Revathi

Asha Kelunni Nair, known by her stage name Revathi, is an acclaimed Indian actress and film director born on July 8, 1966, in Kochi (also spelled Cochin), Kerala, India.

She works predominantly in Tamil and Malayalam cinema, with notable contributions to Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada films as well. She has appeared in more than 100 movies across these four language industries over a career spanning more than 30 years.

She began her journey in entertainment as a child artist in Malayalam films during the 1970s. She made her acting debut as a lead actress in the critically acclaimed Malayalam film "Mane" (The Home) in 1982.

Full Name	Revathi
Other Name(s)	Asha Kelunni Nair
Occupation	Actress/Film Director/Social Worker
Date of Birth	08-July-1966 (60 years)
Birth Location	Cochin, Kerala, India
Gender	Female
Nationality	Indian
Religion	Hindu
Zodiac Sign	Cancer
Height	160 cm
Weight	65 kg
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Qualification	Graduate
Hobbies	Dancing

Her official acting debut in Tamil cinema came with "Mann Vasanai" in 1983. She gained widespread recognition and appreciation for her breakthrough performance in Mani Ratnam's Tamil film "Mouna Ragam" (1986), where she portrayed a woman caught between two suitors.

Other notable films in her extensive repertoire include "Selvi" (1985), "Kizhakku Vaasal" (1990), "Anjali" (1990), "Thevar Magan" (1992), "Thalaimurai" (1998), "Mizhi Randilum" (2003), "Ab Tak Chhappan" (2004), "Margarita with a Straw" (2015), and "Father's Day" (2012).

She has won numerous accolades throughout her career, including three National Film Awards in three different categories and six Filmfare Awards South. She has received five Best Actress Filmfare Awards for her performances in the Tamil films "Mann Vasanai," "Thevar Magan," and "Anjali," the Telugu film "Ankuram," and the Malayalam film "Kakothi Kaavil Appoopan Thadigal".

Beyond acting, she has established herself as a film director. Her directorial debut was "Mitr, My Friend" (2002), a rare Indian English film at the time that won her the National Award for Best Director (English Film).

The film addressed the complexities of women's lives and received positive reviews. She subsequently directed "Phir Milenge" (2004), one of the first Hindi movies to deal sensitatively with the subject of AIDS. Her other directing credits include "Mumbai Cutting" (2010) and the English short film "Red Building Where the Sun Sets," which won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare.

She is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer who has studied since the age of seven and performed her arangetram (traditional debut performance) in Chennai in 1979. She was born to Malank Kelunni Nair, a Major in the Indian Army from Palakkad, and Lalitha Kelunni.

Apart from her film career, Revathi has been involved with several social organizations, including The Banyan, Ability Foundation, Tanner Foundation, and Vidyasagar. She has also served as a member of several film festivals, including the Chennai International Film Festival and the International Film Festival of India. She was previously married to Suresh Menon.

Photo Gallery