Aakash Baskaran

Trichy , Tamilnadu

Producer/Director

Biography

Aakash Bhaskaran hailing from Tiruchirappalli, Began his cinematic journey as an assistant director under Vignesh Shivan, working on films like Nanum Rowdy Dhaan before establishing himself as a film producer. Dawn Pictures & Production Ventures He founded Dawn Pictures, which has backed several high-profile projects: Idli Kadai (directed by and starring Dhanush), STR 49 (with Silambarasan), and Parasakthi, a political period drama featuring Sivakarthikeyan, Rana Daggubati, and Atharvaa, with a reported budget of ₹150–250 crore. Directorial Debut Aakash is making his directorial debut with Idhayam Murali, a coming-of-age romantic drama starring Atharvaa and Kayadu Lohar, produced under his own banner. Personal Life Aakash Bhaskaran married Dharaneeswari, who hails from a prominent family she is the daughter of business magnate C.K. Ranganathan (founder of CavinKare), and her lineage connects to the political legacy of M. Karunanidhi. This union brought substantial attention due to its high-profile nature and star-studded wedding. Their wedding served as a grand social moment, with top Tamil cinema figures like Dhanush, Sivakarthikeyan, Nayanthara, Anirudh Ravichander, and even Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister attending. It reflected both his rising stature in the film industry and strong ties with influential circles. Legal Controversy: TASMAC Scam Probe In May 2025, his residence and offices were raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) amid investigations into a ₹1,000 crore money laundering case linked to the TASMAC liquor scam. The Madras High Court intervened, terming the ED’s sealing and seizure actions unjustified, ordering the return of seized items, and staying further proceedings. The court further imposed fines on the ED for procedural lapses and contempt of court violations.