Bhanu Priya (Telugu: భానుప్రియ ) is an Indian actress. She was a former leading actress of the Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam film industries from 1980 to 1993. She also acted in few Bollywood films in the 1990s.| Born | January 15, 1964 Andhra pradesh, India |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Adarsh Kaushal |
She was born in Rangampeta village, which is near to Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, on 15 January 1964 in a Telugu family and was settled in Chennai, Tamil Nadu at a very young age.
Her sister Nishanthi, known as Shantipriya, also acted in several films, including the biggest hit, Enga ooru paatukran (1988). She was also seen on national small screen TV sci-fi epic Aaryamaan - Brahmaand Ka Yoddha opposite Mukesh Khanna, in 2002 and one more her sisiter JyothiPriya also acted as heroine in few of TV serieals and films,
Career
Bhanupriya has acted in over 111 films as a heroine in various languages. She made her debut in the Telugu movie Sitaara, directed by veteran Vamsy, which was a big hit.[citation needed] She has acted in over 55 Telugu films, about 40 Tamil films, 14 Hindi films and a few Malayalam and Kannada films.
Bhanupriya began her film acting career when she was just 19 years old. Her first film was Mella Pesungal (1983) in Tamil. In Telugu it was Sitaara (1983).
Trained in classical dance, all her critically acclaimed movies were based on the subject of classical dance, like Vamsy's Sitara and veteran K. Vishwanath's Swarnakamalam in Telugu and Sathyan Anthikkad's Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal in Malayalam. She is also part of Mani Ratnam's stage show Netru, Indru, Naalai. Banupriya's excellent Bharathanatyam dancing skills are much appreciated in her films.
In her prime, Bhanupriya possessed an enviably perfect hourglass figure. Many fans remember her for the role of Menaka, an Apsara, in the famous television serial Mahabharat. Since Bhanupriya had a figure that was very close that of the ideal depictions of apsaras in temples such as Khajuraho - with an idyllically beautiful face, large expressive eyes, full breasts, wide and curved hips, a deep navel and long and tapering arms and legs - the director of Mahabharat is often complemented for finding the ideal woman to portray Menaka. Her dedication and mastering the art of classical dance did help her to further enhance her natural physical beauty.
Bhanupriya is now based in Chennai and planning to direct a film , with classical dance as lead role. She had also acted in a television serial, Shakthi , shown over in Sun Network channels. She is currently working on "Devathalu" ,"Pellaindhi Kaani " (Telugu), "Oru Ponnu Oru Paiyan", "Theekuchi", "Polladhavan", "Porantha veeda pukuntha veeda" (TV serial) in Tamil.
She is famous for her expressions using her eyes, which led her to a career in modelling. Her most famous ad was of Eyetex, a popular eyeliner. Cinematographer and director P.C.Sriram once described her as having the most beautiful and photogenic face among south Indian movie actresses.
Personal life
Bhanupriya married Adarsh Kaushal, an award-winning photographer based in the United States and son of famous Bharatanatyam artist Sumathi kaushal in United States. They have a daughter. Now, they are settled in Chennai.
