Which Malayalam actress has acted in Bollywood movies?

 List of Malayalam actress who has acted in Bollywood movies

1. Nayanthara

Nayanthara has debut in bollywood film Jawan starring Shahrukh Khan and Vijay Sethupathi

2. Asin Thottumkal

Though Malayali background, she is very popular in Tamil and Hindi films

She has acted with mega stars actor in Ghajini (2008) Aamir Khan, Ready (2011) Salman Khan and Khiladi 786 and Housefull 2 Akshay Kumar

3. Shobana

One of the versatile malayalam actress and also dancer Bharatanatyam in 90s time legendary . National award won actress, primarily known for her prolific work in Malayalam Tamil and Telugu cinema. However, she has made notable contributions to Hindi films throughout

In bollywood film industry, her debut film was Classic Amar Prem (1972) as a child artist

Other main lead as an adult actress Mitr My Friend (2002), Apna Asmaan (2007), Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008)

4. Parvathy Thiruvothu

Parvathy Thiruvothu has starred in two prominent Bollywood films: the romantic comedy Qarib Qarib Singlle (2017) and the mystery thriller Kadak Singh (2023)

5. Nithya Menon

(starred in Mission Mangal, 2018 space mission film, main lead actor Akshay Kumar

6. Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan was born in the Palakkad district of Kerala. However, she is of Tamil descent, belonging to a Tamil Brahmin (Palakkad Iyer) family, and was raised primarily in Mumbai. Her most of the films are bollywood films especially romantic and versatility role, content driven roles.

Her notable film Hamari Adhuri Kahani and Dirty Picture, Mission Mangal

7. Lena

Many of you might unnotice her, she has acted in Airlift (2016) starring Akshay Kumar, her role was Deepti Jayarajan

She portrayed the wife of George Kutty (played by Prakash Belawadi), a conservative and initially complaining Malayali expatriate couple trapped in war-torn Kuwait during the 1990 Gulf War.

Many outsider from other states do not know about Lena, but she is very popular in Malayalam film industry, known for supporting cast, brave character roles.

8. Malavika Mohanan

Malavika Mohanan debuted in Bollywood with Majid Majidi’s critically acclaimed film Beyond the Clouds (2017). She recently expanded her Hindi film presence with the action-thriller Yudhra (2024), where she starred alongside Siddhant Chaturvedi. She primarily acts in Tamil, Malayalam films.

8. Anaswara Rajan

She has acted in Yaariyan 2, main lead actress, She is just New Gen actress from Kerala and has Youth Fan base, Debuted in 2017, Malayalam film Udaharanam Sujatha. Anaswara Rajan has long way to go to showcase her acting skills,

9. Priya Prakas Varrier

Priya Prakash Varrier plays a character named Devi in the 2023 coming-of-age drama film Yaariyan 2, Hindi remake of the Malayalam hit Bangalore Days (2014)

10. Priyamani

Her notable Hindi projects include a key supporting role in Shah Rukh Khan's blockbuster Jawan (2023), a significant part in the true-story drama Maidaan (2024), and the critically praised film Article 370 (2024).

She has appeared in cameo song in Chennai Express Movie (2013)

11. Keerthy Suresh

Though leading Kollywood actress despite Malayali background Keerthy Suresh made her Bollywood debut in the action-thriller Baby John (2024), where she starred alongside Varun Dhawan. The film, which is an official remake of the Tamil hit Theri (2016)

12. Pearly Maaney

Pearle Maaney's only Bollywood movie is the 2020 dark comedy crime film Ludo Directed by Anurag Basu, she played the role of Sheeja Thomas in the film, starring alongside an ensemble cast that included Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, and Pankaj Tripathi. It released on Netflix.

She has acted in Several Malayalam film and other job profile is lyricist, television presenter.

Which famous Kannada movie actors have acted in Malayalam movies and vice versa?

 Shruti

This kannadiga actress has acted in few couple of movies in Malayalam like oral matram, swantham Malavika, CI Mahadevan 5 Adi 4 inch etc. However she was known for her portrayal as Dr. Ambili in Kottaram veetile apputten opposite Jayaram.

