Anupama Parameswaran: The Versatile Star of South Indian Cinema
In the colorful world of South Indian cinema, not many actors have won fans over with the effortless charm and depth that Anupama Parameswaran brings to the screen. Anupama was born on February 18, 1996, in the small town of Irinjalakuda in Kerala’s Thrissur district. She started out as a newcomer in the hit movie Premam and has since become a popular lead in Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films. At 29, she is a testament to resilience and talent, handling the ups and downs of fame with grace.
Early Life and Family
Anupama’s parents are Sunitha Parameswaran, who works for the Life Insurance Corporation of India, and Parameswaran Erekkath, a businessman. She grew up in a close-knit Malayali family. She has a special bond with her younger brother Akshay, who is often in her nostalgic social media posts. As the cultural capital of Kerala, Thrissur had a big impact on her artistic interests. Anupama started taking Kathak music lessons when she was only three years old. This sparked her love of the performing arts, which would later become her career.
She went to CMS College in Kottayam to study for a degree in Communicative English. But the pull of the movies was too strong to resist. At 18, Anupama stopped going to school to try out for roles. This choice would make her famous. “I always knew I wanted to be in front of the camera,” she said in an interview, thanking her family for always being there for her.
The Premam Phenomenon: Getting into the Industry
Anupama’s rise to fame started in 2015 with Premam, a romantic comedy about growing up that Alphonse Puthren directed. She played Mary, the sweet and innocent love interest in the second part of the movie, and she stole scenes with Nivin Pauly. The movie made over ₹60 crore and became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time. It was a big deal in Malayalam cinema. Anupama’s natural performance, which combined vulnerability and liveliness, earned her a nomination for Best Female Debut – Malayalam at the SIIMA Awards.
This first book opened the floodgates. In less than a year, she made her Telugu debut in A Aa (2016) with Nithiin and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and her Tamil debut in Kodi (2016), a political drama with Dhanush. She got a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil for her role as the fiery Nanthini in Kodi. This made her popular all over South India.
Awards and Recognition
People have noticed Anupama’s talent. She won the IIFA Utsavam Best Supporting Actress – Telugu for the 2017 remake of Premam and the Zee Cine Awards Telugu “Girl Next Door” for A Aa. Nominations from SIIMA and Filmfare show how consistently great she is. In addition to winning awards, she is also very popular in media polls. For example, she was ranked 30th in the Hyderabad Times’ Most Desirable Women (2018), 21st in 2019, and 10th in 2021 for the most tweeted-about South Indian actress.
Life and Problems
Anupama keeps her private life very private. She only shares short videos of her family outings or workouts on Instagram, where she has millions of followers. There have been rumors of relationships, including one with co-star Dhruv Vikram from Bison: Kaalamaadan, but she calls them “promo shenanigans.”
The road hasn’t been easy. Early trolling after a false rumor that she turned down a Ram Charan movie cost her six months of chances. She talked about this setback honestly in 2025, saying, “It hurt, but it made me stronger.” She also thought about the industry’s biases and called for fair casting.
What’s Next: A Busy 2025 Schedule
Anupama has a busy year ahead in 2025, with several releases that show off her range.
Dragon (Tamil): A romantic comedy-drama with Pradeep Ranganathan and Kayadu Lohar that mixes humor and heart.
Paradha (Telugu): In this comedy-drama directed by Praveen Kandregula, she plays the lead role of Subbu. It comes out in March.
Kishkindhapuri (Telugu): A horror-thriller starring Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas. The first look came out in early 2025.
JSK: Janaki V/s State of Kerala (Malayalam): A courtroom drama with Suresh Gopi based on true events.
The Pet Detective (Malayalam): A strange story about an investigator that is now playing in theaters.
Bison: Kaalamaadan (Tamil): An intense role opposite Dhruv Vikram, directed by Mari Selvaraj. The movie’s ads are full of themes of wilderness and strength.
She’s also working with Mari Selvaraj on a slice-of-life project and reuniting with Sharwanand in the period drama Sharwa38, which starts filming in April 2025. Anupama also wants to direct movies with everyday stories.
Making a Legacy
Anupama Parameswaran is the perfect example of the spirit of South Indian cinema’s golden age. She went from being the girl next door in Premam to the star of the biggest movies of 2025. Her journey, which was full of ups and downs, inspires other artists. “I want both,” she told The Hindu in August 2025. “Commercial hits pay for the experiments.” Fans love how beautiful Anupama looks on screen (as seen in recent X posts praising her beauty), and her star only gets brighter. Anupama’s honesty shines through in an industry that can be harsh. This shows that talent and hard work can create lasting legacies.