Daniel Balaji

Balaji was born in Chennai to a Telugu father (from Chittoor) and a Tamil mother (from Arcot).{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kauJLtAVez4&t=256s | title=Villain Daniel Balaji First Telugu Interview | Actor Daniel Balaji about Actor Murali and Atharvaa | website=YouTube | access-date=8 May 2023 | archive-date=16 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516042736/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kauJLtAVez4&t=256s | url-status=live }} He studied a film direction course in Taramani film institute, Chennai. His mother and Murali's mother are sisters. His uncle is S. Siddalingaiah.{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/daniel-balaji-to-essay-the-character-of-a-don-news-kannada-njknwHjabia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913104532/http://www.sify.com/movies/daniel-balaji-to-essay-the-character-of-a-don-news-kannada-njknwHjabia.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2013 |title=Daniel Balaji to essay the character of a Don!|website=Sify |date=10 September 2013 |access-date=15 September 2013}} His nephew is Atharvaa.

In 1998, Balaji began his film career as a unit production manager on the sets of Kamal Haasan's unreleased Marudhanayagam and as an assistant director for the delayed Kamarasu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chennaimemes.in/bigil-villain-revealed-unexpected/|title="BIGIL" Villain REVEALED !! UNEXPECTED !! | Chennai Memes|date=21 September 2019|access-date=27 June 2021|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627222859/https://www.chennaimemes.in/bigil-villain-revealed-unexpected/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/daniel-balaji-an-acting-powerhouse-whose-unrestrained-talents-deserved-a-broader-canvas/article68009423.ece|title=Daniel Balaji, an acting powerhouse whose unrestrained talents deserved a broader canvas|first=Gopinath|last=Rajendran|date=30 March 2024|via=www.thehindu.com}}

Balaji's first role was in the television serial Chithi, where he played a character named Daniel.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/12/22/stories/2006122200460200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410041856/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/12/22/stories/2006122200460200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 April 2008 |title=Friday Review Chennai / Cinema : Living the role |date=22 December 2006 |work=The Hindu |access-date=15 September 2013}} After the success of the show, in his second serial Alaigal, director Sunder K. Vijayan, named him as Daniel Balaji based on his own character in Chithi.

His first film in Tamil was April Maadhathil, followed by a role in Kaadhal Kondein.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/06/18/stories/2009061851120500.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130910130608/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/06/18/stories/2009061851120500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 September 2013 |title=Metro Plus Chennai / People : Villain to hero |date=18 June 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=15 September 2013}} His first major role was in Kaakha Kaakha as a police officer alongside Suriya, who played the leading role. The film, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, was about a squad of policemen fighting organized crime in Chennai. Balaji followed this up with another major role in Menon's next film, that of the antagonist Amudhan in the blockbuster film Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu. The film starred Kamal Haasan and was a police procedural focusing on a series of murders. Balaji's portrayal of both these roles received praise.

His next film, Polladhavan, was also successful.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/12/11/stories/2007121150090500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213151235/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/12/11/stories/2007121150090500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 December 2007 |title=Metro Plus Chennai / People : Bad, and loving it |date=11 December 2007 |work=The Hindu |access-date=15 September 2013}} He also acted as one of the villains in the Telugu film Chirutha and followed this up by playing the hero in Muthirai, produced by Vision Jeeva Studios.

Balaji made his debut in Malayalam cinema through Black. Later, he was cast the villain in Bhagavan (opposite Mohanlal) and Daddy Cool (opposite Mammootty).

Daniel Balaji died of a heart attack in Chennai on 29 March 2024, at the age of 48.{{cite news |title=Tamil actor Daniel Balaji passes away due to heart attack |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Mar/29/tamil-actor-daniel-balaji-passes-away-due-to-heart-attack |access-date=29 March 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=29 March 2024 |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/tamil-actor-daniel-balaji-48-dies-of-heart-attack-in-chennai-2521028-2024-03-30|title=Tamil actor Daniel Balaji, 48, dies of heart attack in Chennai|publisher=India Today}}

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Category:1975 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema

Category:Male actors from Chennai