•There are several actors who are seriously underrated and some are famous for their villain role, but truly deserves leading main role in Tamil cinema.
1)Vijay Antony
•Antony is recognised as a music director,but as an actor he is still underrated.
•Best performance-Naan, Thimiru Pudichavan, Raththam, Pichaikkaran
2)Vijay Sethupathi
•His Antagonist Role like Vikram Vedha, He brought a unique, relaxed intensity to the character, effortlessly blending charm with raw power to create a modern cinematic icon turning a villainous role into a high-point of his career.
•He is recognised for his method acting skills, effortlessly transition between anti-hero roles, comedic characters, and intense dramatic performances.
•As a protagonist, he deserves good recognition.
3)Karthi Sivakumar
•When compared to his brother Suriya Sivakumar, He is underrated and deserves recognition
•Best Performance-Paiyya, Naan Mahaan Alla, Siruthai, Theeran Adhigaaram ondru, Kaithi and the fantastical experimental movie Kashmora.
4)Vishal
•Vishal is generally considered an underrated or underappreciated actor in Tamil cinema,often overlooked despite his strong screen presence and success in action-packed roles.
•His Best Performance-:-Avan Ivan and Thupparivalan movie.
•Avan Ivan-He received praise for his intense unconventional role, which caused physical strain and was described as his toughest performance.
•Thupparivaalan movie-He was praised for his complex portrayal of an investigator role, moving away from typical commercial heroes, with this Mysskin film becoming a major career highlight.
5)Arun Vijay
•Another actor who is known for villain role.
•In Yennai Arindhaal movie,his performance as a stylish and ruthless villain opposite Ajith Kumar was widely acclaimed, acting as a major turning point in his career.
•Arun Vijay’s recent protagonist roles have been widely appreciated yet remain underrated and deserve more mainstream recognition. Since 2015, he has shown strong versatility, Movies like Kutram 23 and Thadam.
6)Siddharth
7)Jayam Ravi
•How can we forget this actor? What a versatile actor his movies choice Bogan, Tik Tik Tik, Engeyum Kadhal, Dhaam Dhoom, Peranmaai, Miruthan and Aadhi Bhagavan.
•Underrated actor,be it emotional,action or comedy,diverse role he nails perfectly.
8)Arya
•He is capable of delivering strong performances in varied roles (Naan Kadavul, Madrasapattinam, Sarpatta Parambarai, Raja Rani, Arrambam and Teddy), despite often being overshadowed by his commercial script choices or co-stars.
•He also played villain roles in movies like Enemy (2021), which features an iconic face-off with Vishal, and the Malayalam film The Great Father (2017).
9)Jivva
•Jivva is also considered an underrated actor in Tamil cinema despite possessing immense talent and handling romance,action and experimental roles. His performances are often overshadowed by more mainstream actors.
•He is known for being a natural performer who can navigate complex demanding characters
•His Best Performance-Raam, Katradhu Tamizha, Ko (2011), Mugamoodi (2012), Singam Puli and Keerthi Chakra (Malayalam film),which showcased his acting process.
•While some may disagree, he has the potential to become a superstar in the Tamil film industry. However, these days, directors are not utilising him effectively with strong scripts.
10)Santhanu Bhagyaraj
•Santhanu is also considered an underrated or under utilized actor. While he is recognised for his good dancing skills and screen presence, His career has not matched the high level stardom expected of him.
•Notable Performance-Sakkarakatti, Mupparimanam, Blue Star (2024 ) and Angel John (Malayalam Film)
11)Atharvaa Murali
•Despite showing promise early in his career and choosing diverse, script-oriented roles, he is frequently seen as a "wasted potential" in Kollywood.
•His Notable films like Imaikkaa Nodigal. The film allowed him to explore a intense, action-oriented role, marking a departure from his previous work.
12)Ashok Selvan
•Ashok Selvan is widely regarded as an underrated actor, known for strong performance in versatile role including Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal.
•He may not be widely recognised, but he has been active since 2014.
•Even though people may know these actors, but hardly anyone talks about them.