Filmography
Telugu
| Year | Film | Cast | Direction | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Devathalu | Rishi | Kodi Ramakrishna | Filming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | My Name is Amrutha | Bhanuchander | Venkat Gowri | - | 2008 | pelliayindhikani | Allari Naresh, Kamalini Mukherjee | E.V.V.Sathya Narayana | - | 2008 | Mahayagnam | Nazer | Krishna Thota | - | 2005 | Chatrapathi | Prabhas, Shriya | S.S.Rajamouli | Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Gautam S.S.C | Navadeep, Sindhu Tolani | Arun Prasad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Orey Pandu | Sachin | S.V.Krishna Reddy | - | 2004 | Sravanamasam | Harikrishna, Krishna, Gajala | Posani KrishnaMurali | - | 2002 | Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo | HariKrishna, Suman | Y.V.S.Chowdary | Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Ayodhya Ramaiah | Srihari | Chandra Mahesh | - | 2000 | Jayam Manadera | Venkatesh | encounter shankar | - | 2000 | February 14, Necklace Road | Suman | Srinivasa Reddy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Aaha | Jagapati Babu | Suresh Krishna | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Annamayya | Akkineni Nagarjuna, Suman | K. Raghavendra Rao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Mama Bagunnava | Rajendra Prasad, Naresh | Kodi RamaKrishna | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Amma Durgamma | Sasikumar, Ooha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Pedharayudu | Mohan Babu | RaviRaja Pinishetty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Bangaru Mogudu | Suman | ThammaReddy Bharadwaj | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Ish Gup Chup | Varun Kumar | Jandhyala | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Kirayi Gunda | Krishna | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Bhagath | Suman | Sathya Reddy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991 | Ramudu Kadu Rakshasudu | Suman | Dasari Narayana Rao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991 | People's Encounter | Srikanth | Mohan Gandhi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991 | Sri Yedu Kondala Swamy | Arun Govil | K.Kameswar Rao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990 | Jayasimha | Suman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Asokha Chakravarty | Balakrishna Nandamuri | S S Ravichandra | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Gudachari 117 | Krishna | Kodi Ramakrishna | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Black Tiger | Ramesh Babu | Dasari Narayana Rao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Bhagawan | Krishnam Raju | Siddharta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | State Rowdy | Chiranjeevi | B.Gopal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | AgniKeratalu | Krishna | T.Rama Rao | - | 1988 | Swarnakamalam | Venkatesh | K.Viswanath | Nandi Award for Best Actress | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | Trinetrudu | Chiranjeevi | Kodanda Rami Reddy | - | 1988 | Khaidi No 786 | Chiranjeevi | Vijaya Bapineedu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | Thiragabadda Telugu Bidda | Balakrishna Nandamuri | Kodanda Rami Reddy | - | 1988 | Nyayaniki Siksha | Shiva Krishna | T.Rama Rao | - | 1988 | Bharathamlo Balachandrudu | Balakrishna | Kodi Ramakrishna | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 | Allari Krishnayya | Balakrishna | Nandamuri Ramesh | - | 1987 | Jebu Donga | Chiranjeevi | Kodanda Rami Reddy | - | 1987 | Donga Mogudu | Chiranjeevi | Kodanda Rami Reddy | - | 1987 | Chakravarthy | Chiranjeevi | Ravi Raja Pinishetty | - | 1987 | Prema Deepalu | Sarath Banu | C.S.Bose | - | 1987 | Prema Samrat | Suman | A.Mohan Gandhi | - | 1987 | Shankaravam | Krishna | Krishna | - | 1987 | Srinivasa Kalyanam | Venkatesh | kodi ramakrishna | - | 1986 | Anasuyammagari Alludu | Balakrishna Nandamuri | Kodanda Rami Reddy | |
