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Early life

He started as an Assistant Director in the film Vedikkai Manidhargal. He was even given an opportunity to assist in dialogue in the name of R. Moorthy. After this, he joined as an assistant of K. Bhagyaraj. At that time, he used to make around Rs 6000 a month by dubbing for various artists. He made his first film appearance in Ranuva Veeran (1981). Then, he played the role of a postman in his mentor's Dhavani Kanavugal (1984).

Apart from direction and acting, he produces films. He wrote a book named "Kirukkkalgal" – Thamizh Kavithai Thoguppu which was released by M. Karunanidhi. He runs a charitable trust named "R. Parthiepan Manithaneya Mandram".

Career

In 1989, he made his directorial debut through Pudhiya Paadhai, starring himself as an inhuman ruffian who gets reformed by his rape victim. The film was released to critical acclaim and emerged a box office success, while also winning several accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer. In early 1990, he directed and acted in Pondatti Thevai, which failed at the box office. In the end of 1990, he appeared in lead roles in R. Sundarrajan's Thalattu Padava and in the devotional film Engal Swamy Ayyappan. In 1991, he starred in S. P. Muthuraman's Thaiyalkaran. In 1992, he starred in Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren, co-starring with Suman Ranganathan and Mohini. He then directed and acted in Sugamana Sumaigal, a clean family drama, which failed at the box office. In 1993, to recoup the financial losses, he directed and acted in the commercial film Ulle Veliye. Ayyappa Prasad of The New Indian Express labelled the film as "flesh and bore". Despite negative reviews, the film has been declared a super hit at the box office. He then directed and acted in 1994 in Sarigamapadani, co-starring with Roja and Sangita and the next year in Pullakuttikaran, co-starring with Sangita and Urvashi. In 1996, he acted in the comedy film Tata Birla.

He won Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for Bharathi Kannamma. He played a man from a lower caste who a zamindari falls in love with. Parthipan, the actor, director and producer, loves breaking the conventional rules set by commercial cinema. He has taken roles that other heroes would carefully avoid, directed films that his critics found to be arty. The actor has remained uncompromising and stuck to his principles in spite of some not-so-memorable roles in the past. After the critically acclaimed and award-winning films such as Housefull and Azhagi, audience and the trade have acknowledged the maker's undisputed talents. His 1999 Tamil film Housefull won the same award.
In 2001, he launched an ambitious directorial project titled Yelelo, with A. R. Rahman composing four songs for the film. Despite having a high-profile launch and completion of a few filming schedules, the venture was shelved. Similarly, he launched 2 films simultaneously titled Rowdy and Adi after the failure of Kudaikul Mazhai. Both projects were abandoned.

The film Aayirathil Oruvan, in which he portrayed a Chola King, won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil.
His previously released movie Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam becomes Parthiepan's first directorial film in which he does not feature in the lead role. The film, which has a tagline reading "a film without a story?", began production in late 2013 and released on 15 August 2014 and received positive reviews from all the sides and was a huge blockbuster hit in the box office. In 2015, He portrayed a cop in Massu Engira Masilamani and played a comedian villain in Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. He acted in supporting role in the Maaveeran Kittu (2016) and Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga (2017). He appeared in Kannada movie Dada Is Back (2017), which he played in lead role as undisputed king of the underworld in Bengaluru. Followed by a comedy film, Podhuvaga Emmanasu Thangam (2017). In 2018, he acted in Bilingual Malayam-Tamil drama movie Kinar.