1. Daniel Balaji, born as T. C. Balaji on December 2, 1975, was an Indian actor known for his impactful performances in Tamil and Malayalam cinema.

2. Balaji was born in Chennai to a Telugu father and a Tamil mother.

3. He studied film direction at the Taramani film institute in Chennai.

4. His uncle, Kannada film director Siddalingaiah, was the father of Tamil actor Murali.

5. Balaji’s nephew, Atharvaa, made his acting debut in the film “Baana Kaathadi”.

6. Balaji began his film career as a unit production manager on the sets of Kamal Haasan’s unreleased film “Marudhanayagam”.

7. His first notable role was in the television serial “Chithi”, where he portrayed a character named Daniel.

8. He gained prominence with his role as a police officer in “Kaakha Kaakha” alongside Suriya. The film, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, focused on a squad of policemen combating organized crime in Chennai.

9. Balaji’s portrayal of the antagonist Amudhan in the blockbuster film “Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu” also received acclaim.

10. He extended his talent to the Telugu film industry and made his Malayalam cinema debut with “Black”.

11. Daniel Balaji’s impactful contributions to cinema, from his debut to memorable roles in films like “Kaakha Kaakha” and “Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu”, will forever be remembered by fans and colleagues in the film industry.

12. Tragically, he passed away due to a heart attack on March 29, 2024, at the age of 48.