Known for playing supportive or villain roles, Ajay Rathnam is an Indian film actor who predominantly features in Tamil movies and television serials. He gained popularity for his role of a dead orphan who becomes immortal in the 1989 film Naalaiya Manithan, under the direction of Velu Prabhakaran. He has starred in several movies, as a freedom fighter in Indian (1996), a corrupt police officer in En Mana Vaanil (2002), and the father of Vijay`s character in Nanban. He has also featured in popular Tamil films like Jigarthanda, Singam, Rhythm, Singaravelan and Puli. He has even acted in Malayalam films like Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, Bharatchandran IPS, Hijack, and a few Telugu films such as Aadaalla Majaka, Auto Driver and Ee Abbai Chala Manchodu. He featured as the original Karuppannasamy Kadavul in the 1997 TV serial Marmadesam, and also in the role of Yogi in the popular serial Chithi in 1999. His other popular TV serials include Gokulathil Seethai, Uravugal Sangamam and Thiru Mangalyam. His 2017 movies include the romantic drama Senjittale En Kadhala as the protagonist`s father, followed by director Saran K Adwaithan`s film Kalathur Gramam starring Kishore and Yagna Shetty in lead roles. His other venture in the year includes the Tamil detective thriller film Thupparivaalan, under the direction of Mysskin, starring Vishal in the lead role along with an ensemble cast including Prasanna, Andrea Jeremiah and Simran. His 2019 release includes Goko Mako, directed by Arunkanth.