Who Is Aakash Bhaskaran? The Tamil Film Producer Under ED’s Radar
- Bindhiyasha
- May 17
- 2 min read
Aakash Bhaskaran, a rising name in the Tamil film industry and owner of Dawn Pictures, has come under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) amid allegations of money laundering linked to the ₹1000 crore TASMAC liquor scam. The young producer has made headlines not only for his high-profile projects but now also for the financial controversies surrounding his production ventures.
Aakash Bhaskaran: From Assistant Director to Big-Budget Producer
Hailing from Tiruchirapalli (Trichy), Tamil Nadu, Aakash comes from a business family—his father runs a well-known jewellery store in the city. After completing his studies, Aakash pursued his passion for cinema by working as an assistant director under acclaimed filmmaker Vignesh Shivan.
In 2024, Aakash made headlines for his grand wedding to Dharaneeswari, daughter of CK Ranganathan, the chairman of Cavinkare Pvt Ltd. Dharaneeswari also comes from an influential political lineage—her mother, Thenmozhi, is the granddaughter of late M Karunanidhi, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief. Adding to the illustrious family ties, Dharaneeswari’s brother, Manu Ranjith, is married to actor Vikram’s daughter, Akshitha.
Their wedding was a star-studded affair with top Kollywood celebrities like Dhanush, Silambarasan TR, Sivakarthikeyan, Nayanthara, and Atharva Murali in attendance. Notably, the event saw rivals Dhanush and Silambarasan TR sharing the dance floor, a rare sight that grabbed media attention.
Dawn Pictures and the High-Stakes Projects
Shortly after his wedding, Aakash founded Dawn Pictures, positioning it as a major player in Tamil cinema by backing multiple high-budget films simultaneously, with an estimated combined production value of ₹400-550 crores.
His ambitious projects include:
Idli Kadai:Directed by Dhanush, who also stars in the film alongside Nithya Menen, Sathyaraj, Parthiban, and Shalini Pandey. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 1.
Parashakti:A ₹200 crore project directed by Sudha Kongara, starring Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela.
STR 49:Featuring Silambarasan TR, directed by Ramkumar Balakrishnan, with Santhanam, Kayadu Lohar, and VTV Ganesh in key roles.
Aakash is also stepping into the director's chair with Idhayam Murali, starring Atharvaa Murali, Kayadu Lohar, Preity Mukhundhan, Natty Subramaniam, Niharika NM, and Thaman S.
ED Scrutiny and Allegations
On May 16, the ED raided Aakash Bhaskaran's residence and offices as part of a broader crackdown on the alleged money laundering network connected to TASMAC’s ₹1000 crore liquor scam. Investigators suspect that a significant portion of the illicit money was funneled into the Tamil film industry through Dawn Pictures and other associated ventures.
The probe has cast a shadow over his film empire, with authorities closely examining his financial transactions, funding sources, and alleged links to influential political circles in Tamil Nadu.
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