Director Kasthuri Raja, father of actor Dhanush and director Selvaraghavan, recently opened up about Dhanush's original name, how he adopted the screen name Dhanush, and why he chose to include his father's name in his official identity, calling it a gesture that continues to fill him with pride.

Speaking at an event in Chennai recently, Kasthuri Raja said, "I named my son Venkatesh Prabhu, but he later chose the name Dhanush. He never used initials. Once, at an airport, I heard an announcement calling out 'Dhanush K Raja'. The 'K Raja' stands for my name, Kasthuri Raja. That's how a child honours his parent—not by merely using an initial, but by carrying the parent's name itself."

He was further brimming with pride as he continued, "Wherever Dhanush is, I am there too, because he chose to be known as Dhanush K Raja. In some places, people even overlook 'Dhanush' and simply call him 'K Raja'. That fills me with immense pride."

However, Kasthuri Raja also said Dhanush's mother deserves more credit than him for bringing him and his siblings up. "Until he became an actor, it was his mother who worked tirelessly to help him reach where he is today. I don't want to take credit for his upbringing—that credit belongs entirely to his mother, Vijayalakshmi."

Kasthuri Raja then went back in time to recollect how his wife ensured all four of their children never missed out on education, as he was becoming a filmmaker. "We have four children, and there was a time when all four had to go to school at the same time. We couldn't afford household help then. Someone had to get them ready, drop them at school, take them their lunch, and pick them up afterwards. These responsibilities belong to both parents, but my work often kept me away. It was Vijayalakshmi who handled everything with dedication and sacrifice. Her hard work and perseverance played a huge role in shaping our children," he recollected.

Kasthuri Raja, along with Selvaraghavan, introduced Dhanush to feature films with Thulluvadho Ilamai in 2002. Known for films like Ettupatti Rasa, Veera Thalattu, and Aatha Un Koyilile, among others, the director is all set to be seen in Habeebi, directed by Meera Kathiravan, which is set for release on June 12.