# Vani Viswanath

Vani Viswanath is an Indian actress who predominantly appeared in Malayalam and Telugu films. In 2000, Vani won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for her performance in Susanna, directed by T. V. Chandran. She was termed as Mollywood's "Action Queen". In 2017, she joined in Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh.

## Early life

Vani was born in Ollur, Thrissur, as the fourth among the five children of astrologer Vishwanathan and Girija. She did her schooling at St. Raphael's Convent Girls High School, Ollur, and thereafter at Chennai. When she was 13, her father predicted through astrology that she would become an actor, and also she would enter into politics.

## Career

She has appeared predominantly in Malayalam and Telugu movies. She acted in The King with Mammootty and in Usthad with Mohanlal and in Chinthamani Kolacase with Suresh Gopi respectively. She also appeared in Kannada and Tamil movies. She was among the big stars of her time in South India. Her Tollywood movie Gharana Mogudu with Tollywood superstar, Chiranjeevi was a huge hit. Vani also acted in two Hindi film with Mithun Chakraborty in Jung and Bhishma.

## Personal life

While acting for several films with Baburaj, she fell in love with him. The couple got married in 2002 and have two children.

## Awards
### Kerala State Film Awards

* 2000 - Kerala State Film for the Second Best Actress - Susanna

## Filmography
### Malayalam

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Mangalya Charthu | Sithara | Debut Film |
| 1988 | Evidence | Dahlia | |
| 1992 | Aadyaraathrikku Munpu | | |
| 1995 | Sipayi Lahala | Radhika | |
| 1995 | Mannar Mathai Speaking | Meera Varma/Stella Fernandez | |
| 1995 | Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta | Maya Surendran/Manaseswari Gupta | |
| 1995 | The King | Anuradha Mukharji | |
| 1995 | Thakshashila | Amalendu | |
| 1996 | Swarnakireedam | Sindhu | |
| 1996 | Man of the Match | Sonia | |
| 1996 | Mandrika Kuthira | Ancy Sunny | |
| 1996 | Kaliveedu | Yamini Menon | |
| 1996 | Hitler | Ammu | |
| 1997 | The Good Boys | | Cameo Appearance |
| 1997 | Poothumbiyum Poovalanmarum | Nanditha | |
| 1997 | Kilukil Pambaram | Sugandhi | |
| 1997 | Kannur | Annie Rozario | |
| 1997 | Janathipathyam | Maya Pillai | |
| 1997 | Anubhoothi | Radha | |
| 1998 | Ilamura Thamburan | Urmila | |
| 1998 | Harthal | Mekhamala S Thampy | |
| 1998 | Dravidan | Jiji Philipose | |
| 1998 | Panchaloham | Jagadha | |
| 1998 | The Truth | SP Meena Nambiar IPS | |
| 1999 | Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum | Jayanthi | |
| 1999 | Ustaad | Commissioner Varsha Varma | |
| 1999 | The Godman | Adv. Aswathy Menon | |
| 1999 | Thachiledathu Chundan | Ambika | |
| 1999 | James Bond | Dayana IPS | |
| 1999 | Captain | Renuka Varma | |
| 1999 | Independence | Indu | |
| 1999 | Garshom | Sushama | |
| 2000 | The Gang | Kathy Saimon | |
| 2000 | India Gate | Parvathi Sharma | |
| 2000 | Rapid Action Force | Adithya Varma IPS | |
| 2000 | Ival Draupadi | Ajitha Madhavan | |
| 2000 | Indriyam | Neeli | |
| 2000 | Susanna | Susanna | |
| 2001 | Ee Nadu Innale Vare | Beena Benjamin IPS | |
| 2001 | Nagaravadhu | Sukanya | |
| 2002 | India Gate | IPS Officer | |
| 2002 | Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha | Unniyarcha | |
| 2002 | Ente Hridhayathinte Udama | Uma | |
| 2002 | Ee Bhargavee Nilayam | Bhargavi | |
| 2002 | Akhila | Akhila | |
| 2002 | Bheri | Vasudha Nedungadi | |
| 2002 | Danny | Margarette | |
| 2006 | Balram Vs Tharadas | MLA Rani | |
| 2006 | Chinthamani Kolacase | Adv.Pattammal | |
| 2008 | Twenty:20 | in the Title Song | Archive Footage Only |
| 2009 | Black Dalia | Daisy Wilfred IPS | |
| 2011 | Manushyamrugam | | Producer only |
| 2011 | Uppukandam Brothers Back In Action | Kochammini | |
| 2024 | Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam | | |
| 2024 | Rifle Club | Ittiyanam | |