Sudha Rani

This Karnataka state award winning actress has acted only in one movie opposite Jayaram in Adythekanmani. This movie was a big blockbuster and remade into Hindi as beti number 1. The actress was loved by Malayalee audiences for her natural beauty and good acting skills. But we Malayalees were not lucky to have her back in Malayalam movies.

Sumalatha

There is no introduction needed for sumalatha in Mollywood. She has acted in multiple Malayalam movies and wooed the audiences with her acting and natural beauty. Her most popular character was Clara from thoovanthumbikal. Her pairing with superstars Mohanlal & Mammooty was always appreciated by the audience.

Madhoo Shah

Madhoo or Madhubala is technically not a kannadiga as she is from a Tamil family but ever since her comeback she has been part of sandalwood industry with good characters. Madhoo has acted in movies like Yoddha, Nilgiri, Ottayalpattalam, Ennod Ishtam koodamo. All these movies were blockbusters of the time. Her pairing with Mukesh is one of my personal favourite onscreen couples of Mollywood.

Nikki Galrani

Nikki has played multiple movies in Malayalam. Her most popular movie was Vellimoonga. She is quite perfect for playing Christian characters in Malayalam movies. Nikki herself accepted that she is loved a lot by Malayalee audiences.

Soundarya

Soundarya has acted in two Malayalam movies. Had she been alive she would have been doing many Malayalam movies as she was quite perfect to play a natural Malayalee women onscreen.

Sanjana Galrani

Sister of Nikki Galrani has acted in movies like The king & commissioner, Casanova etc. However unlike her sister Sanjana was unnoticed by the audience as the movies she has acted was not a big commercial hits.

Vedika Kumar

Vedika has acted in movies like Sringaravelan, Cousins, James and Alice, Welcome to Central Jail etc. her most popular roles was that Alice from James and Alice.

Madhavi

Madhavi though born in a Telugu family has made a name of her own in both Kannada and Malayalam movie industry. Her most famous role is from Akashadhoothu where she played a single parent who is a blood cancer patient who wanted to keep her children safe before her death.

Parul Yadav

Parul though is a North Indian, she is a popular actress in sandalwood industry now; she started her film career from Malayalam. Her debut movie was Krithyam opposite Prithviraj. She also acted in a crime thriller Black Dalia. She didn’t became a popular actress in Malayalam as the movies she acted were flops.

Shraddha Srinath

This Kannada Filmfare winning actress started her film career from Malayalam. Her debut was a Malayalam movie named Kohinoor. She played a parallel lead in this movie. This movie was a flop.

Vinaya Prasad

Vinaya has acted in multiple Malayalam movies in her career. She is popularly known as Sridevi from Manichitrathazhu. She also played lead roles in Malayalam TV industry. She still acts in Malayalam movies as supporting actress.

Meghna Raj

Meghna raj has acted in multiple Malayalam movies of which most popular characters of her are from the movies Beautiful & Memories.

Veteran actresses like Bharati, Jayanti etc has acted in multiple Malayalam movies.

Now actresses who have acted in sandalwood industry from Malayalam:

Sitara

Sitara has acted only in Kannada movies continually for 7 years and has been part of good movies.

Bhavana

Bhavana is another malayee actress who had made her own name in sandalwood industry.

Nitya Menon

Nitya though her parents are malayees she has been born and bought up in Bangalore. She has done few good movies in Kannada.

Actresses like Parvathy Thiruvottu, Prayaga Martin, Chippy, Navya Nair, Gopika, Divya Unni, Nayantara, Meera Jasmine, Mamta Mohandas, Vani Vishwanath, Vijaya Lakshmi has acted in Kannada movies.

Kannada actors like Ananth Nag, Vishnuvardhanan, Ambareesh has acted in Malayalam movies which is mentioned by others so I am not repeating here. Mohanlal & Mammooty too acted in Kannada movies.

What makes Keerthy Suresh stand out among other actresses in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films?

 KEERTHHY SURESH

Keerthy Suresh has acted in over 30 films, primarily in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, since her career as a lead actress began in 2013 with Geethanjali.

