Bhanupriya (born Mangabhanu; 15 January 1967) is an Indian actress, Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, and voice artiste. In a career spanning over 4 decades, Bhanupriya has appeared in 155 feature films- predominantly in Tamil & Telugu, in addition to occasional performances in Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. She has starred in a variety of roles, ranging from slapstick comedy to epic dramas. She has won three state Nandi Awards, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South and two Cinema Express Awards.

Bhanupriya
Artistic portrait of Bhanupriya
Born
Mangabhanu

(1967-01-15) 15 January 1967 (age 57)
Years active1983–present
Spouse
Adarsh Kaushal
(m. 1998⁠–⁠2018)
Children1
RelativesShantipriya (sister)

Early life edit

Bhanupriya was born on 15 January 1967[1] in Rangampeta village near Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh in a Telugu-speaking family, to Pandu Babu and Ragamali. She was named as Mangabhanu.[2][3] Her family later moved to Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She has an elder brother Gopikrishana and a younger sister Shantipriya, who has also been a film actress since the 1990s.[4][5]

Career edit

She was one of the top mainstream actresses for more than a decade from 1983 to 1995. She made her acting debut with the Tamil film Mella Pesungal (1983).[6] She then appeared in the Telugu hit Sitaara, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for that year. She then played an ornithologist in the 1985 mystery film Anveshana. In 1986, she made her Hindi film debut with Dosti Dushmani.[7] In 1988, she appeared in Swarnakamalam, which was screened at the Indian panorama section of the 1988 International Film Festival of India[8] and the Ann Arbor Film Festival.[9] Bhanupriya received the Indian Express Award for Best Actress,[10] the Nandi Award for Best Actress, and the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance in the film.[11][12] In 1989 and 1991, her performances in the Tamil hits Aararo Aariraro, and Azhagan brought her the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prizes, respectively.[13] She received the JFW Divas of South India Award for her contribution to South Indian cinema, the Gemini TV Puraskaram for lifetime achievement in television and various other honors.[4][5]

Personal life edit

Bhanupriya married Adarsh Kaushal, a digital graphics engineer, at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Malibu, California, on 14 June 1998. The couple has a daughter, Abhinaya, born in 2002.[4][5] Bhanupriya returned to India, and resumed her acting career. She lives in Chennai with her daughter.[14] Kaushal died in 2018 after suffering a cardiac arrest.[15]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Acting roles edit

