Soundarya Rajinikanth

For those starring her father Rajinikanth, she designed the title sequences. She became a film producer with Goa (2010) and made her debut as a film director with Kochadaiyaan (2014).

• Birth Name — Shaku Bai Rao Gaikwad • Born — 20 September 1984 • Birthplace — Madras, Tamil Nadu, India (present-day Chennai) • Years Active — 2002–present • Children — 2 • Occupation — Graphic designer, film producer and film director • Father — Rajinikanth • Mother — Latha Rajinikanth • Relatives — Aishwarya Rajinikanth (sister); see Rajinikanth family

Soundarya Rajinikanth, born as Shaku Bai Rao Gaikwad did her childhood education in the Ashram Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Velachery, Chennai. Ocher StudiosIn 2005, Soundarya founded the visual effects studio Ocher Studios, and their first project was Chandramukhi the same year. In 2008, Ocher Studios signed an agreement with Warner Bros Entertainment to partner up in producing and distributing Tamil films. Her debut as producer was Goa (2010). Soundarya's directorial debut was supposed to be Sultan: The Warrior, a 3D animated film featuring the voice of her father Rajinikanth. Despite heavy pre-production, including a teaser being released, the film was dropped. She instead directed the motion capture film Kochadaiiyaan, also starring Rajinikanth. Through Kochadaiiyaan, Soundarya earned the distinction of becoming the first woman to direct her father in a feature film. At the NDTV Indian of the Year awards 2014, she was honoured for "Technical Innovation In Film". In 2016, Soundarya worked on the pre-production of a film titled Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam with Dhanush, Kajal Aggarwal and Manjima Mohan, but the film was later dropped. It was revived in 2023 without Soundarya's involvement. Her next directorial venture was Velaiilla Pattadhari 2. In 2018 Soundarya started a production company called May6 Entertainment. In 2021, she founded Hoote, a social media platform that is based on voice messages. In 2025, Soundarya founded a new production company Zion Films.

Soundarya is the younger daughter of actor Rajinikanth and his wife Latha. She has one elder sister, Aishwarya Rajinikanth. Soundarya married Ashwin Ramkumar, an industrialist, on 3 September 2010 at Rani Meyyammai Hall in Chennai. The couple has a son born on 6 May 2015. In September 2016, Soundarya revealed that she and her husband had filed for divorce by mutual consent due to irreconcilable differences. In July 2017, the couple officially divorced. Soundarya married Vishagan Vanangamudi, an actor and businessman, on 11 February 2019 at Leela Palace in Chennai. Their son was born in 2022.

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1999 — Padayappa — Graphic designer — Title sketch only • 2002 — Baba — Title sequence only • 2005 — Chandramukhi • Anbe Aaruyire • Sivakasi • Majaa • Sandakozhi • 2007 — Chennai 600028 • Sivaji — Title sequence only • 2010 — Goa — Producer • 2014 — Kochadaiiyaan — Director, Graphic designer • 2017 — Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 — Director • 2026 — With Love — Producer

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 2008 — Kuselan — Herself — Cameo appearance in the song "Cinema Cinema" • 2014 — Kochadaiiyaan — Dancer — Uncredited appearance in the song "Engae Pogutho Vaanam"