Priyamani

Priyamani (born Priya Vasudev Mani Iyer on 4 June 1984) is an Indian film actress and former model who appears predominantly in South Indian cinema. She has worked extensively in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi films. Known for her versatility and linguistic range, she is a recipient of the National Film Award and multiple Filmfare Awards across different languages.

Priyamani
Born	Priya Vasudev Mani Iyer 4 June 1984 Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Actress, Model
Years active	2004–present
Education	Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
Alma mater	Bishop Cotton Women’s College, Bengaluru
Languages	Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, English
Known for	Yamadonga, Charulatha, Vishnuvardhana, Raavan

Early Life and Family

Priyamani was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, into a Tamil Iyer family. Her father, Vasudeva Mani Iyer, hails from Palakkad, Kerala, and is involved in plantation business. Her mother, Latha Mani Iyer, is from Thiruvananthapuram and was a national-level badminton player in her youth before becoming a bank manager at Union Bank of India. She has an elder brother, Vishakh Iyer.

She is the granddaughter of noted Carnatic vocalist Kamala Kailas. Actress Vidya Balan is her cousin, and playback singer Malgudi Shubha is her aunt.

Education

Priyamani completed her schooling at Sri Aurobindo Memorial School, Banashankari, Bengaluru. She later studied at Bishop Cotton Women’s College on J.C. Road, Bengaluru. She pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology through a non-regular course.

Career

Early Career and Debut

Priyamani entered the film industry while she was still in school. Her debut came with the Tamil film Kangalal Kaidhu Sei (2004), directed by Bharathiraja. She subsequently made her Malayalam debut with Sathyam (2004) and her Telugu debut with Pellaina Kothalo (2006).

Her first Kannada film was Raam (2009), opposite Puneeth Rajkumar, which marked the beginning of her strong association with Kannada cinema.

Rise to Prominence

Priyamani rose to national prominence with her performance in the Telugu fantasy film Yamadonga, which earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress. She continued to receive critical acclaim for films such as Muththazhagu, Thirakkatha, Charulatha, Malaikottai, and Raavan.

Her Kannada films Vishnuvardhana, Anna Bond, and Ko Ko further established her as a leading actress in the industry.

Television and Other Work

Known for her multilingual abilities, Priyamani has served as a judge on several dance-based television reality shows across languages, including D 4 Dance, Dancing Star, and Kings of Dance. She has also appeared in Hindi cinema, gaining wider recognition among pan-Indian audiences.

Personal Life

Priyamani was engaged to Mustafa Raj, an event management professional, in May 2016. She has been vocal about social issues, particularly women’s rights and animal welfare, and is associated with animal rights campaigns. She is a vegetarian and prefers a simple lifestyle.

Interests and Advocacy

Priyamani enjoys listening to music and reading novels by authors such as Dan Brown and Jeffrey Archer. She is an advocate for animal rights and has supported campaigns against animal cruelty. She has also been associated with the Celebrity Cricket League as an ambassador.

Filmography

Selected films include Kangalal Kaidhu Sei (2004), Yamadonga, Malaikottai, Raavan, Thirakkatha, Charulatha, Vishnuvardhana, Anna Bond, and Ko Ko.

Awards and Recognition

• National Film Award for Best Actress
• Multiple Filmfare Awards across South Indian languages
• Widely regarded as one of the most versatile actresses of her generation