Anu Prabhakar
Anu Prabhakar | |
|---|---|
Anu in TeachAids interview, 2013 | |
| Born | Annapurna Prabhakar 9 November 1980 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
Annapurna Prabhakar (born 9 November 1980)[1][2] is an Indian actress, who predominantly appears in Kannada-language films.
Early life
Anu was born in Bangalore on 9 November 1980 to M. V. Prabhakar (died 2003),[2] an engineer with Bharat Heavy Electricals, and Gayathri, a dubbing artiste and actress. Anu grew up in the Malleswaram suburb of Bangalore, and studied in the Nirmala Rani High School. She appeared as a child artiste in Kannada films, and an English television series titled Mysteries of the Dark Jungle (1990). She dropped out of college when her career as a lead actress took off.[3] She later went on to pursue a master's degree in sociology from Karnataka University through correspondence.[3][4]
Career
Anu received her first acting offer in 1989 to appear in Chapala Chennigaraya (1990). After working for four years in other films such as Swarna Samsara (1990), Shanti Kranti (1991) and Obbarigintha Obbaru (1992), she enrolled in Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, to study commerce. At this stage, Anu aspired to become an airhostess. However, she was cast as lead opposite Shiva Rajkumar in Hrudaya Hrudaya (1999), produced under the banner Sri Vaishnavi Combines. The film emerged as a commercial success, as was her other release of the year, Snehaloka.[5] Reviewer Srikanth Srinivasa of Deccan Herald, while writing that she needed improvement in her dialogue delivery and diction, wrote that she "comes a whiff of fresh air to the Kannada film industry".[6] On her portrayal as the love interest of Ramesh Aravind's character in Snehaloka, Srinivasa stated that she was "a sweet delight to watch."[7]
Anu would go on to form a popular pair with Ramesh Aravind. She has co-starred with Vishnuvardhan in several films like Soorappa, Jamindarru, Hrudayavantha, Sahukara and Varsha. Anu has acted in a few Tamil movies as well. In 2009, she gave her voice to an HIV/AIDS education animated software tutorial created by nonprofit organisation TeachAids.[8] In her yet-to-release film based on the life of 12th-century Kannada poet Akka Mahadevi, she played a dual role: one of the poet and the other of Jyothi, a girl who pursues PhD on the poet.[9]
Personal life
Anu first married Krishna Kumar, an engineer with the telecommunication department, and son of actress Jayanthi,[10] in March 2002. After 12 years of marriage, the couple applied for a divorce by mutual consent in January 2014.[11][12] On 25 April 2016, Anu married model-turned-actor Raghu Mukherjee.[13] They have a daughter named Nandana.[14]
Filmography
- Note: all films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Chapala Chennigaraya | Anu | Uncredited |
| Swarna Samsara | Munni | Credited as Baby Annapurna | |
| 1991 | Shanti Kranti | Young Jyothi | Uncredited |
| 1992 | Obbarigintha Obbaru | Mala | Credited as Baby Annapurna |
| 1999 | Hrudaya Hrudaya | Usha | Debut as lead actress |
| Snehaloka | Priya | ||
| 2000 | Soorappa | Special appearance | |
| Shrirasthu Shubhamasthu | Swapna | ||
| Yaarige Saluthe Sambala | Kusuma | ||
| 2001 | Hoo Anthiya Uhoo Anthiya | Chandana | |
| Anjali Geetanjali | |||
| Shaapa | Kaveri | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress[15] | |
| Mr. Harishchandra | Pallavi | ||
| Kanasugara | Special appearance | ||
| Vishalakshammana Ganda | Vishalakshi | ||
| Shivappanayaka | Girija | ||
| 2002 | Jamindaarru | Anusuya | |
| Annayya Tammayya | Anu | ||
| Arputham | Priya | Tamil film | |
| Thavarige Baa Thangi | Gowri | ||
| Olu Saar Bari Olu | Roja | ||
| 2003 | Shri Kalikamba | Eeswari | Simultaneously shot in Tamil as Annai Kaligambal |
| Nan Hendthi Maduve | Priya | ||
| Neenilde Nanu Illa Kane | Jyoti / Deepa | ||
| Preethi Prema Pranaya | Kavya | ||
| Hrudayavantha | Gouthami | ||
| Ardhangi | Mahadevi | ||
