Bhavana (Kannada actress)

Bhavana's real name is Nandini Ramanna.^[2] Her stage name was suggested by Kodlu Ramakrishna.^[4]

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^[5] and in Seetharam Karanth's musical hit Chandramukhi Pranasakhi starring Ramesh Aravind, and Prema.^[5] 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.^[5] She made a guest appearance in Vishnuvardhan's Parva .^[6] and Ninagagi.^[7]

Bhavana did Kavitha Lankesh's Deveeri which got the Aravindan Puraskar award. Bhavana also acted in Kavita Lankesh's second film, Alemaari^[8][9] made for the National Film Development Corporation, which was previewed at many prestigious film festivals^[10] but unable to find a commercial release.^[11] 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.^[12][13] in the category 'fewest actors in a narrative film'. It was adjudged the second best film for the State award.^[14] Bhavana was adjudged the "Best Actress" for her role in Bhagirathi.^[15][16] She was one of the top Kannada Actresses of 2010 per Rediff.^[17]

Bhavana moved to Mumbai for a few years and even did a Bollywood film, Family, that was headlined by Amitabh Bachchan.^[18]

Bhavana campaigned for Indian National Congress (INC) candidates in the 2013 assembly elections in Davanagere among other constituencies. In 2012, she had campaigned for K. Jayaprakash Hegde of the Congress in the Chikmagalur by-election to the Lok Sabha. In 2018, she officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).^[19] She rejoined INC in 2021.^[20]

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] She delivered a baby girl the following month and named her Rukmini after her maternal grandmother.^[21]

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

Television

• Godrej Game Aadi
• Life Change Maadi^[23]
• Ramachaari

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