Varalaxmi Sarathkumar Explained

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar
Birth Date:1985 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Othername:Varu[1]
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:2012–present
Parents:R. Sarathkumar (father)
Raadhika (step-mother)

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar (born 5 March 1985) is an Indian actress who appears in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films. She made her debut with the Tamil film Podaa Podi (2012).[2] [3] [4] [5]

Early life and family

Varalaxmi was born to actor Sarathkumar and Chaya on 5 March 1985 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.[6] Her stepmother is actress Raadhika.[7] [8]

Varalaxmi did her schooling at St. Michael's Academy, Chennai.[9] She is a graduate in Microbiology from Hindustan Arts and Science college, Chennai[10] with a Masters in Business Management from the University of Edinburgh. She honed her acting skills at Anupam Kher's Acting School in Mumbai, before becoming a professional actress.

Personal life

On 2 March 2024, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar was engaged to Nicholai Sachdev, who is a gallerist based in Mumbai.[11] They married on 3 July 2024.[12] [13]

Career

Varalaxmi auditioned for Shankar's Boys (2003) and was selected to play the lead role, before her father requested her to turn down the opportunity. Likewise, she also missed out on opportunities to act in Balaji Sakthivel's Kaadhal (2004) and Venkat Prabhu's Saroja (2008).

Varalaxmi signed on to star in Vignesh Shivan's romantic drama film Podaa Podi (2012) during June 2008, citing that the opportunity to portray a London-based dancer had excited her. The film went through a protracted development, taking four years to make, before being released in October 2012. Co-starring Silambarasan, Varalaxmi won critical acclaim for her performance. Rediff.com noted she was the "scene stealer" and added "she comes across as a genuine, warm person, able and willing to accept those around her for themselves, and rattles off her dialogues with such spontaneity and charm that she wins you over right away".[14] Likewise, a critic from Sify.com wrote she "is the big surprise here as she makes a promising debut and brings alive her character with not just those smart lines, but with the kind of confidence and candour".[15] The film performed moderately at the box office but performed well in the multiplexes.[16] Soon after the film's release, Varalaxmi worked on Sundar C's masala film Madha Gaja Raja, alongside Vishal, but the film remains unreleased owing to financial troubles.

In 2014, she embarked on her second venture, the Kannada film Maanikya (2014), starring alongside actor Sudeep. This film proved to be a major success and emerged as one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of that year. Additionally, in the same year, she commenced shooting for Bala's Tharai Thappattai (2016), in which she had to undergo a weight loss of ten kilograms to convincingly portray a karakattam dancer.

In 2016, she announced on Twitter that she has been cast alongside Mammootty in the Malayalam film Kasaba. In her tweet, the actress said that the big opportunity to work alongside Mammootty came to her apparently due to her performance in the Tamil film Tharai Thappattai.[17] Varalaxmi was also committed to starring in Aakasha Mittaayee, the Malayalam remake of the Tamil film Appa but left, citing the behaviour of its producers whom she called "mannerless".[18] In 2017, Varalaxmi appearedin Vikram Vedha, Nibunan, Vismaya, Sathya, Kaattu and Masterpiece. Varalaxmi turned as Host for a TV show titled Unnai Arindhaal (2018) on Jaya TV.[19] She played the antagonist's role in Sandakozhi 2 (2018) and Sarkar (2018).[20] She worked on her first Telugu film, Tenali Ramakrishna BA. BL (2019).[21] She has played a role in investigative thriller Danny (2020) in which she tried out the role of a cop.[22] [23]

