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Reshma | |
---|---|
Born | Asma Bhanu |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1996–2005 |
Reshma (born Asma Bhanu) is an Indian former B-grade film actress from Karnataka, who is known for her works in the South Indian B-grade or softcore porn films, especially in the Malayalam language. Reshma was one of the most sought-after erotic actresses in the South Indian softcore porn industry during her time. She was also a key figure in the Malayalam softcore film genre in the early 2000s. Reshma has also appeared in few mainstream Kannada films. Her career came to an end in between 2003–2005 period, after the rapid surge of internet in India among many other reasons. Reshma disappeared in 2008 and is reportedly living in Karnataka with her family. [1]
A native of Mysore, Karnataka, Reshma entered into acting with the Kannada film Asai Noor. In the late 90's, the soft-porn or B-grade films started appearing in Malayalam film industry. It was at that time that Reshma's dubbed film Mayoori (2000) was released in Kerala in Malayalam. Reshma made her debut in Malayalam with the role of Damayanthi in the film Kaumaram directed by A. T. Joy. After that, she played the titular role in AT Joy's movie Lovely. This movie was commercially successful and gave her a break in Malayalam. After that, she starred in another film titled Nalam Simham. This movie's title was similar to the Malayalam film Narasimham, starring Mohanlal. [2]
Reshama tried to change the direction of her career by playing a non-glamorous character in Natar Raghu's film Love Letter. But the film stalled midway. After that, she returned to the old path. In 2002, she acted in the films Nirappakittu and Asura Yugam. But Reshma soon faced a sudden downfall in her career due to the rapid internet surge in India, because of which the sale of B-grade movie CDs decreased. This was a major setback to the whole South Indian soft porn industry as well, and many B-grade actress including Reshma was forced to leave the industry in 2005. [3]
Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Bas Karo Tum | ||
2000 | Bali Umar | ||
2001 | |||
Kinavu Pole | Shibani | ||
Layathalangal | |||
Aalilathoni | |||
Thirunelliyile Penkutty | Pallavi | ||
Louli | |||
Tharunnyam | |||
Lasyam | |||
Naalaam Simham | |||
Mohanayanangal | Sicily | ||
2002 | |||
Qatil Dilruba | |||
Sugandhavally | |||
Premasallapam | |||
Mohaswapnam | |||
Doctor Prema | |||
Asurayugam | |||
Apsara | |||
Adenthottam | Reetha | ||
Aalolam Kili | Aishwarya | ||
Nisagandhi | |||
Nakhachithrangal | Nancy Fernandez | [4] | |
Madhuram | |||
Diana | Reshma | ||
Sneha | Sneha | ||
Yamam | Greeshma | ||
Kiske Liye Yeh Jawani | |||
Soundharyalahari | |||
2003 | Vivadam | Suma | |
Sundarikutty |
Within a few years of Reshma's entry into the softcore porn industry, the fame of Shakeela, the popular softcore porn actress of that time declined. Even though Reshma completely left the industry in 2005, her videos are still one of the main earner of porn websites in India. [5] According to the film scholar Darshana Sreedhar Mini, "Reshma was more daring with her co-stars and more camera friendly. She reportedly received around ₹5 lakhs per film during 1998-99. The remuneration was very high even by today’s standards. But Reshma was riding high on a boom that was propelling the south Indian (especially Malayalam) porn industry at that time". [6]
According to film analyst Sunil Mannannur, "Reshma is an actress who entered into the privacy of the Malayalees and enlivened their days and nights. She had the reputation of being the most beautiful B-grade actress from South India and the title of lucky star who made most of the films she acted in become super hits. Even when many of the superstar films failed at the box office, Reshma's B-grade films were money-spinners of those days. Today's audiences have forgotten Reshma, apart from enjoying her movies well. No one would have thought about where that woman is, what she is doing and how she is living. Even so, there is no need to think like that now, because there are porn stars ahead of Reshma at our fingertips today. Not only Reshma but other actresses of that time who sent the audience into a frenzy went into oblivion when the audience wandered in search of differences"; he says. [7]
In December 2007, the police took Reshma along with two other women and two agents into custody from a hotel in Kochi, allegedly for doing sex work. The police allegedly denied Reshma the right to be accompanied by a woman police officer while questioning a woman. The businessmen or the clients who were rounded up in the police raid were allegedly let off by the police immediately. A policeman took her phone, started recording his interrogation on it, and threatened her. The video was later leaked. [8] Reshma was charged under various sections of the IPC, but was granted bail later. After this incident, a year later, she disappeared, reportedly moving to a different city. In 2017, the actress Shakeela, during an interview claimed that she has contact with Reshma and revealed she is living discreetly in a small town in Karnataka. [9]
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