Lakshmi (Actress) Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Full name: Yaragudipadi Venkata Mahalakshmi

Profession(s): Actor, Director

Date of Birth: 13 December 1952 (Saturday)

Age (as of 2024): 72 Years

Birthplace: Madras, Madras State (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu), India

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Religion: Hinduism

Caste: Brahmin [1] Deccan Herald

Age: 72 Years

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PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): in centimeters – 165 cm in meters – 1.65 m in feet & inches – 5’ 5”

Eye Colour: Dark Brown

Hair Colour: Black

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Marital Status: Married

Affairs/Boyfriends: • Mohan Sharma (actor, filmmaker) • K. S. Sivachandran (actor, director) Note: She entered into a relationship with Mohan during the filming of the Malayalam film Chattakkari (1974). She started dating Sivachandran during the shooting of En Uyir Kannamma, a 1988 Tamil film.

Husband/Spouse: First Husband- Bhaskaran (m. 1969; div. 1974) Second Husband- Mohan Sharma (m. 1975; div. 1980) (actor, filmmaker) Third Husband- K. S. Sivachandran (m. 1987 – present) (actor, director)

Children: Daughter(s) – 2 • Aishwariyaa Bhaskaran (actress) • Sivachandran Samyuktha Note: Aishwariyaa Bhaskaran was born to Lakshmi and Bhaskaran. Lakshmi and Sivachandran adopted Samyuktha in 2000. She talked about adopting Samyukhta, in an interview, and said, “I would say she adopted us as parents. Our attitude as parents at this stage in life is different, our approach and behavior is not the same when we are 19, the age when I gave birth to my first daughter Aishwariyaa Bhaskaran.”

Parents: Father – Yaragudipati Varada Rao (deceased on 13 February 1979; filmmaker) Mother – Kumari Rukmani (actress)

Husband: K. S. Sivachandran

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Debut: As an actor Films: Tamil- Sri Valli (1961) as Child Valli Telugu- Bandhavyalu (1968) as Lakshmi Kannada- Goa Dalli CID 999 (1968) Malayalam- Chattakari (1974) as Julie Hindi- Julie (1975) as Julie As a director Film: Tamil- Mazhalai Pattalam (1980)

Awards: Kerala State Film Awards • 1974: Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for Chattakari Filmfare Awards South • 1974: Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress for Dikkatra Parvathi • 1974: Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actress for Chattakari • 1975: Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actress for Chalanum • 1976: Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actress for Mohiniyaattam • 1978: Filmfare Special Jury Award for Panthulamma • 1983: Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress for Unmaigal • 1986: Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress for Sravana Meghalu • 1993: Filmfare Award for Best Kannada Actress for Hoovu Hannu • 1998: Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (South) Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards • 1975: Most outstanding work of the year for Julie Filmfare Awards • 1976: Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Julie National Film Awards • 1977: National Film Award for Best Actress for Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal Nandi Awards • 1977: Best Actress for the film Panthulamma • 1986: Best Actress for the film Sravana Meghalu • 2001: Best Character Actress for the film Murari • 2012: Special Jury Award for the film Mithunam Tamil Nadu State Film Awards • 1978: Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for Oru Nadigai Naatakam Paarkiraal Karnataka State Film Awards • 1993: Best Actress for Hoovu Hannu • 2008: Best Supporting Actress for Vamshi • 2017: Dr. Rajkumar Award (the highest honour in the Kannada film industry) South India International Movie Awards • 2021: SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Oh! Baby

OTHER INFORMATION

Hobby: Reading

Other Relatives: Maternal Grandmother – Nungambakkam Janaki (actress) Note: She acted in the 1932 Tamil film Harishchandra.

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Lakshmi, a distinguished Indian actress and director, has made a remarkable impact primarily within the South Indian entertainment industries. Her illustrious career boasts an impressive list of films, including the iconic “Julie” in 1975, the comedic hit “Jeans” in 1998, the dramatic “Padayappa” in 1999, and the recent successes of “Hulchul” in 2004 and “Oh! Baby” in 2019. Notably, she has etched her name in the annals of Indian cinema by winning the prestigious Filmfare Award for Best Actress an astounding eight times, showcasing her talent across various linguistic film industries, including Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.

Lakshmi’s journey into acting began in 1968 with her role as Lalitha in the Tamil film “Jeevanamsam,” for which she was compensated Rs. 2,500—a significant sum at that time. Reflecting on her early experiences, she noted that aspiring actors had no access to formal acting classes and instead learned through hands-on experience. She stated, “When I started acting in 1968, there was no concept of professional training. You learned about acting out of experience.” This pragmatic approach allowed her to hone her skills intuitively, revealing her natural penchant for storytelling. Her initial fascination with the glamour of the film industry stemmed from her youth, where the allure of diamond earrings valued at Rs 3,000 became a source of aspiration, aligning with the dreams shared by many young women of her era.

As her career progressed, Lakshmi quickly rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s, featuring in several Tamil films, including “Kanni Penn,” “Annaiyum Pithavum,” and “Magane Nee Vazhga” in 1969. That same year, she collaborated with Krishna Ghattamaneni in the Telugu film “Karpura Harathi,” laying the foundation for her prominent presence in South Indian cinema. By the 1970s, she had solidified her stardom, with significant roles such as Latha in the 1973 Telugu film “Puttinillu Mettinillu,” and Parvathi in the 1974 film “Dikkatra Parvathi,” which earned her a Filmfare Award. The same year marked her Malayalam debut with “Chattakkari,” a box office hit that not only garnered her accolades, including the Filmfare Award and Malayalam State Film Award, but also became the first film to run for 40 consecutive weeks in a Bangalore theater.

Throughout her prolific career, Lakshmi showcased her versatility, starring in various films that earned her multiple awards and critical acclaim. In 1977, her portrayal of Ganga in “Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal” earned her the National Film Award, further establishing her as a formidable actress in the industry. She ventured briefly into Bollywood, appearing in two films in 1977, but soon returned to focus on the thriving South Indian film scene where she had already built a robust career. With notable performances in Tamil films like “Oru Nadigai Natakam Parkiral” and Kannada titles such as “Kiladi Jodi,” her on-screen chemistry with actors like Anant Nag became legendary, as they starred together in over 25 films that resonated deeply with audiences.

As she transitioned into directing, Lakshmi made her directorial debut with “Mazhalai Pattalam” in 1980, showcasing her multifaceted talents. By the 1980s and beyond, she continued to win accolades for her performances across languages, including the Filmfare Award for the Tamil film “Unmaigal” in 1983 and a Nandi Award for “Sravana Megalu” in 1986. Lakshmi’s engagements extended beyond films into television, where she participated in various serials and reality shows, keeping her connected to her fans through different mediums. In recent years, she has remained a significant figure in the industry, with appearances in films like “Oh! Baby,” “Trikona,” and the web series “Sweet Kaaram Coffee,” further cementing her legacy as a versatile and enduring talent in Indian cinema. Throughout her professional journey, she has remained true to her roots, often reflecting on her grandfather’s aspirations for her to pursue a career in law, a dream she navigated alongside her passion for acting, which ultimately allowed her to thrive in multiple linguistic landscapes, including Hindi, English, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.