Filmography

Films

List of Varalaxmi Sarathkumar film credits
YearFilmRole(s)LanguageNotes
2012Podaa PodiNishaTamilcredited as Varu Sarathkumar
2014MaanikyaSindhuKannada
2015RannaHerselfKannadaSpecial Appearance in the Song "What to do?"
2016KasabaKamalaMalayalam
Tharai ThappattaiSooravaliTamil
2017Vikram VedhaChandraTamil
NibunanInspector Vandhana CB-CIDTamil
VismayaKannada
SathyaACP Anuya BharathwajTamil
KaattuMuthu LakshmiMalayalam
MasterpieceACP Bhavani Durga IPSMalayalam
2018Mr. ChandramouliBairaviTamil
EchcharikkaiSwethaTamil
Sandakozhi 2Pechankarasi (Pechi)Tamil
SarkarKomala Valli (Pappa)Tamil
Maari 2VijayaTamil
2019Neeya 2DeviTamil
Tenali Ramakrishna BA. BLVaralakshmi DeviTelugu
2020Velvet NagaramUshaTamil
DannyInspector KunthavaiTamil
Kanni RaasiAnjaliTamil
2021KrackJayammaTelugu
NaandhiAdv.Aadhya MullapudiTelugu
RanamPolice officerKannada
ChasingAthiraTamil
Singa Paarvai DivyaTamil
2022Pakka CommercialLawyerTeluguCameo
Iravin NizhalPrema KumariTamil
Poikkal KuthiraiRudhraTamil
KaatteriMathammaTamil[24]
YashodaMadhu BalaTelugu[25]
2023V3SivagamiTamil
Veera Simha ReddyBhanumathi ReddyTelugu
MichaelKannammaTelugu
KannitheevuMadhiTamil[26]
Kondraal PaavamMallikaTamil[27]
AgentRicky's motherTelugu[28]
Maruthi Nagar Police StationArchana Tamil
Kota Bommali PSRazia AliTelugu
2024Hanu ManAnjammaTelugu[29]
SabariSanjanaTelugu[30]
RaayanSethu's wifeTamilCameo Appearance
KannadaProduction by V Creations

Television

List of Varalaxmi Sarathkumar television credits
YearSeriesRoleNetworkLanguageNote
2018 Enga Veetu Mapillai Herself
Unnai Arindhaal Host
2019 High PriestessVaishnavi TeluguWeb Series; Guest Appearance in Episode 6[31]
2020 Addham Shruti Anthology Web Series;Segment: The Unwhisperable Secret
Ummadi Kutumbam Tho Kammati Bhojanam[32] Herself
2023 Mansion 24[33] Amrutha

Awards and nominations

List of Varalaxmi Sarathkumar awards and nominations
YearAwardFilmResult
2012Vijay Award for Best Debut ActressPodaa Podi
Edison Award for Best Debut Actress
20166th South Indian International Movie Awards for Best Debut ActressKasaba
6th South Indian International Movie Awards for Best Actress (Critics)Tharai Thappattai
Behindwoods Gold Medals
2017Edison Award for Best Character Role – FemaleVikram Vedha
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Tamil
6th South Indian International Movie Awards for Best Supporting Actress7th South Indian International Movie Awards for Best Supporting Actress
2018Behindwoods Gold MedalsSarkar & Sandakozhi 2
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards for Best Villain – Female
20198th South Indian International Movie Awards
17th Santosham Film Awards