| 2004 | Bisi Bisi | Radha Ramesh | |
| Ok Saar Ok | Divya | ||
| Preethi Nee Illade Naa Hyagirali | Chandramathi | ||
| Kanakambari | Shanti | ||
| Sahukara | Anjali | ||
| 2005 | Udees | Seetha | |
| Varsha | Roopa | ||
| Majaa | Selvi | Tamil film | |
| 2006 | Mohini 9886788888 | Sumanna | |
| Saavira Mettilu | Special appearance | ||
| 2007 | Sri Dhanamma Devi | Sri Dhanamma Devi | |
| No 73, Shanthi Nivasa | Neetha | ||
| Prarambha | Mother | Short film | |
| 2008 | Navashakthi Vaibhava | Goddess Annapurneshwari | |
| Mussanjemaatu | Shwetha | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress (Kannada) | |
| 2009 | Gubbaachigalu | Gayathri | |
| Bhagyada Balegara | |||
| 2010 | Banashankari Devi Mahatme | ||
| Pareekshe | Bangari | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress | |
| 2011 | Ko Ko | ||
| 2012 | Sri Kshetra Adichunchanagiri | ||
| Samsaradalli Golmaal | Ragini | ||
| 2013 | Garbhada Gudi | Teresa | |
| Sakkare | Sneha | ||
| Kariya Kan Bitta | Special appearance | ||
| 2014 | Fair & Lovely | ||
| 2015 | Aatagara | Sandhya Ramagopal | |
| 2016 | Shivayogi Sri Puttayyajja | ||
| 2017 | Once More Kaurava | ||
| 2018 | Tunturu | Sandhya | |
| 2019 | Anukta | Anupama Shetty | |
| 2021 | Rathnan Prapancha | Tabassum | |
| 2022 | James | Vijay Gayakwad's wife | |
| 2023 | Agent | P. Lakshmi | Telugu film |
| Melody Drama | Indirakka | ||
| 2024 | Bhairadevi | Shalini | |
| TBA | Akka | Akka Mahadevi / Jyoti | Filming |
Television
- Mysteries of the Dark Jungle (1990; English)
- Bale Bangara
- Home Minister
- Shrimati Karnataka
- Manju Musukida Haadi
- Nooru Dinagalu
- Triveni Sangama
- Nannamma Super Star (Judge)
References
- ^ "Kannada Movie Actress Anu Prabhakar Biography". Nettv4u. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ^ a b Anu Prabhakar - Cinema, Wife & Motherhood, Money, Divorce, Ups & Downs of life (Interview) (in Kannada). Rapid Rashmi. 29 July 2024. Event occurs at 6:49. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ^ a b Prabhakar, Anu. TV9 Mareyalaare: Actress Anu Prabhakar Shares Sweet Memories of Her Life Time - Full (in Kannada). Bangalore, India: TV9 Kannada. Event occurs at 15:00. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
- ^ "Anu Prabhakar mum on her separation from her husband". The Times of India. 1 August 2014. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ "Iam here to stay - Anu Prabhakar". Indiainfo. Archived from the original on 30 September 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ^ Srinivasa, Srikanth (19 September 1999). "Hrudaya...Hrudayaa! (KANNADA)". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 8 March 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ^ Srinivasa, Srikanth (26 December 1999). "SNEHALOKA (Kannada), Reviewer: Srikanth Srinivasa". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 5 June 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ^ "Kannada actress, Anu Prabhakar, plays role in TeachAIDS production". TeachAids. 25 September 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- ^ "I try to keep my characters alive". Deccan Herald. 7 October 2014. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ "YEE HRUDAYA K.KUMARGAGI Wedding Bells For Young Actress Anu". Chitraloka. 4 July 2001. Archived from the original on 10 July 2001. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ^ "It's splitsville for Anu Prabhakar and Krishna Kumar". The Times of India. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ^ "Actor Anu Prabhakar files for divorce". Deccan Herald. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ^ "Actors Anu Prabhakar and Raghu Mukherjee tie the knot". The Hindu. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Doting parents! Sandalwood stars strike a pose with their cute babies". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "'Mussanje' bags best film award". The Hindu. 29 May 2001. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2017.