# Bhanupriya

Bhanupriya (born Manga Bhanu; 15 January 1967) is an Indian actress and dancer. In a four decade old career, she has appeared in 155 feature films, predominantly in Telugu and Tamil, and a few in Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. She has starred in a variety of roles, which garnered her three state Nandi Awards, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South and two Cinema Express Awards.

## Early life

Bhanupriya was born on 15 January 1967 in Rangampeta village near Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh in a Telugu-speaking family, to Pandu Babu and Ragamali. She was named Mangabhanu after birth. 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.

## Career

She was one of the top mainstream actresses for more than a decade from 1983 to 1995. She was originally chosen to be the lead actress for Thooral Ninnu Pochchu (1982) after Bhagyaraj spotted her at a dance school, but after the photoshoot he felt she looked too young for this role and she was replaced by Sulakshana thus made her acting debut with the Tamil film Mella Pesungal (1983). 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. In 1988, she appeared in Swarnakamalam, which was screened at the Indian panorama section of the 1988 International Film Festival of India and the Ann Arbor Film Festival. Bhanupriya received the Indian Express Award for Best Actress, the Nandi Award for Best Actress, and the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance in the film. 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. 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 honours.

## Personal life

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. Bhanupriya returned to India, and resumed her acting career. She lives in Chennai with her daughter. Kaushal died in 2018 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

## Filmography
### Film
#### Acting roles

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

#### Dubbing artist

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

### Television

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
### Nandi Awards

* Best Actress - Swarna Kamalam (1988)
* Best Character Actress - Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo (2002)
* Best Supporting Actress - Chatrapati (2005)

### Filmfare Awards South

* Best Actress - Telugu in 1988 for her performance in Swarna Kamalam
* Best Actress - Tamil in 1989 for her performance in Aararo Aaariraro

### Other Awards

* Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize in 1989 for the film Aararo Aaariraro
* Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize in 1991 for the film Azhagan
* Cinema Express Awards in 1996 for the film Peddarayudu
* Screen Videocon Award for the television serial Shakti.
* JFW Divas of South - Awarded on 12 October 2012 by Just for Women magazine for her contribution to south Indian cinema.