He began his career as an actor as part of the critically acclaimed film Oomai Vizhigal (1986).
After retiring from acting, he took the post of chief producer for the London-based Ayngaran International, a film production and distribution company, however, he later started his own production and distribution company A&P Groups.
[3][4][5] On 21 February 2016, Arun Pandian and nine other MLAs tendered their resignations prior to the Assembly election in the state.
[6] On 25 February 2016, he joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in the presence of party general secretary and the then Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa.
[7][8] Arun Pandian was born on 13 July 1958 as the son of retired Lieutenant colonel D. P. Chellaiah and resides in Tirunelveli.