Manikandan Rajesh is an Indian actor and entrepreneur born on 1 April 1988 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He comes from a prominent Telugu film family - his father Rajesh was a Telugu film actor (who passed away when Manikandan was 10), his mother Nagamani is a former dancer, his grandfather Amarnath was an actor, and his aunt Sri Lakshmi is a veteran comedian in Telugu cinema. His elder sister is the celebrated actress Aishwarya Rajesh. He did his schooling at Sree Vidyanikethan International School in Tirupati and studied at SVRS College. He made his television debut in the Tamil serial Aval on Vijay TV and went on to appear in Azhagu, Thai Veedu, Siva Manasula Sakthi, and Sondha Bandham. He and his then-wife Sofia Manikandan participated in Mr & Mrs Chinnathirai Season 3 on Vijay TV in 2021. He also appeared in the Tamil film Vaanam Kottattum (2020) and the films Chennai City Gangsters and Thamizhum Thanneerum (2025). He owns a North Indian and Chinese restaurant in Chennai named Desi Wong. He entered Bigg Boss Tamil Season 6 in October 2022 and was evicted in Week 12, finishing in 9th place. He and Sofia Manikandan later separated.

Younger brother of actress Aishwarya Rajesh; roles in Tamil serials Aval, Azhagu, and Sondha Bandham; appearance in Mr & Mrs Chinnathirai Season 3 (2021) with wife Sofia Manikandan; Tamil film Vaanam Kottattum (2020); Bigg Boss Tamil Season 6 contestant.

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