| 1986 | Anadiga Aadadi | Rajendra Prasad | Anil Kishore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | Apoorva Sahodarulu | Balakrishna | K.Raghavendra Rao | - | 1986 | Aalapana | Mohan | Vamsy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | Kashmora | Rajasekhar, Rajendra Prasad | N.B.Chakravarthy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | Konaseema Kurradu | Arjun Sarja | RaviRaja Pinishetty | - | 1986 | Prathibavanthudu | Krishna | Prabhakar Reddy | - | 1986 | Manchi Manasulu | Bhanuchandar | A.Mohan Gandhi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Vijetha | Chiranjeevi | Kodanda Rami Reddy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Chiranjeevi | Chiranjeevi | C.V.Rajendran | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Anveshana | Karthik | Vamsy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | America Alludu | Suman | K.Vasu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Athmabalam | Balakrishna Nandamuri | Tatineni Prasad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Illaliko Pariksha | Mohan Babu | T.L.V.Prasad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Kutumba Bandham | Rajesh | M.Jaya dev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Garjana | Suman | Anil Kumar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Jwala | Chiranjeevi | Ravi Raja Pinishetty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Preminchu Pelladu | Rajendra Prasad | Jandyala | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Bangaru Chiluka | Arjun Sarja | Anil Kumar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Musugu Donga | Suman | Boina Subba Rao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Mogudu Pellalu | Naresh | Jandyala | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Jhansi Rani | Rajendra Prasad | Sathyanand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Illale Devatha | Akkineni Nageshwara Rao | T.L.V.Prasad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Gruhalakshmi | Mohan Babu | B.Bhaskara Rao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Chadarangam | Narehs | B.Bhaskara Rao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Jamesbond 999 | Suman | P.Chandrasekhar Reddy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Palnati Puli | Balakrishna | Tatineni Prasad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Ramayanamlo Bhagavatham | Chandra Mohan | Tatineni Prasad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Rowdy | Krishnam Raju | A.Mohan Gandhi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983 | Sitara | Suman | Vamsy |
Hindi
| S.NO | Year | Film | Cast | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1986 | Dosti Dushmani | Rishi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Rajini Kanth | Rama Rao Thatineni | |
| 2 | 1987 | Insaf Ki Pukar | Dharmendra, Jeetendra | Rama Rao Thatineni | |
| 3 | 1987 | Khudgarz | Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha | Rakesh Roshan | |
| 4 | 1988 | Mar Mitenge | Jeetendra, Mithun Chakraborthy | Kewal Sharma | |
| 5 | 1988 | Tamacha | Jeetendra, Rajini Kanth | Ramesh Ahuja | |
| 6 | 1989 | Dav Pech | Jeetendra | Kewal Sharma | |
| 7 | 1989 | Garibon Ka Daata | Mithun Chakraborthy | Ramesh Ahuja | |
| 8 | 1989 | Kasam Vardi Ki | Jeetendra | Shibu Mitra | |
| 9 | 1989 | Suryaa : An Awakening | Vinod Khanna | Esmayeel Shroff | |
| 10 | 1990 | Zahreelay | Sanjay Dutt, Jeetendra | Jyotin Goel | |
| 11 | 1991 | Bhabhi | Govinda, Juhi chawla | Kishore Vyas |
Malayalam
| S.No | Year | Film | Cast | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1992 | Rajashilpi | Mohanlal | R.Sukumaran | |