Notes and References

  1. News: Varalaxmi's fan moment with Kamal Haasan . Subramanian . Anupama . 3 April 2018 . . 21 May 2018 . en . 26 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181226123022/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/030418/varalaxmis-fan-moment-with-kamal-haasan.html%20 . live .
  2. News: Simbu follows Ajith . https://web.archive.org/web/20130127014619/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-09/news-interviews/35015493_1_simbu-podaa-podi-thala-ajith . dead . 27 January 2013 . 11 November 2012 . . 9 November 2012 . Times News Network.
  3. News: Mangandan . K.R. . Worth the wait . 11 November 2012 . . 20 October 2012 . 26 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181226123036/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/worth-the-wait/article4016428.ece . live .
  4. Web site: Nominations for the 65th Jio Filmfare Awards (South) 2018 . 2 January 2021 . Filmfare . 4 June 2018 . en . 12 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210212021909/https://www.filmfare.com/features/nominations-for-the-65th-jio-filmfare-awards-south-2018_-28652-2.html . live .
  5. News: Subramanian . Anupama . Varalaxmi gets a moniker . 18 April 2021 . Deccan Chronicle . 7 March 2019 . en . 17 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210417231555/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/070319/varalaxmi-gets-a-moniker.html . live .
  6. News: Sharadhaa . A . Varalaxmi is Excited about Maanikya . 1 February 2021 . The New Indian Express . 29 April 2014 . 15 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201115054758/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2014/apr/29/Varalaxmi-is-Excited-about-Maanikya-606074.html . live .
  7. News: Happy Birthday Varalaxmi Sarathkumar: The Complete Actress of South Cinema . 16 March 2019 . . 5 March 2019 . 14 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190814234851/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/happy-birthday-varalaxmi-sarathkumar-the-complete-actress-of-south-cinema/photostory/68266967.cms . live .
  8. News: Varalakshmi: I always wanted to become an actress . 4 March 2021 . Rediff . 6 May 2014 . en . 8 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211208232747/https://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-varalakshmi-i-always-wanted-to-become-an-actress-south/20140506.htm . live .
  9. News: Carving their own niche . 7 March 2021 . The New Indian Express . 9 June 2010 . 10 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220510224349/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/jun/09/carving-their-own-niche-122152.html . dead .
  10. Web site: Best Arts and Science College in Chennai Hindustan College of Arts & Science . 19 January 2023 . hcaschennai.edu.in . 19 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119075019/https://hcaschennai.edu.in/ . live .
  11. News: Actor Varalaxmi Sarathkumar engaged to Mumbai-based gallerist Nicholai Sachdev . The News Minute . 3 March 2024 . 24 March 2024.
  12. News: AR Rahman and Mani Ratnam among stars at Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Nicholai Sachdev's wedding reception. See photos . The Indian Express . 4 July 2024 . 4 July 2024.
  13. News: Varalaxmi Sarathkumar Ties The Knot In An Intimate Wedding In Thailand . News18 . 15 July 2024 . 16 July 2024.
  14. Web site: Review: Varalakhsmy shines in Poda Podi. Pavithra. Srinivasan. Rediff. 5 January 2024. 4 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230404221221/https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-varalakhsmy-shines-in-poda-podi/20121114.htm. live.
  15. Web site: Review : (2012) . https://web.archive.org/web/20150623075832/http://www.sify.com/movies/podaa-podi-review-tamil-pcmaBpiffaeef.html . dead . 23 June 2015 . Sify.
  16. News: Star scions . Nikhil . Raghavan . 27 June 2015 . The Hindu . 9 January 2016 . 21 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191221155548/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/star-scions/article7361466.ece . live .
  17. News: 'Kasaba': Mammootty's next with Renji Panicker's son starts rolling . 19 February 2021 . OnManorama . 17 February 2016 . 10 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220510224402/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/mammootty-next-with-renji-panicker-son-nithin-starts-rolling.html . live .
  18. Web site: "Can't Work With Male Chauvinists.": Actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar Walks Out Of A Movie Set! . Just For Women . 4 April 2017 . 5 April 2017 . 5 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170405181615/http://jfwonline.com/article/cant-work-with-male-chauvinists-actress-varalaxmi-sarathkumar-walks-out-of-a-movie-set/ . live .
  19. News: Here's how 'Unnai Arindhal' host Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and mother Chaya helped migrant labour . 19 April 2021 . The Times of India . 10 July 2020 . en . 19 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419194852/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/heres-how-unnai-arindhal-host-varalaxmi-sarathkumar-and-mother-chaya-helped-migrant-labour/articleshow/76896323.cms . live .