Genre of Films “Success Story”

Success secret may-be the excellent genre of the film choice SK does;

SK’s filmography spans several, distinct genres:

• Action & Thriller: Sarkar (2018), Bairavaa (2017), Saani Kaayidham (2022).
• SK starred beside Thalapathy Vijay in ~2 films Sarkar (2018) & Bairavaa (2017).
• Biographical Drama: Mahanati (2018), where she played actress Savitri.
• Mahanati—Nadigaiyar Thilagam” Savitri Ganesan (6 December 1934 – 26 December 1981) a legendary Indian actress—director—producer renowned for her work in Telugu & Tamil cinema during the 1950s and 60s.
• Romantic Comedy & Drama: Nenu Sailaja (2016), Rajinimurugan (2016), Remo (2016), India Pakistan (2015).
• Psychological Thriller/Horror: Geethanjali (2013), Penguin (2020).
• Sports Drama: Good Luck Sakhi (2022).
• Comedy/Social Satire: Raghu Thatha (2024), Thaanaa Serndha Koottam (2018)

To conclude, nearly ~20+ films starred by SK are successful at box-office.

My favorite SK’s films are,

• Thaanaa Serndha Koottam (2018) - a twist comical tale of reality “realism”
• Mahanati (2018) - awesome legendary biography epic.

Why are only the Kannada and Malayalam film industries giving off-beat cinemas?

 I'll talk only with respect to Kannada industry was excellent before 2006.

Hindi audiences, Malayalis, Tamilians, Bengalis, Marathigas don't have any knowledge on Kannada film industry and it's history. The problem lies with themselves only , they have watched very few handful of recent kannada movies. The reason being poor popularity and poor promotion of kannada films outside Karnataka.

They are only recently identifying kannada movies with cringe movies like Kgf, Yash movies, Kantara, Darshan movies, Sudeep movies, Shetty movies etc. These movies lack story and content.

Sandalwood or Kannada film land also had a lot of quality movies.However their popularity and audiences are only restricted to Karnataka and kannada audiences. This is main reason why kannada film land is giving a lot of off beat movies that have gone unnoticed.

Kannada film industry has given some of the greatest movies ever in Indian Film Industry. Some of them are very unique and out of box. There is no dearth of good realistic movies in Kannada Film industry.

The list goes below:

Upendra (1999) - The first kannada film to be released in Japan in Yubari International Film Festival, Tokyo. It is regarded as the most weirdest movie ever in not just Indian Film industry but in World cinema. It is one of the greatest kannada movie I have seen.

Accident (1984) - Fantastic thriller by Konkani director Shankar Nag.

Etu Eduretu (1981) - Battle between a black magician and a tantrik in modern setting.

Eddelu Manjunatha (2009) - a fantastic movie starring legend Navarasa Nayaka Jaggesh.

Accident (2008) - fantastic mystery thriller by Ramesh Arvind.

Uppi-2/ Upendra - 2 (2015) - Brilliant Psychological thriller.

Babruvahana (1977)

Ade Kannu (1985) - Thriller

Kasturi Nivasa (1971) - very sad movie that shows the value of humans.

Tabarana Kathe(1986) - national award movie

A(1998) - unique love story

UI (2024)

Matha(2006) - Navarasa Nayaka Jaggesh’s masterpiece movie

Shhh!!(1993) - fantastic horror-mystery thriller

Kannada film industry was dominated by lot of wonderful senior talented actors - Dr Rajkumar, Sundar Krishna Urs, KS Ashwath, Srinath, Musuri Krishnamurthy, TN Balakrishna, Vajramuni, etc

Legendary Veteran actor Rajkumar dominated Kannada film industry for decades and often was called the face of Kannada Film industry.

Another blow to Kannada film industry is death of Dr Rajkumar, one of the greatest Indian actor Under Construction 2006 after the death of legendary actor Dr Rajkumar ( not to be mistaken with Hindi actor Raajkumar of the same name) whole Kannada film industry collapsed.

Since 2006 after demise of Dr Rajkumar Karnataka is dominated by non-kannada movies.

Sadly now Kannada film industry is spoiled by Tulu nadu artists and less talented overrated artists like Yash, Darshan , Sudeep, Dhruva Sarja, Ganesh and others.

Kannada audiences have changed a lot now they're liking mass overaction commerical movies of overrated actors like Yash, Darshan, Sudeep Ganesh,etc.

Kannada audiences don't support realistic movies nowadays