| 2 | 1995 | Highway | Suresh Gopi | Jayaraaj | |
| 3 | 1996 | Azhakiya Ravanan | Mammotty | Kamal | |
| 4 | 1997 | Kulam | Suresh Gopi | Lenin Rajendran | |
| 5 | 1997 | Rishyasringan | Krishna, Shyjudev | Suresh Unnithan | |
| 6 | 2000 | Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal | Jayaram, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy | Sathyan Anthikad | |
| 7 | 2004 | Manjupoloru Penkutti | Amrutha Prakash, Suresh Krishna | Kamal | |
| 8 | 2005 | Hridayathi Sookshikkaan | Kunchako Boban, Bhavana | Rajesh Pillai | |
| 9 | 2011 | Kattu Paranja Katha | Shyam Gopal | Filming |
Kannada
| S.No | Year | Film | Cast | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994 | Rasika | Ravichandran | Dwarakish | |
| 2 | 2000 | Devarmaga | Shivrajkumar, Ambareesh | D.Rajendra Babu | |
| 3 | 2002 | Simhadriya Simha | Vishnuvardan | S.Narayan | |
| 4 | 2004 | Kadamba | Vishnuvardan | Suresh Krishna | |
| 5 | 2009 | Meshtru | Devaraj | Mahadev |
Tamil
| S.No | Year | Film | Cast | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1983 | Mella Pesungal | Vasanth | Bharativasu | Debut Film |
| 2 | 1985 | Thendral Thodhata Malar | Rajeev | G.P.Balan | |
| 3 | 1989 | Araro Ariroro | K. Bhagyaraj | K. Bhagyaraj | |
| 4 | 1990 | Sirayil Pootha Chinna malar | Vijayakanth | Amirtham | |
| 5 | 1991 | Pudhu Manithan | Sathyaraj | ||
| 6 | 1991 | Gopura Vasilile | Karthik | ||
| 7 | 1991 | Sathriyan | Vijayakanth | Subash | |
| 8 | 1991 | Pondatti Sonna kettukanum | Chandrasekhar | ||
| 9 | 1991 | Azhagan | Mammootty | K.Balachander | |
| 10 | 1991 | Brahma | Sathyaraj | ||
| 11 | 1991 | Thalapathi | Rajinikanth | Manirathnam | |
| 12 | 1991 | Thaipoosam | Nazar | ||
| 13 | 1992 | Magudam | Sathyaraj | ||
| 14 | 1992 | Bharathan | Vijayakanth | S.D.Saba | |
| 15 | 1992 | Therkku theru machan | Sathyaraj | ||
| 16 | 1992 | Sundara Kaandam | K. Bhagyaraj | K. Bhagyaraj | |
| 17 | 1992 | Pangali | Sathyaraj | ||
| 18 | 1992 | Amaran | Karthik | ||
| 19 | 1992 | Kaviya Thalaivan | Vijayakanth | ||
| 20 | 1992 | Vaname Ellai | Anand Babu, Ramya Krishnan | K.Balachander | Special Song |
| 21 | 1992 | Neenga Nalla Irukkanum | Nizhalgal Ravi | Visu | |
| 22 | 1993 | Kattalai | Sathyaraj | ||
| 23 | 1993 | Porantha Veeda Puguntha Veeda | Sivakumar | ||
| 24 | 1993 | Maharasan | Kamalhassan | ||
| 25 | 1993 | Mutrugai | Arun Pandiyan, Ranjitha | Manobala | |
| 26 | 1993 | Gokulam | Arjun Sarja | Vikraman | |
| 27 | 1993 | Uzhavan | Prabhu Ganesan | ||
| 28 | 1993 | Raja Durai | Vijayakanth | S. A. Chandrasekhar | Special Song |
| 29 | 1995 | Chakravarthi | Karthik | ||
| 30 | 1998 | Thalaimurai | Rajkiran | Rajkiran | |
| 31 | 1998 | Aaha | Raghuvaran | Suresh Krishna | |
| 32 | 1999 | Endrendrum Kadhal | Vijay | ||
| 33 | 1999 | Anantha Poonkatre | Karthik | Special Appearance | |
| 34 | 2000 | Annai | |||
| 35 | 2001 | Sree Rajarajeswary | Ramya Krishnan | ||
| 36 | 2001 | Thaali Kaatha Kaaliamman | Prabu | ||
| 37 | 2002 | Naina | Jayaram | ||
| 38 | 2004 | Jai | Prashanth, Thyagarajan | ||
| 39 | 2004 | Jore | Sathyaraj, Sibiraj, Gajala | ||
| 40 | 2004 | Chellame | Vishal Krishna, Reema sen | Special Song | |
| 41 | 2007 | Oru Ponnu Oru Payyan | |||
| 42 | 2007 | Polladhavan | Dhanush | Vetrimaran | |
| 43 | 2008 | Theekuchi |
Television
- Vishwamitra - Telecasted on Doordarshan - Directed by Dasari Narayana Rao
- Shakti - Telecasted on Sun TV
- Vazhkai - Telecasted on Sun TV
Awards
- Govt. of Andhrapradesh Nandi Awards in 2005 for Best Supporting Actress in the film Chatrapati
- Govt. of Andhrapradesh Nandi Awards in 2002 for Best Supporting Actress in the film Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo
- Nandi Award for Best Actress in 1988 for her performance in Swarna Kamalam
- Filmfare Best Actress Award (Telugu) in 1988 for her performance in Swarna Kamalam