  20. Web site: It was fun playing villain in 'Sandakozhi 2': Varalaxmi . 13 October 2018 . 19 April 2021 . 19 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419130240/https://newstodaynet.com/index.php/2018/10/13/it-was-fun-playing-villain-in-sandakozhi-2-varalaxmi/ . live .
  21. News: Varalaxmi Sarathkumar to debut in Telugu with 'Tenali Ramakrishna BA BL' . 19 April 2021 . The News Minute . 16 January 2019 . en . 19 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419130221/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/varalaxmi-sarathkumar-debut-telugu-tenali-ramakrishna-ba-bl-95145 . live .
  22. News: K . Janani . Varalaxmi's Danny and Yogi Babu's Cocktail to have its digital premiere on Zee5 . 19 April 2021 . India Today . 3 July 2020 . en . 4 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200704011423/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/varalaxmi-s-danny-and-yogi-babu-s-cocktail-to-have-its-digital-premiere-on-zee5-1696583-2020-07-03 . live .
  23. News: Varalaxmi is now Makkal Selvi! . 19 April 2021 . The Times of India . 5 March 2019 . en . 19 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419130239/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/varalaxmi-is-now-makkal-selvi/articleshow/68255724.cms . live .
  24. News: Varalaxmi, Aathmika, Sonam and Manali in Katteri . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190303105458/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/varalaxmi-aathmika-sonam-and-manali-in-katteri/articleshow/63858231.cms . 3 March 2019 . 31 March 2023 . The Times of India. 21 April 2018 .
  25. Web site: Hymavati . Ravali . 15 December 2021 . Varalaxmi Sarathkumar Joins The Cast Of Samantha's 'Yashoda' Movie . The Hans India . 15 December 2021 . 15 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211215163249/https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/kollywood/varalaxmi-sarathkumar-joins-the-cast-of-samanthas-yashoda-movie-719835 . live .
  26. News: Varalaxmi Sarathkumar's Kannitheevu to premiere directly on TV . The Times of India . 10 March 2023 . 9 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230309143510/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/varalaxmi-sarathkumars-kannitheevu-to-premiere-directly-on-tv/articleshow/98453339.cms?from=mdr . live .
  27. Web site: Kondraal Paavam Movie Review: An effective suspense drama shouldered by compelling performances . . 10 March 2023 . 10 March 2023 . 10 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230310170718/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2023/mar/10/kondraal-paavam-movie-review-an-effective-suspense-drama-shouldered-by-compelling-performances-40842.html . live .
  28. News: Neeshita . Nyayapati . 28 April 2023 . Agent Movie Review : Akhil Akkineni has fun; the audience - not so much . . 28 April 2023 . 28 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230428072033/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/agent/movie-review/99835986.cms . live .
  29. News: 4 March 2022 . Kiccha Sudeepa Unveils Varalaxmi Sarathkumar's Fierce First Look From 'HANU-MAN' . Outlook . 8 March 2022 . 8 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220308161100/https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/kiccha-sudeep-unveils-varalaxmi-sarathkumar-s-fierce-first-look-from-hanu-man--news-185121 . live .
  30. Web site: It's a wrap for Varalaxmi Sarathkumar's Sabari. Cinema Express. 8 December 2022 . 5 January 2024. 1 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201194911/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/dec/08/its-a-wrap-for-varalaxmi-sarathkumars-sabari-37506.html. live.
  31. News: Ramachandran . Mythily . Telugu web series 'High Priestess' explores psychic world . 19 February 2021 . Gulf News . 24 April 2019 . en . 7 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220407190542/https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/telugu-web-series-high-priestess-explores-psychic-world-1.63508039 . live .
  32. News: Lakshmi Manchu shares an emotional note on daughter Nirvana's debut TV appearance; says, 'My real purpose in life came to light after I became a mother' . 11 April 2021 . The Times of India . 10 April 2021 . en . 11 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411023034/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/lakshmi-manchu-shares-an-emotional-note-on-daughter-nirvanas-debut-tv-appearance-says-my-real-purpose-in-life-came-to-light-after-i-became-a-mother/articleshow/82001374.cms . live .
  33. News: Trailer of Varalaxmi sarathkumar's Mansion 24 series out . Cinema Express . 4 October 2023 . 4 October 2023 . 13 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013013711/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/oct/04/trailer-of-varalaxmi-sarathkumars-mansion-24-series-out-48275.html . live .