After completing visual communications studies and later assisting Action King Arjun, Vishal had debuted as a hero with Chellame released in 2004. The movie very much belonged to Bharath who played a negative role, and Reema Sen who was a revelation with her performance and glam. Little did people expect Vishal to make it big in the industry, but all it took was one big hit to launch him firmly in the industry.

Lingusamy's trust in Vishal resulted in Sandakozhi - one of the most loved action - mass entertainers, that marked the arrival of Vishal the action hero. The movie was not just a blockbuster in TN, but also in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the actor who perfectly realized his strengths, went on to churn out back to back hits with Thimiru and Thamirabharani, which established him as the next action hero after Arjun in Tamil cinema.

While catering to family audience with Thamirabharani, he could also alternate and entertain youth with a Theeraadha Vilaiyaattu Pillai. Vishal could very well transform into a six pack sporting tough cop of a Sathyam or Vedi or an army officer of Irumbuthirai, or can be a revelation with his dedicated performance as the squint eyed thief in Bala's Avan Ivan.

If Bala was the first to completely extract and expose the performer in Vishal with his stunning act in Avan Ivan (the Navarasas sequence in the movie stands testimony to his histrionics), Suseendhiran helped him present another dimension with Pandiya Naadu, where he played an innocent, stammering youngster who waits and claims his revenge.

The actor has been constantly striving to excel not just before the camera, but behind the camera as well, as he is a strong pillar of the Tamil film industry unions, leading the Nadigar Sangam as well the Producers council, and has displayed intense efforts for the welfare of actors and producers. With the actor expected to get another term at the office, in the professional front too, the actor has his plate full with an interesting lineup of films like Sundar C's Action, Mysskin's Thupparivalan 2, Irumbuthirai 2 and many more movies, that will sure be an action feast for audience.

Here's wishing actor Vishal - the quintessential action hero, a very Happy birthday!