Annapurna Prabhakar (born 9 November 1980) 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), 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 (1990). She dropped out of college when her career as a lead actress took off. She later went on to pursue a master's degree in sociology from Karnataka University through correspondence.
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. 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". On her portrayal as the love interest of Ramesh Aravind's character in Snehaloka, Srinivasa stated that she was "a sweet delight to watch."
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. 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.
Personal life Anu first married Krishna Kumar, an engineer with the telecommunication department, and son of actress Jayanthi, in March 2002. After 12 years of marriage, the couple applied for a divorce by mutual consent in January 2014. On 25 April 2016, Anu married model-turned-actor Raghu Mukherjee. They have a daughter named Nandana.
Filmography Note: all films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted. Year Film Role Notes1990 Chapala Chennigaraya Anu Uncredited Swarna Samsara Munni Credited as Baby Annapurna 1991 Shanti Kranti Young Jyothi Uncredited 1992 Obbarigintha Obbaru Mala Credited as Baby Annapurna1999 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 Mr. Harishchandra Pallavi Kanasugara Special appearance Vishalakshammana Ganda Vishalakshi Shivappanayaka Girija 2002 Jamindaarru Anusuya Annayya Tammayya Anu Arputham Priya Tamil filmThavarige Baa Thangi Gowri Olu Saar Bari Olu Roja 2003 Shri Kalikamba Eeswari Simultaneously shot in Tamil as Annai KaligambalNan 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 appearance2007 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 (1990; English) Bale Bangara Home Minister Shrimati Karnataka Manju Musukida Haadi Nooru Dinagalu Triveni Sangama Nannamma Super Star (Judge)
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