Her story stands as one of resilience, navigating two marriages, motherhood, and a creative career while earning respect for her choices.
Published: September 20, 2025 8:05 AM IST
Superstar Rajinikanth’s younger daughter, Soundarya Rajinikanth, has always attracted attention not only for her famous lineage but also for her personal choices. Born on September 20, she is a graphic designer, filmmaker, and a woman who has faced personal challenges with remarkable grace. Over the past 18 years, she has worked on more than 13 films in the design space, contributing to titles like Padayappa, Chandramukhi, Shivakasi, Chennai 600028, Kuselan, Goa, and the ambitious animated project Kochadaiiyaan.
Though she made a brief on-screen appearance in P. Vasu’s Kuselan song Cinema Cinema, Soundarya’s career has largely been behind the camera. In 2017, she turned director with Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 (VIP 2), featuring her then brother-in-law, Dhanush. While the film did not become a box-office success, critics praised her for a confident debut.
What happened in Soundarya’s first marriage?
Soundarya married businessman Ashwin Ramkumar, Managing Director of KSV Developers, in 2010. The wedding was a star-studded affair, befitting Rajinikanth’s daughter. In 2015, the couple welcomed their son, Ved Krishna.
But soon after, cracks appeared in their relationship. According to reports, irreconcilable differences caused strain. One speculation was that Ashwin was unhappy with Soundarya continuing to use her maiden surname “Rajinikanth” after marriage. Neither side confirmed these claims, but by July 2017, the marriage had ended in divorce, with Soundarya retaining custody of Ved.
How did she find love again?
Two years after her divorce, Soundarya met businessman and actor Vishagan Vanangamudi. Vishagan, a second-generation entrepreneur, is the Executive Director of Apex Laboratories Private Limited, one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies. Educated at Bradford University in the UK, he has also dabbled in Tamil cinema with films like A Love Story, Vanjagar Ulagam, and The Only One.
Soundarya and Vishagan tied the knot on February 11, 2019. This union stood out for a deeply emotional reason. In an interview, Soundarya recalled that Vishagan insisted Ved be part of the wedding rituals, saying he would not marry her otherwise. His acceptance of Ved, despite him being Soundarya’s son from her first marriage, touched many hearts and earned Vishagan widespread admiration.
What about her life today?
In September 2022, Soundarya and Vishagan welcomed their son, Veer Rajinikanth Vanangamudi. Today, the couple is raising both Ved and Veer, often sharing heartwarming family moments on social media. From posting playful pictures with her children to celebrating milestones, Soundarya balances her family role with her professional commitments with ease.
Her story reflects resilience, embracing second chances, standing strong after setbacks, and choosing love and respect over societal judgments.
Highlights:
- Soundarya Rajinikanth has worked as a graphic designer on 13+ films and debuted as a director with VIP 2.
- Her first marriage with Ashwin Ramkumar ended in 2017, after which she retained custody of her son Ved.
- She married Vishagan Vanangamudi in 2019, who insisted Ved be part of their wedding, earning him praise for his acceptance.
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