Napolean
Biography
Kumaresan Duraisamy (born 2 December 1963), professionally known as Napoleon, is an Indian actor, entrepreneur, and former politician. He served as the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment in the cabinet of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. As an actor, he has worked mainly in Tamil cinema, along with appearances in Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and English films.
Napoleon entered the Tamil film industry in 1991 with Bharathiraja’s rural drama Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu, where he played a powerful antagonist. The success of Ejamaan (1993) further strengthened his career, leading to notable villain roles in Malayalam and Telugu cinema as well. He received widespread acclaim for his performance in the Malayalam film Devasuram (1993).
In the same year, Napoleon transitioned to lead roles with Kizhakku Cheemayile, portraying an anti-hero, a performance that showcased his versatility. This was followed by Seevalaperi Pandi (1994), directed by Pratap Pothen, which emerged as a major success. His role in Ettupatti Rasa (1997) earned him the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize.
In recognition of his contributions to cinema, he received the Kalaimamani Award and the MGR Award in 1998. From 2000 to 2006, he served as the vice-president of the South Indian Film Artistes Association, reflecting his influence within the film industry.
After many years in cinema, Napoleon took on notable supporting roles in popular films such as Pokkiri (2007) and Dasavathaaram (2008). Although he later settled in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, he returned to acting at the request of industry veterans with Kidaari (2016). He subsequently played Gautham Karthik’s father in Muthuramalingam (2017).
Expanding his career internationally, Napoleon made his Hollywood debut in the supernatural thriller Devil’s Night: Dawn of the Nain Rouge (2019), followed by another American independent film, Christmas Coupon (2019). He also stated that he is the only Tamil actor to have acted in a Hollywood film that was entirely shot in the United States.
