Bhavana (Kannada actress)

For the other actress named Bhavana who has appeared in Kannada films, see Bhavana (actress).

In this Indian name, the name Ramanna is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Bhavana.

Bhavana
Bhavana in Vimukthi (2010)
Born	Nandini Ramanna Bangalore, Karnataka, India [1]
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1996–present

Nandini Ramanna (born 1984), ^{[2] [3]} better known by her stage name Bhavana, is an Indian actress who works predominantly in the Kannada film industry. A Bharatanatyam dancer, she has received three Karnataka State Film Awards and acted in Shanti , a film that entered the Guinness Book of Records for having the 'fewest actors in a narrative film' (as the film featured only her). Bhavana Ramanna is the director of HomeTown Productions, a production house that conducts dance and music shows. ^[4]

Career

Bhavana's real name is Nandini Ramanna. ^[2] Her stage name was suggested by Kodlu Ramakrishna. ^[5]

Bhavana trained to be a classical dancer and initially had no intention of acting; "films just happened by chance". She learned Bharatanatyam for nearly ten years and aspired for a career as a stage choreographer. She was cast by Krishnappa Uppur in Maribele, a Tulu film, who "saw me at a wedding and was pleased with my looks." ^[1] The film did not do well, but Bhavana was noticed by Kannada film producers. She was cast as heroine in Kodlu' Ramakrishna's romance-drama Nee Mudida Mallige ^[6] and in Seetharam Karanth's musical hit Chandramukhi Pranasakhi starring Ramesh Aravind, and Prema. ^[6] In Rashtrageethe directed by stalwart K. V. Raju she played a vampish role. Director Dinesh Babu offered her a leading role opposite Ramesh Aravind, in Deepavali , also starring Vishnuvardhan. ^[6] She made a guest appearance in Vishnuvardhan's Parva . ^[7] and Ninagagi . ^[8]

Bhavana did Kavitha Lankesh's Deveeri which got the Aravindan Puraskar award. Bhavana also acted in Kavita Lankesh's second film, Alemaari ^{[9] [10]} made for the National Film Development Corporation, which was previewed at many prestigious film festivals ^[11] but unable to find a commercial release. ^[12] Bhavana was the only star in Shanti, an off-beat Kannada film directed by the writer Baragur Ramachandrappa. It was the second Indian film to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. ^{[13] [14]} in the category 'fewest actors in a narrative film'. It was adjudged the second best film for the State award. ^[15] Bhavana was adjudged the "Best Actress" for her role in Bhagirathi . ^{[16] [17]} She was one of the top Kannada Actresses of 2010 per Rediff. ^[18]

Bhavana moved to Mumbai for a few years and even did a Bollywood film, Family , that was headlined by Amitabh Bachchan. ^[19]

Filmography

Bhavana in 2010 film Vimukti

• Note: all films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted.

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1996	Maribale		Tulu film
1997	Nee Mudida Mallige		Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
1999	No.1	Durga
	Chandramuki Pranasakhi	Bhavana
	Deveeri
	Anbulla Kadhalukku	Shanthi	Tamil film
2000	Deepavali
2001	Lankesha		[20]
	Ellara Mane Dosenu	Mandara
	Natchatra Kadhal	Malini	Tamil film
	Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu
	Rashtrageethe
	Ammaye Navvite	Sirisha	Telugu film
2002	Parva
	Ninagagi		Special appearance
	Kshaama		Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
	Virumbugiren		Tamil film; cameo in song "Pathala Pathala"
	Chelvi
2003	Wrong Number
	Hello
	Aahaa Ethanai Azhagu	Sandhya	Tamil film
	Preethi Prema Pranaya	Sheela
2004	Shanti	Shanti
	Sagari	Divya
	Bhagawan	Bobby
2006	Family	Virendra's daughter	Hindi film
2008	Inthi Ninna Preethiya	Parimala
2010	Vimukti	Madhavi
	Aptharakshaka	Neetha
2012	Chingari
	Bhagirathi	Bhagirathi	Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
2014	Crazy Star
2016	Niruttara	Hamsa
2022	Once Upon a Time in Jamaligudda
2023	Otta	Dr. Mary Thomas	Malayalam film

Television

• Godrej Game Aadi
• Life Change Maadi ^[21]
• Ramachaari

Politics

Bhavana campaigned for Indian National Congress (INC) candidates in the 2013 assembly elections in Davanagere among other constituencies. In 2012, she had campaigned for Jayaprakash Hegde of the Congress in the Chikmagalur by-election to the Lok Sabha. In 2018, she officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). ^[22] She rejoined INC in 2021. ^[23]

Personal life

In July 2025, Bhavana announced that she was pregnant with twins after using in vitro fertilisation. She became pregnant on her first attempt in late 2024 at the age of 40. When speaking with a reporter during her pregnancy, she said: "Even though my children won’t have a father, they will grow up in a home full of art, music, culture, and unconditional love." ^[2]

References

1. Shenoy, Archana (29 September 2002). "Oomph & attitude". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 20 August 2003. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
2. Sharma, Sameeksha (29 July 2025). "Southern Actress Chooses Motherhood Without Marriage, Pregnant With Twins At 40". News18 .
3. Chanana, Ekta (4 July 2025). "Bhavana Remanna Is Pregnant with Twins at 40 as a Single Woman, 'My Children Won't Have a Father..'". Bollywood Shaadis.
4. "Bhavana Ramanna Nandini - Director information and companies associated with | Zauba Corp". Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
5. "When a rose turns a lily". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
6. "Bhavana". Sify . Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
7. "He was humble and never treated anyone like a newcomer". Rediff. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
8. "Jogula". Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
9. "Fighting the formula". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 1 July 2003. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
10. "Alemaari Story in Pictures". Rediff. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
11. "Every film is a work of art". Rediff. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
12. "ENCORE!". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 7 September 2004. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
13. "Shanti gets into the Guinness Book". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 16 July 2005. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
14. Srinivasa, Srikanth (2 July 2012). "Meet Kannada cinema's actress of substance". Rediff.com . Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
15. "An experiment with peace". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
16. "Sudeep, Bhavana bag best acting awards". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
17. "'Prasad' gets best film award for 2011". The Hindu. 15 March 2013. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
18. "Bhavana". Rediff. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
19. "'The right people don't approach me'". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
20. "I can fit into any character: Bhavana". The Times of India. 9 February 2001. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
21. "Television beckons Bhavana". Daily News & Analysis. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
22. "Udupi: Bypoll Campaign Goes Glamourous [sic] as Ramya, Bhavana, Lokesh Join in". Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
23. Randeep Singh Surjewala (16 November 2021). "Former Congress activist, Kannada actress & artist Bhavana Ramanna met me and committed herself to join and serve the Congress Party in Karnataka". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 4 May 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.

External links

• Bhavana at IMDb