List of films and roles
Year Title Role Language Notes
1983 Mella Pesungal Uma Tamil Tamil debut
1984 Etho Mogam
Sitaara Sitaara/Kokila Telugu Telugu debut
Rowdy Ganga
Eduruleni Monagallu Rani
Ramayanamlo Bhagavatam
Palnati Puli Rani
James Bond 999 Neelima
Chadarangam Meena
Gruhalakshmi Swapna Priya
Illale Devata Radha
1985 Jhansi Rani Jhansi Rani
Mogudu Pellalu Saroja
Musugu Donga Swapna
Chiranjeevi Shanti
Bangaru Chiluka Hema/Chilaka Dual Role
Preminchu Pelladu Radha
Jwala
Thendral Thodhata Malar Tamil
Garjana Vijaya Telugu
Kutumba Bandham Lakshmi
Illaliko Pariksha
Aatmabalam Vaishali
America Alludu Radha
Anveshana Hema
1986 Vijetha Priyadarshini
Bhale Mitrulu Bharathi
Manchi Manasulu Janaki
Pratibhavantudu
Sravana Meghaalu
Samajamlo Sthree
Konaseema Kurradu Jyothi
Kashmora Tulasi
Dosti Dushmani Rekha Hindi Hindi Debut
Aalapana Usha Telugu
Apoorva Sahodarulu Roja
Anadiga Aadadi
Anasuyammagari Alludu Rukmini
Chadastapu Mogudu Janaki
1987 Srinivasa Kalyanam Lalitha
Shankaravam Jyothi
Prema Samrat Madhulatha
Insaf Ki Pukar Rani Hindi
Prema Deepalu Telugu
Chakravarthy Rani
Karthika Pournami Abilasha/Gowri Dual Role
Khudgarz Jaya Saxena Hindi
Donga Mogudu Priyamvada Telugu
Allari Krishnayya Lalitha
Dharmapatni S.I Vidya
Jebu Donga Bujji
1988 Mar Mitenge Jenny Hindi
Bharatamlo Balachandrudu Bhanu Telugu
Nyayaniki Siksha
Agni Keratalu Bhanurekha
Tiragabadda Telugu Bidda Padma
Tamacha Seema Hindi
Khaidi No. 786 Radha Telugu
Trinetrudu Pratyusha
Swarnakamalam Meenakshi Nandi Award for Best Actress
1989 Suryaa: An Awakening Shanoo Hindi
State Rowdy Asha Telugu
Bhagawan Rekha
Black Tiger
Dav Pech Sunita Verma Hindi
Garibon Ka Daata Naina
Gudachari 117 Telugu
Kasam Vardi Ki Aarthi Hindi
Ashoka Chakravarthy Urmila Telugu
Aararo Aariraro Meenu Tamil Filmfare Award for Best Actress Tamil
Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize
1990 Zahreelay Seema Hindi
Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar Chitra Tamil
Jayasimha Geetha Telugu
Chatriyan Banu Tamil
1991 Bhabhi Sita/Kamini Hindi Dual Role
Pudhu Manithan Sugandhi Tamil
Gopura Vasalile Kalyani
Shri Edu Kondala Swamy Goddess Padmavati Devi Telugu
Pondatti Sonna Kettukanum Indira Tamil
Azhagan Priya Ranjan Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize
People's Encounter Telugu
Bramma Pavitra Tamil
Thalapathi Padma
Thaipoosam Sivagami
Ramudu Kadhu Rakshasudu Revathi Telugu
1992 Magudam Bhavani Tamil
Bharathan Indhu
Therku Theru Machan Parimala
Sundara Kandam Deivanai
Pangali Saidhai Tamizharasi
Rajashilpi Durga Malayalam Malayalam debut
Amaran Sivagaami Tamil
Kaviya Thalaivan Priya/Saradha Dual Role
Vaaname Ellai Herself Guest Appearance in a special song
Neenga Nalla Irukkanum Anjalai
1993 Kattalai Vijaya
Porantha Veeda Puguntha Veeda Amudha
Bhagat Telugu
Maharasan Selvi Tamil
Mutrugai DSP Bhavani
Rajadurai Guest Appearance in special song
Kirayi Gunda Telugu
Gokulam Gayathri/Mary Tamil Dual role
Uzhavan
1994 Rasika Kannada Kannada debut
Ish Gup Chup Ravali Telugu
Bangaru Mogudu Amulya
1995 Highway Meera Malayalam
Pedarayudu Lakshmi Telugu
Chakravarthy Bhanu Tamil
1996 Azhakiya Ravanan Anuradha Malayalam
Amma Durgamma Goddess Durga Telugu
1997 Mama Bagunnava Gowri
Aahaa..! Geeta Cameo appearance
Annamayya Goddess Padmavathi
Kulam Subhadra Malayalam
Rishyasringan Poornima
Thalaimurai Panchavarnam Tamil
Aahaa..! Rajeswari (Raaji)
1999 Endrendrum Kadhal Pooja
Anantha Poongathe Banu Guest Appearance
2000 Annai Kanagamagalatchumi
14 February Necklace Road Telugu Guest appearance
Ayodhya Ramaiah Padmavathi
Jayam Manadera Bhuvaneswari
Hindustan: The Mother
Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal Maya Varma Malayalam
Devara Maga Annapoorna Kannada
2001 Sri Raja Rajeshwari Goddess Parasakthi Tamil
Thaali Kaatha Kaaliamman Goddess Kaali
2002 Simhadriya Simha Lakshmi Kannada
Naina Azhagu Nachiyar Tamil
Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo Indu Telugu Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress
2004 Jai Veerapandi's wife/Jai's mother Tamil Dual Role
Jore Meenakshi
Chellamae Herself Guest Appearance in a song "Kummi Adi"
Manjupoloru Penkutti Arundathi Malayalam
Kadamba Yamini Kannada
Sravanamasam Rajyam Telugu
2005 Orey Pandu Akhilandeswari
Gowtam SSC Bhanu
Chhatrapati Rajya Lakshmi Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress
Hridayathi Sookshikkaan Sreenath's mother Malayalam
2006 Raathrimazha
2007 Oru Ponnu Oru Paiyan Ganga Tamil
Polladhavan Thilaka
2008 Mahayagnam Telugu
Theekuchi Sakthi Tamil
Pellaindi Kaani Rajeshwari Telugu
2009 Mesthru Kannada
2010 My Name is Amruta Telugu
2012 3 Ram's mother Tamil
Dammu Vasundhara Telugu
2013 Chatrapathi Kannada
2014 Avathaaram Akkamma Telugu
2017 Shivalinga Sarala Tamil
Magalir Mattum Rani Amirthakumari
2018 Mahanati Durgambha Telugu
Kadaikutty Singam Panchavanmadevi Tamil
2021 Natyam Sitara's mother Telugu
2022 Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal Tamil
2024 Ayalaan Tamizh's mother

