Karthika Menon (born 6 June 1986), known by her stage name Bhavana, is an Indian film actress who predominantly appears in Malayalam films. She made her acting debut at the age of 15 with the Malayalam film Nammal (2002).
Early life Bhavana was born as Karthika Menon on 6 June 1986 in Thrissur, Kerala. She is the daughter of assistant cinematographer G. Balachandran and Pushpa. She has an elder brother, Jayadev. She was educated at Holy Family Convent Girls School in Chembukkavu, Thrissur.
Bhavana has described herself as a restless person and someone who's "hard to handle". When she was young, she dreamed of becoming an actress. She was an 11th standard student when she got her break in a film career.
Career Bhavana made her acting debut in the Malayalam film Nammal (2002) at the age of 15. She portrayed the character Parimalam, and the role proved to be her breakthrough performance. The following year she had six releases, Thilakkam, Chronic Bachelor, C.I.D. Moosa, Swapnakoodu, Ivar and Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu failed at the box office. In 2005, she appeared in Hridayathil Sookshikkan, Police, directed by V. K. Prakash Banglavil Outha. and Daivanamathil. She then appeared in Chanthupottu, Naran and Bus Conductor.
In 2006, she made her debut in Tamil cinema with the release of Chithiram Pesuthadi. She then starred in Chinthamani Kolacase, Kisan, Chess, and despite having mixed reviews Kizhakku Kadarkarai Salai, Veyil, and Koodal Nagar. In 2007, she starred in Deepavali, Chotta Mumbai,Aarya, and Rameswaram In 2008, she was seen in the films, Vaazhthugal, Ontari which marks her Telugu debut film,Hero,Jayamkondaan, Twenty:20, Lollipop Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded, Winter,Robin Hood, Mahatma, Happy Husbands, and Aasal.
In 2010, she was seen in the Kannada film alongside Puneeth Rajkumar, Jackie, Marykkundoru Kunjaadu with Dileep, Doctor Love, Kudumbasree Travels, The Metro, Oru Marubhoomikkadha, Vishnuvardhana, Nippu, Romeo, Ozhimuri, Trivandrum Lodge, Yaare Koogadali, Topiwala and Bachchan. Her next films were Honey Bee and Ezhamathe Varavu, She appeared in films such as Polytechnic, Koothara, Angry Babies in Love, Hello Namasthe and Kuttikalundu Sookshikkuka, all of which were poorly received.
She was a part of Ivide, Chowka, Honey Bee 2: Celebrations, Adventures of Omanakuttan, Vilakkumaram, Adam Joan. In 2018, she starred in Tagaru, and 99, In 2021, she appeared in a series of Kannada films, Inspector Vikram, [email protected], Govinda Govinda and Bhajarangi 2.
In 2022, it was announced that Bhavana would return to Malayalam cinema with Ntikkakkakkoru Premondarnn and the film was released in 2023.
She came back to Tamil cinema after 15 years, with the horror film The Door (2025).
Abduction and sexual assault In February 2017, she was kidnapped while returning home from a shoot and sexually assaulted by a group of men. In April 2017, media reports, citing statements by investigating police officials, alleged that actor Dileep had links to the main accused, Sunil N. S. (Pulsar Suni). In July 2017, Dileep was arrested by the investigating team, which said in its charge sheet that there was circumstantial evidence for Dileep's alleged conspiracy with the other accused men. He was released on bail in October 2017. In 2022, the police registered an additional case against Dileep and five others, alleging attempts to intimidate an investigating officer.
After the assault, Bhavana withdrew from the Malayalam movie industry for five years. Bhavana made her first comment about the case in 2022. She spoke of attempts to "humiliate, silence and isolate" her and said that the journey "from being a victim to becoming a survivor" had not been easy. Writing on her Instagram page, she vowed to keep striving for justice to ensure no one else had to endure such an ordeal.
Bhavana's assault partly contributed to the creation of Women in Cinema Collective and the formation of Hema Committee. A couple of months after Bhavana spoke out, the Kerala state assembly announced plans to implement legislation to protect women working in the Malayalam film industry.
The trial began on 8 March 2018 at a sessions court in Ernakulam and continued for eight years, with charges against 10 accused, including Dileep. On 8 December 2025, the Ernakulam Principal District and Sessions Court delivered its verdict, acquitting Dileep and three others, while convicting the main accused, Pulsar Suni, and five others. The convicted persons were sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for gang rape, criminal conspiracy, and other offences. The court further directed that ₹5 lakh collected as fines be paid to Bhavana.
Personal life Bhavana and Kannada film producer Naveen were engaged in March 2017. The couple married on 22 January 2018.
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Bhavana was one among the highest-paid Malayalam actresses. In the Bangalore Times Most Desirable Women list, Bhavana was placed 27th in 2017, 23rd in 2019, and 30th in 2020.