### Telugu

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1988 | Chinni Krishnudu | |
| 1988 | Dharma Teja | Vichya |
| 1989 | Simha Swapnam | Kavita |
| 1989 | Bhale Dampatulu | Vani |
| 1989 | Naa Mogudu Naake Sontham | Sumithra |
| 1989 | Sahasame Naa Oopiri | Padmini |
| 1990 | Kondaveeti Rowdy | Rekha |
| 1990 | Neti Dowrjanyam | Swathi |
| 1990 | Kodama Simham | Bar servant |
| 1990 | Dagudumuthala Dampathyam | Rekha |
| 1990 | Mama Alludu | Jaya |
| 1990 | Maa Inti Katha | Gouri |
| 1990 | Doctor Bhavani | Meghamala |
| 1990 | Rowdyism Nashinchali | Devi |
| 1990 | Prema Yuddham | Julie |
| 1990 | Aayudham | Rangamma |
| 1991 | Chinna Kodalu | Durga |
| 1991 | Irugillu Porugillu | Subbulu |
| 1991 | Parishkaram | Jyothi |
| 1991 | Sarpayagam | Chitrangi |
| 1991 | Nenera Police | Vani |
| 1992 | Collector Gaari Alludu | Madhuri |
| 1992 | Gharana Mogudu | Bhavani |
| 1992 | Seetapathi Chalo Tirupathi | Aliveelu Mangatayaru |
| 1992 | Palleturi Pellam | Kanakadurga Devi |
| 1992 | Alexander | Vaani |
| 1992 | Samrat Ashoka | Tishya Raksha |
| 1992 | Vadinagaari Gajulu | Janaki |
| 1992 | SP Teja | |
| 1993 | Joker | Usha Rani |
| 1993 | Ladies Special | Hema |
| 1993 | Mama Kodalu | Deepa |
| 1993 | Prema Chitram Pelli Vichitram | Usha |
| 1994 | Gangmaster | Swapna |
| 1994 | Raitu Bharatam | Sita |
| 1994 | Prema & Co. | Sundari |
| 1994 | Presidentugari Alludu | Lavanya |
| 1994 | Maro Quit India | Durga |
| 1994 | Dongala Rajyam | Vyjayanthi |
| 1994 | Todi Kodallu | Jyoti |
| 1995 | God Father | Rani |
| 1998 | Adavilo Arunakka | |
| 2002 | Action No. 1 | Kiran |
| 2002 | Janam | Inspector Swapna |
| 2006 | Mudhu | |
| 2011 | Ratnavali | |
| 2017 | Jaya Janaki Nayaka | Narayana's sister |
| 2020 | Orey Bujjiga | Chamundeswari |
| 2024 | Raajadhani Files | Farmer |

### Tamil

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1986 | Mannukkul Vairam | Chinnathayee |
| 1988 | Nallavan | Radha |
| 1988 | Poonthotta Kaavalkaran | Vidhya |
| 1988 | Thaimel Aanai | Vijaya |
| 1988 | Ithu Engal Neethi | |
| 1989 | Sanghu Pushpangal | Rosy |
| 1997 | My India | Malavika |
| 2002 | Jaya | |
| 2005 | Idhaya Thirudan | Sudharani |
| 2012 | Anandha Thollai | |

### Kannada

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1989 | Parashuram | Usha |
| 1990 | Sididedda Gandu | Anitha |
| 1990 | Ranabheri | Rosy |
| 1991 | Bombay Dada | Veena |
| 1991 | Mangalya | Lavanya |

### Hindi

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1994 | Zakhmi Sipahi | |
| 1996 | Jung | Laxmi Saxena |
| 1996 | Bhishma | Paro |

## Television

* Mattoruval (2010) as Annie/Geetha Varma (Surya TV)
* Kaatrinile Varum Geetham as Gayathri Devi (Sun TV)
* Samudram (2011)
* Dear Kairali (2002) - (Surya TV) as Host