Gemini Ganesan

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Wanted to become doctor but became actor Very few are aware that Gemini Ganesan wanted to become a doctor. After his graduation from Science he aspired to do M.B.B.S. from London but he had no finance. While he was wondering how to manage funds he met Alamelu, whose father assured to give him money but on condition of marrying Alamelu. In a craze to go to London, Gemini tied the nuptial knot but destiny had other plans. Soon after marriage Gemini Ganesan’s father-in-law expired; shattering all his dreams! Thus to make a living he joined Madras Christian College and became a lecturer. Later he quit the job when he got news job in the administrative section at Gemini Studios. Gemini Ganesan’s raise from administrative executive to Hero at Gemini studio While working at Gemini studio as administrative executive. Gemini was promoted to Costume section and then gradually to acting department. He was given minor roles. While Gemini did minor roles in Gemini films, he won rave reviews for his brilliant performance of a villain in the film Thai Ullam opposite R. S. Manohar. The movie was a huge hit and this motivated Gemini films to cast him as hero in their next film Manampol Mangalyam. In this film Gemini Ganesan for the first time played a dual role. The movie was super hit and Gemini became a star overnight!

Gemini Ganesan lead a colorful life Gemini Ganesan like Bollywood actor Dev Anand, was gifted with a charming and debonair personality that attracted many women. Hence despite being married to Alamelu at the age of 19 years in 1940 and with whom he lived under a single roof till she expired in 2005, Gemini Ganesan various illicit relations with his lady co-stars. When in 1947 he made his debut in Tamil film Miss Malini opposite Pushpavalli he fell in love and the two lived in relationship. They had two daughters Bollywood actress Rekha, and Radha, who acted in few Tamil films. In 1953 when he was cast as a hero for the first time in the film Manam Pola Mangalyam opposite Savitri, the two came close and love blossomed. The two stayed together in relationship and produced 2 children Vijayasamundeeswari and Ganesan’s only son Satheesh Kumar. At the age 78, Gemini had a fourth relation with another woman Julianna, who was 36 years. He developed the relation as his first wife Alamelu was old and could not satisfy his needs.

Gemini Ganesan was an excellent actor Though Gemini Ganesan did more of romantic films but still he did some remarkable films like Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam (1955) in which he had challenging role. In first half he is a charming prince but in second half he plays a horrifying looking man, who is cursed by the villain. It’s reported to look awful Gemini Ganesan spend over three hours to look really dreadful and after make-up when he came to shoot, he took everybody with surprise, including the film producer Narayana Iyengar. He looked so horrifying that nobody on set could believe their eyes that it was Gemini Ganesan! Ganesan's best performance is considered to be in his home production, Naan Avan Illai (1974) in which he played many roles as seducer of women. His other memorable roles include Maya Bazaar (1957), Magnum Opus Vanjikottai Valiban (1958), Kappalotiya Thamizhan (1961), Pennin Perumai (1960), Parthiban Kanavu (1960) which won the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film. He also worked opposite rival actor M. G. Ramachandran in Muharasi (1966) and Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959) alongside Sivaji Ganesan. The film was selected for the Afro-Asian Film Festival in 1960. Few of his last films Telugu film Rudraveena (1988), Avvai Shanmughi (1996). Gemini Ganesan had paired with several leading actresses like Anjali Devi, Pushpavalli, Padmini, Vyjayanthimala, Savithri, Devika, Vijayakumari, Saroja Devi, Rajasree, Kanchana, Jayanthi, K. R. Vijaya, Bharathi and Jayalalithaa