| Rupini | |
| Birth Name: | Komal Mahuvakar |
| Birth Date: | 4 November 1969[1] |
| Birth Place: | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Years Active: | 1975–2020 |
| Partner: | Mohan Kumar |
| Children: | 1 |
Komal Mahuvakar, better known by her stage name Rupini, is an Indian actress who has appeared in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu language films during the late 1980s and early 1990s.[2]
Mahuvakar was born in Mumbai into a well educated family. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a dietitian.[3] [4] She started to learn dancing at the age of four from Lachhu Maharaj in Mumbai. She learnt all the forms of classical dances including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi and Kathak in a short span.
She was accidentally spotted by the film-maker Hrishikesh Mukherjee who offered her child roles in his films such as Mili (1975), Kotwal Saab (1977) and Khubsoorat (1980). Earlier she acted in few Hindi movies, doing character roles under her real name Komal Mahuvakar.[5] She started appearing in lead roles in movies like Payal Ki Jhankaar (1980), (1980), Ghungroo (1983), Meri Adalat (1984) and Awara Baap (1985).She changed her name to Rupini after taking up acting assignments in South Indian movies like Cooliekkaran (1987), Manithan (1987), En Thangachi Padichava (1988), Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990) and Madurai Veeran Enga Saami (1990). Though she shuffled between Bollywood and Kollywood movies but preferred to use both names.[6] She stopped acting after her marriage to Mohan Kumar in 1995.[7] Soon after her marriage, Rupini quit films and concentrated on her family based at Chembur. She started a heart hospital at Chembur for ailing patients and named it Universal Heart Hospital.[8] In 2020, she made her comeback in the Tamil television series Chithi 2.[9]
| Year | Title | Role | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Cooliekkaran | Priya | ||
| Ninaikka Therintha Maname | Vidya | |||
| Theertha Karaiyinile | Poonjolai | |||
| Manithan | Roopa | |||
| 1988 | En Thangachi Padichava | Valli | ||
| Thaai Paasam | Divya | |||
| Puthiya Vaanam | Devaki | |||
| 1989 | Enne Petha Raasa | Lakshmi | ||
| Pillaikkaga | Rupini | |||
| Apoorva Sagodharargal | Mano | |||
| Raja Chinna Roja | Rupini | |||
| 1990 | Pulan Visaranai | Gayathri | ||
| Pattikattan | Mala | |||
| Salem Vishnu | Shanthi | |||
| Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga | Renu | |||
| Pattanamdhan Pogalamadi | Kalaa | |||
| Madurai Veeran Enga Saami | Sakthi | |||
| Thalattu Padava | Narmadha | |||
| Michael Madana Kama Rajan | Chakkubai | |||
| 1991 | Naadu Adhai Naadu | Manimegalai | ||
| Annan Kaatiya Vazhi | Seetha | |||
| Vetri Karangal | ||||
| Thanga Thamaraigal | Latha | |||
| Captain Prabhakaran | Gayathri | |||
| Veetla Eli Velila Puli | Lakshmi | |||
| Pudhiya Raagam | Sheela | |||
| Naan Valartha Poove | Seetha | |||
| Pillai Paasam | ||||
| Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu | Geetha | |||
| Moondrezhuthil En Moochirukkum | Parvathy Namboodiri | |||
| 1992 | Ellaichami | Kaveri | ||
| 1993 | Uzhaippali | Dancer | ||
| Pathini Penn | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize | |||
| 1994 | Athiradi Padai | Dancer | ||
| Namma Annachi | Ayya's wife | |||
| Thamarai | Sarasu |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Naduvazhikal | Rose Mary | ||
| 1990 | Midhya | Devi | ||
| 1992 | Kunukkitta Kozhi | Swarnalatha | ||
| Naadody | Meera Nair | |||
| 1993 | Bandhukkal Sathrukkal | Sakunthala |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Mili | Child artiste | |
| 1977 | Kotwal Saab | Child artiste | |
| 1978 | Des Pardes | Child artiste | |
| 1979 | Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin | Child artiste | |
| 1980 | Khubsoorat | Child artiste | |
| Payal Ki Jhankaar | Shyama (lead role) | ||
| 1983 | Ghungroo | ||
| 1984 | Meri Adalat | Aasha | |
| Naache Mayuri | Shanthi | ||
| 1985 | Meraa Ghar Mere Bachche | Keerthy | |
| Awara Baap | |||
| 1986 | Chameli Ki Shaadi | Anita | |
| Chhota Aadmi | Kavitha | ||
| Pyaar Ho Gaya | Sapna Rai | ||
| Nagina | Vijaya Singh | ||
| 1986 | Shatru | ||
| 1987 | Woh Din Aayega | Dancer | |
| 1988 | Bahaar | Savithri | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Olavina Aasare | Rajini | |
| 1989 | Deva | Ningamma | |
| 1990 | Mathe Haditu Kogile | Sangeetha | |
| 1991 | Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare | Rukmini | |
| Bhairavi | Selvi | ||
| 1992 | Rajadhi Raja | Kamalu | |
| Saptapadi | Sahana | ||
| Ravivarma | Jennifer | ||
| Gopi Krishna | Geetha | ||
| Mallige Hoove | Gowri | ||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Ontari Poratam | Indu | ||
| 1994 | Gandeevam | Rekha |
| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-2006 | Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki | Sheetal Mittal | Sahara One | ||
| 2020 | Chithi 2 | Padma Shanmugapriyan | Sun TV | Comeback after 26 years |