{{Short description|Indian actor and comedian}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Rahul Thatha | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Udayabhanu | birth_date = {{circa}} 1941{{Efn|He was aged 76 on 29 March 2017.<ref name=":0" />}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1969–1976<br />2010–present | known_for = ''Naanum Rowdy Dhaan'' (2015) }}
'''Rahul Thatha''' (born as '''Udayabhanu''') is an Indian actor and comedian who has predominantly appeared in Tamil-language films in comedy track sequences. He gained spotlight for his acting in ''Naanum Rowdy Dhaan'' (2015).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 August 2022 |title='Naanum Rowdy Dhaan' actor Udhayabanu reveals how Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan's fell in love |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/naanum-rowdy-dhaan-actor-udhayabanu-reveals-how-nayanthara-and-vignesh-shivans-fell-in-love/articleshow/93302193.cms |access-date=9 November 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
==Career== Udayabhanu aspired to enter the film industry at a young age after taking inspiration from films such as the ''James Bond'' film series during his childhood.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Nath |first=Parshathy J. |date=29 March 2017 |title=Sizzling in his seventies |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/seventy-six-and-still-a-charmer/article17730295.ece |access-date=9 November 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X|url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329133911/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/seventy-six-and-still-a-charmer/article17730295.ece |archive-date=29 March 2017 }}</ref> In 1965, he travelled from his hometown Nagapattinam to reach Vijayaraghavapuram in Chennai with an ambition of pursuing his passion in film acting. He made the decision to move away from his hometown at the age of 20.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=7 July 2017 |title="ரஜினி 'அண்ணே'னு கூப்பிடுவார். நான் அவரை 'குருவே'னு கூப்பிடுவேன்" - ஃப்ரெண்ட்ஷிப் பகிர்கிறார் ராகுல் தாத்தா #VikatanExclusive |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/94633-actor-rahul-thatha-interview |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=Vikatan |language=ta}}</ref> However, he was made to wait for a considerable period of time to receive callsheet from filmmakers, and he also reportedly did not have an influence of a cinematic background. He then decided to work in hotels on a contractual basis.<ref name=":0" /> After a stint working as an employee at various hotels, he received contract as a caterer at the film sets and shooting locations.<ref name=":0" /> Thatha apparently met veteran Indian actor M. G. Ramachandran during an occasion at the film shooting spot and since then M. G. Ramachandran became Udayabhanu's mentor, and Thatha also served as M. G. Ramachandran's chef for a brief stint.<ref name=":0" />
Udayabhanu subsequently received film acting opportunities starring alongside MGR in uncredited roles including ''Adimai Penn'' (1969), ''Rickshawkaran'' (1971), ''Idhayakkani'' (1975) and ''Uzhaikkum Karangal'' (1976).<ref>{{Cite web |last=காந்தி |first=உ சுதர்சன் |date=20 May 2020 |title=``நான் இப்போ இளைஞரணித் தலைவர்... எங்க தெரியுமா?!" -`நானும் ரவுடிதான்' ராகுல் தாத்தா |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/actor-rahul-thatha-shares-about-his-lockdown-days-experience |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=Vikatan |language=ta}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> However, he did not receive major roles in films afterwards and made a brief appearance in Selvaraghavan's directorial venture ''Aayirathil Oruvan'' (2010).<ref name=":0" /> He made a comeback in film acting in a full-fledged role after a long hiatus in A. R. Murugadoss's directorial venture ''Kaththi'' (2014), which had Vijay in the pivotal role. He eventually was called up for a photoshoot to feature in Dhanush's film ''Maari'' (2015).<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2019 |title=சினிமா வேண்டாம், ஊருக்குப் போகலாம் என்றபோது வந்த வாய்ப்பு: ராகுல் தாத்தா நெகிழ்ச்சி |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/165448-.html |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref> After Vignesh Shivan wanted to cast him in ''Naanum Rowdy Dhaan'', he asked Dhanush, who was also the producer of the film, to find someone else for the role in ''Maari''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=7 February 2019 |title='என் ஆதரவு ஓ.பன்னீர்செல்வத்துக்கே!'{{'}} – கொந்தளிக்கிறார் ராகுல் தாத்தா |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/80275-i-support-ops---says-naanum-rowdy-than-fame-rahul-thaaththa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200707055332/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/80275-i-support-ops---says-naanum-rowdy-than-fame-rahul-thaaththa |archive-date=7 July 2020 |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=Ananda Vikatan |language=ta}}</ref>
His performance and screen presence as a character named Rahul Thatha who is one of the protoganist's friends in ''Naanum Rowdy Dhaan'' received acclaim from audiences, and his breakthrough role eventually raked him film acting offers from filmmakers with his character name becoming his stage name.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2019 |title=இவர் டான் கிடையாது, டானுக்கு எல்லாம் டான் - ராகுல் தாத்தா |url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinemanews/2019/05/25141226/1243344/Rahul-Thatha-speaks-in-Gorilla-Audio-Launch.vpf |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=Maalaimalar |language=ta}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
==Filmography== ;Uncredited roles<ref name=":0" /> * ''Adimai Penn'' (1969) * ''Rickshawkaran'' (1971) * ''Idhayakkani'' (1975) * ''Uzhaikkum Karangal'' (1976) * ''Aayirathil Oruvan'' (2010) * ''Soodhu Kavvum'' (2013)
;Credited roles {{Colbegin}} * ''Velayudham'' (2011) * ''Kaththi'' (2014) * ''Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai'' (2015) * ''Naanum Rowdy Dhaan'' (2015) * ''Kavalai Vendam'' (2016) * ''Aranmanai 2'' (2016) * ''Muthina Kathirika'' (2016) * ''Remo'' (2016) * ''Ivan Thanthiran'' (2017) * ''Kurangu Bommai'' (2017) * ''Ippadai Vellum'' (2017) * ''Irumbu Thirai'' (2018) * ''Bodha'' (2018) * ''Ghajinikanth'' (2018) * ''Hero'' (2019) * ''Natpuna Ennanu Theriyuma'' (2019) * ''Gorilla'' (2019) * ''Dha Dha 87'' (2019) * ''Ayogya'' (2019) * ''Capmaari'' (2019) * ''Kuppathu Raja'' (2019) * ''En Sangathu Aala Adichavan Evanada'' (2020) * ''Irandam Kuththu'' (2020) * ''Pei Mama'' (2021) * ''Theerkadarishi'' (2023) * ''Lucky Man'' (2023) * ''The Road'' (2023) * ''Meippada Sei'' (2023) * ''Maargan'' (2025) {{Colend}}
===Television=== * ''Cooku with Comali season 3'' (2022)
===Music videos=== *''Avalukena''
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|10092410}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thatha, Rahul}} Category:Living people Category:Indian male film actors Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema Category:21st-century Tamil male actors Category:Indian male comedians Category:Tamil comedians Category:Year of birth missing (living people)