# Gopika

Girly Anto, credited by her stage name Gopika (born 1 February 1984), is an Indian former actress, who has predominantly starred in Malayalam films. Starting her career as a model, she ventured into acting with the Malayalam film, Pranayamanithooval (2002), directed by Thulasidas, opposite Jayasurya and Vineeth Kumar. She acted in the Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film industries as well.

## Early life

Gopika was born Girly Anto into a Syro Malabar Catholic family, to Anto Francis and Tessy Anto of Ollur in Thrissur, Kerala. She has a younger sister, Glini. After completing her education to the 12th Standard (Year 12) at St. Raphael's Convent Girls High School, Ollur, she studied for a degree in sociology at Calicut University. She also learnt classical dance from an acclaimed teacher, Kamalher, and she was crowned 'Miss College' during her farewell ceremony at the college. The beauty contest 'Miss Thrissur' was a turning point in her life. Though she did not win the title, she stood as the runner-up in the contest, which gained her a few modeling assignments. She claims that she never wanted to be an actress, and her ambition was actually to be an air-hostess.

## Career

Her first film was Pranayamanithooval, in which she starred with Jayasurya and Vineeth under the direction of Thulasi Das, did not do well, but it got her recognition in the industry. Her second film, 4 the People, was a blockbuster and was dubbed in many Indian languages. It was directed by Jayaraj, and she acted opposite Tamil actor Bharath. The song "Lejjavathiye Ninde Kalla Kadaikkannil" from the film was a big hit in Kerala. Renowned Tamil movie director Cheran signed her up for his film Autograph, which was another big hit in 2004. She also acted in Kana Kandaen (2005).
Among her other work, she has acted in the Kannada film Kanasina Loka, her Kannada debut, which was a remake of the 1998 Malayalam film Meenathil Thalikettu which is also her one and only Kannada film till date and the Telugu remake of Azhagi, Leta Manasulu, both, crashed at the box office. She starred in the Malayalam movie Keerthi Chakra opposite Jiiva. Directed by Major Ravi, the movie tells the story of a soldier against the backdrop of the Kargil war. Apart from Keerthi Chakra, she did another movie with Dileep: Pachakuthira. Her previous film with Dileep, Chanthupottu, was a big hit. Veruthe Oru Bharya was a phenomenal hit, and it gained her the Asianet Best Actress award of 2008. Sreeja has been providing her voice since the first movie. Devi has voiced in the last three films and Vimmy Mariam George in Smart City.

## Personal life

On 17 July 2008, Gopika married Ajilesh Chacko, a doctor working in Northern Ireland. They have a daughter and a son.
The family then moved to Brisbane, Australia and has settled there.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
| 2002 | Pranayamanithooval | Meera Manjari | Malayalam | Debut film |
| 2003 | Aaradyam Parayum | Priya | Malayalam | Unreleased |
| 2004 | 4 the People | Divya Anand | Malayalam | Partially reshot in Tamil as 4 Students |
| 2004 | Autograph | Lathika | Tamil | Tamil debut |
| 2004 | Kanasina Loka | Amulya | Kannada | Kannada debut |
| 2004 | Naa Autograph | Latika | Telugu | Telugu debut Remake of Autograph |
| 2004 | Letha Manasulu | Bhanu | Telugu | |
| 2004 | Yuvasena | Sarika | Telugu | Partially reshot version of 4 the People |
| 2004 | Vesham | Revathi | Malayalam | Won - Asianet Best Supporting Actress Award |
| 2005 | Finger Print | Preethi Varma | Malayalam | |
| 2005 | Chanthupottu | Malathi | Malayalam | |
| 2005 | Nerariyan CBI | Anitha | Malayalam | |
| 2005 | The Tiger | Suhara Ahammed | Malayalam | |
| 2005 | Kana Kandaen | Archana | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Ponniyin Selvan | Kani | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Muddhula Koduku | Kanie | Telugu | Partially reshot version of Ponniyin Selvan |
| 2005 | Thotti Jaya | Brindha | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Pachakuthira | Nimmi | Malayalam | |
| 2006 | The Don | Zaheeda | Malayalam | |
| 2006 | Keerthi Chakra | Sandhya | Malayalam | Won - Asianet Best Star Pair Award (shared with Jeeva) Partially reshot in Tamil as "Aran" |
| 2006 | Pothan Vava | Gladis | Malayalam | |
| 2006 | Emtan Magan | Janani | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Veedhi | Seetha Mahalakshmi | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Mayavi | Indu | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Smart City | Devi | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Ali Bhai | Ganga | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Nagaram | Radhika | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Veerappu | Bharathi | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Malabar Wedding | Smitha | Malayalam | |
| 2008 | Janmam | Anthony's wife | Malayalam | |
| 2008 | Annan Thambi | Lakshmi | Malayalam | |
| 2008 | Twenty:20 | Devi | Malayalam | |
| 2008 | Velli Thirai | Mythili | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Veruthe Oru Bharya | Bindu Sugunan | Malayalam | Won - Asianet Best Actress Award |
| 2008 | Veedu Mamoolodu Kadu | Swathi | Telugu | |
| 2009 | Swantham Lekhakan | Vimala | Malayalam | |
| 2013 | Bharya Athra Pora | Priya Sathyanathan | Malayalam | |