Dubbing artist edit

Year Film Dubbed for Language Notes Ref
1996 Indian Urmila Matondkar Tamil Also dubbed for the telugu version Sathya (1998)
1997 Priya Raman Suryavamsam Telugu
1997 Arunachalam Rambha
1997 Merupu Kalalu Kajol In Telugu version
1997 Thayin Manikodi Nivedita Jain

Television edit

List of television shows and roles
Year Title Role Language Channel
1989 Vishwamitra Menaka Hindi DD National
1991 Penn Tamil
1997-1998 Sakthi Tamil Sun TV
2000 Manase Mandiram Telugu Gemini TV
2000-2001 Vaazhkkai Seetha Tamil Sun TV
2000 Gopi AVM Yasodha Tamil Sun TV
2001-2002 Take It Easy Vaazhkai Story Narrator Tamil DD Podhigai/Sun TV
2004 Deivam seetha Telugu Gemini TV/Star Maa
2005-2006 Porandha Veeda Pugundha Veeda Raji Tamil Sun TV
2012-2013 Aaha Raji Tamil Vijay TV
2016–2017 Nathicharami Yamuna Telugu Gemini TV

Awards edit

Nandi Awards[16]
Filmfare Awards South
Other Awards

References edit

  1. ^ "భానుప్రియ-వంశీ కాంబినేషన్ అంటేనే..." Sakshi (in Telugu). 15 January 2014. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. ^ "సితార - జనవరి 15 (సినీ చరిత్రలో ఈరోజు) - ఈరోజే". సితార (in Telugu). 15 January 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  3. ^ Chauhan, Ramesh (7 January 2017). "నాట్య మయూరి భానుప్రియ!". Mana Telangana (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "An Interview with Bhanu Priya". www.indolink.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ a b c "For actor Banupriya family comes first now". The Hindu. 28 September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  6. ^ S.R. Ashok Kumar (1 October 2006). "For Bhanupriya family comes first now". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  7. ^ "32nd National Film Awards (PDF)" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Directorate of Film Festival". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Dance without frontiers: K Viswanath – Director who aims to revive classical arts". 2 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  10. ^ Express News Service (11 March 1989), "Cinema Express readers choose Agni Nakshathiram", The Indian Express, p. 4, archived from the original on 11 October 2020, retrieved 7 October 2016
  11. ^ Vidura. C. Sarkar. 1989.
  12. ^ - Ranjana Dave (30 June 2011). "The meaning in movement". The Asian Age. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  13. ^ Anandan, Film News (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru (Tamil Film History and Its Achievements). Sivagami Publications. p. 738.
  14. ^ SRIREKHA PILLAI (13 September 2004). "ABHINAYA, Bhanupriya's new love". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  15. ^ Adivi, Sashidhar (3 February 2018). "Bhanu priya's ex husband passes away". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  16. ^ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)

External links edit