraipandi | Dubbed into Telugu as Customs Officer |
| 1992 | Kottai Vaasal | Velu, Sendhoorapandi | Dual roles |
| 1993 | Mutrugai | Balakrishnan | Dubbed into Telugu as Lakshyam |
| 1994 | Uzhiyan | Thilakan | Dubbed into Telugu as Indian Citizen |
| 1995 | Asuran | Prasad | Dubbed into Telugu as Commando |
| 1995 | Raja Muthirai | Rajkumar | |
| 1996 | Thayagam | Bayilvan | Extended Guest Appearance |
| 1996 | Aavathum Pennale Azhivathum Pennale | Anthony | Dubbed into Telugu as Adhikari |
| 1996 | Thuraimugam | Johnny | |
| 1997 | Roja Malare | Arun | |
| 1997 | Kadavul | Thamizharasan | Dubbed into Telugu as Shakti |
| 1998 | Aasai Thambi | Vinodh | |
| 1998 | Urimai Por | ACP Raja Yesu Mohamed | |
| 1999 | Sivan | Alex | |
| 2000 | Independence Day | SP Subhash | |
| 2000 | Veeranadai | Kottaisamy | |
| 2000 | Puratchikkaaran | Anbu | |
| 2001 | Rishi | Sathyan | |
| 2001 | Kaatrukkenna Veli | LTTE soldier | |
| 2002 | Devan | Alex Devan (Jackson) | Also director |
| 2003 | Vikadan | Inspector Selvakumar | Also director |
| 2006 | Thirupathi | ACP Murali | |
| 2006 | Kovai Brothers | Dr. Gnanasekaran | |
| 2008 | Inba | Mala Ganesan | |
| 2008 | Madurai Ponnu Chennai Paiyan | Visa's uncle | |
| 2010 | Thambi Arjuna | Chief Minister | |
| 2010 | Virudhagiri | Franklin Williams | |
| 2015 | Savaale Samaali | Himself | Cameo appearance |
| 2021 | Anbirkiniyal | Sivam | |
| 2022 | Aadhaar | Yusuf | |
| 2022 | Trigger | SI Sathya Moorthy | |
| 2024 | Athomugam | Indrajith | |
| 2024 | Demonte Colony 2 | Dr. Richard | |

### Films in other languages

| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
| 1992 | Prema Shikharam | Anthony | Telugu | Dubbed into Tamil as Rojakkal Unakkaga |
| 1993 | Dhadi | Sivaji | Telugu | Dubbed into Tamil as Police Attack |
| 1993 | Nakshathra Poratam | Bhagath | Telugu | Dubbed into Tamil as Nakshatra Poratam |
| 1994 | Anokha Premyudh | Anthony | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Neram | Shankar Dada | Telugu | |
| 1994 | Dongala Rajyam | Surendran | Telugu | Dubbed into Tamil as Chinna Durai Periya Durai |
| 1994 | Nyaya Rakshana | | Telugu | |
| 1996 | Aayudha | Daniel | Kannada | Dubbed into Tamil as Thilagavathi CBI Dubbed into Telugu as CID |
| 1997 | Hai Bangalore | Vasudev | Kannada | Dubbed into Tamil as Time Bomb Dubbed into Telugu as Political Encounter |
| 1997 | Jackie Chan | ACP Simha | Kannada | Dubbed into Tamil and Telugu as Jackie Chan |
| 1997 | Akka | Inspector Ajay | Kannada | Dubbed into Tamil as Commissioner Ajay |
| 1997 | Central Jail | Prathap | Kannada | |
| 1997 | Lady Commissioner | Suraj | Kannada | Dubbed into Tamil as Kiran I.P.S |
| 1997 | Lady Tiger | | Kannada | Dubbed into Tamil as Lady Tiger |
| 1997 | Yuva Shakthi | Yuvaraj | Kannada | Dubbed into Tamil as Pulanaivu Thurai |
| 1998 | Amar Akbar Anthony | Anthony | Kannada | Dubbed into Tamil as Rowdy Vamsam Dubbed into Telugu as Rowdy Vamsham |
| 1998 | King | Chandrahasa | Kannada | |
| 1999 | Naga Sakthi | Dhanush | Telugu | Dubbed into Tamil as Naga Devi |
| 1999 | Police | Vijay | Telugu | Dubbed into Tamil as No. 1 Police |
| 1999 | The Killer | Gowda | Kannada | Dubbed into Tamil as Kakki Chattaya Karuppu Chattaya |
| 2000 | Galate Aliyandru | | Kannada | |
| 2000 | Independence Day | SP Subhash | Kannada | |
| 2000 | Nagulamma | Veeranna | Telugu | Dubbed into Tamil as Nagathamman |
| 2000 | Ee Tharam Nehru | CBI Officer Ranjith Kumar | Telugu | |
| 2000 | Sradha | Dr. Lucifer Munna | Malayalam | Dubbed into Tamil as Dhool Police |
| 2001 | Orey Thammudu | | Telugu | |
| 2003 | Daali | | Kannada | |
| 2005 | Dhairyam | Police inspector | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Challenge | Arun | Telugu | |

### As producer

| Year | Movie | Language |
| 1988 | Senthoora Poove | Tamil |
| 1992 | Kaviya Thalaivan | Tamil |
| 2002 | Devan | Tamil |
| 2003 | Vikadan | Tamil |
| 2008 | Aegan | Tamil |
| 2009 | Sarvam | Tamil |
| 2009 | Peranmai | Tamil |
| 2009 | Villu | Tamil |
| 2010 | Angadi Theru | Tamil |
| 2010 | Nandalala | Tamil |
| 2012 | Murattu Kaalai | Tamil |
| 2015 | Savaale Samaali | Tamil |
| 2017 | Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal | Tamil |
| 2018 | Junga | Tamil |
| 2021 | Anbirkiniyaal | Tamil |

### As distributor

* Sakka Podu Podu Raja (2017)
* Velaikkaran (2017)
* Maayavan (2017)
* Sarkar (2018)
* Viswasam (2019)
* Romeo (2024)