Avinash(I)

Avinash Yelandur is a distinguished Kannada actor renowned for his commanding screen presence and versatility across supporting, antagonistic, and lead roles in over 500 films spanning Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Malayalam cinema. Originally from Yelandur in Mysuru district, he pursued a master's degree in English literature from the University of Mysore and began his career as an English lecturer at institutions like the National Institute of Engineering in Mysuru and MES College in Bengaluru, while actively participating in theatre during his student days.

Drawn to the stage, he honed his skills through workshops with British director Peter Coe and later trained at London's Mermaid Theatre before returning to India to work with theatre groups like B. Jayashree's Spandana and Shankar Nag's Sanketh, staging acclaimed plays such as Indrajala, Huliya Neralu, and Ondu Lokada Kathe. His film debut came in G.V. Iyer's award-winning Madhvacharya portraying the saint as a young man, followed by a mainstream breakthrough in Shivarajkumar's hit Samyuktha, which opened doors in South Indian cinema.

He earned widespread acclaim for powerful performances in films like Dweepa opposite Soundarya, Mathadana, Apthamitra, Chandramukhi, Aaptharakshaka, Chinnari Mutta, Singaaravva, and recent works such as RX Suri, Mounam, and Suraari, often playing complex negative characters while securing multiple Karnataka State Film Awards, Filmfare honors, and jury mentions. Married to actress and presenter Malavika Avinash, he has also contributed to television with the serial Mayamruga, mentored young actors through workshops, and supported rural development and sports initiatives in his hometown, establishing himself as a multifaceted pillar of Kannada arts.