Filmography
Films
Year Title Role Language Notes 2002 Nammal Parimalam Malayalam 2003 Thilakkam Gauri Cameo appearance Chronic Bachelor Sandhya C.I.D. Moosa Meenakshi Patel Swapnakoodu Padma Ivar Nandhini Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu Sangeetha Varma 2004Parayam Sudha Chathikkatha Chanthu Indira RunwaySpecial appearanceSpecial appearance in the song "Osalama Ailasa" Youth Festival Parvathy Amrutham Mridula 2005Hridayathil Sookshikkan Amritha Police Sethulakshmi Bunglavil OuthaAswathy Daivanamathil Sameera Chanthupottu Rosie Naran Leela Bus Conductor Sugandhi Udayananu TharamGayathri2006Chithiram Pesuthadi Charumathi (Charu) Tamil Tamil Debut Chinthamani Kolacase Chinthamani Warrier Malayalam Kisan Kilimathi Chess Dr. Radhika Kizhakku Kadarkarai Salai Priya Tamil Veyil Meenakshi 2007Deepavali Susi Koodal Nagar Manimekalai Chotta Mumbai 'Parakkum' Latha Malayalam Aarya Deepika Tamil Rameswaram Vasanthi 2008Vaazhthugal Kayalvizhi Thirunavukkarasu Ontari Bujji Telugu Telugu DebutMullaMentally challenged ladyMalayalamCameo appearance Jayamkondaan Annapurani Tamil Hero Krishnaveni Telugu Twenty:20 Ashwathy Nambiar Malayalam Lollipop Rosebella 2009Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded Aarathi Menon Winter Shyama Ramdas Robin Hood Roopa Lakshmi Mahatma Krishnaveni Telugu2010Happy Husbands Krishnendu Mukundhan Malayalam Aasal Sulabha Pillai Tamil Jackie Lakshmi Kannada Kannada Debut Marykkundoru Kunjaadu Mary Ittichan Malayalam2011Kudumbasree Travels Aswathy The Metro Anupama Doctor Love Ebin Vishnuvardhana Bharathi Kannada Oru Marubhoomikkadha Eliana Thomas Malayalam2012NippuVaishnaviTeluguCameo appearanceRomeo Shruti Kannada Ozhimuri Balamani Malayalam Trivandrum Lodge Malavika Yaare Koogadali Bharathi Kannada2013Topiwala Suman Bedi Bachchan Dr. Ashwini Honey Bee Angel Malayalam Ezhamathe Varavu Bhanu 2014Polytechnic Ashwathi Nair Koothara Swathy Angry Babies in Love Sarah 2015Mythri Herself Kannada Cameo appearanceIvide Roshni Mathew MalayalamOpen Your Mind Sandhya Short flimKohinoorLillyCameo appearance2016Hello Namasthe Priya Mukunda MurariRukminiKannadaSpecial appearance in the song "Murari Lola"Kuttikalundu SookshikkukaShahida Gautham Malayalam2017Chowka Bhoomika Kannada Honey Bee 2: Celebrations AngelMalayalam Adventures of OmanakuttanPallavi Vilakkumaram Aswathy AnanthakrishnanHoney Bee 2.5Angel / HerselfGuest appearanceOru Visheshapetta Biriyani KissaKumari KamalambikaGuest appearanceAdam JoanShwetha 2018 Tagaru PanchamiKannada201999S. Janaki Nagaraj (Jaanu)2021Inspector Vikram [email protected] Bhajarangi 2 ChinminkiGovinda GovindaPadmavathi 2023 Ntikkakkakkoru PremondarnnNithyaMalayalamRani: The Real StoryTeacher 2024 Case of Kondana ACP Lakshmi Kannada Nadikar Ann Bava Malayalam Hunt Keerthi Jayarajan 2025 The Door Mithra Tamil 2026 Anomie Zara Philip Malayalam SparkVaidehiKannada Bhavana / Akanksha Post-production Veeravva Filming Filming
Television All shows are in Malayalam-language. Year Title Role Channel/ Platform(s) Notes 2019 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Keralam GuestZee Keralam 2021 Boom Rang Village Bhavana YouTube 2021 Let's Rock N Roll GuestZee Keralam 2021 Manju Bhavangal GuestZee Keralam 2021 Super 4 Juniors GuestMazhavil Manorama 2022 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Keralam Li'l Champs GuestZee Keralam 2022 Oru Kodi ParticipantFlowers TV 2023 Star Singer Junior GuestAsianet 2025 Star Singer GuestAsianet 2026 Comedy Cooks Judge Asianet JioHotstar
Accolades 2003: Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention for Nammal 2003: Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Female Debut for Nammal. 2003: Asianet Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for Nammal. 2006: Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for Daivanamathil. 2006: Asianet Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for Daivanamathil. 2007: Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for Chithiram Pesuthadi. 2024: Filmfare Award South - Special Award
References
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