# Ramya Krishnan (ரம்யா கிருஷ்ணன்)
**Ramya Krishnan** (ரம்யா கிருஷ்ணன்; born 1970 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu) is an Indian actress who has worked in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) for more than four decades, appearing in over 260 films by IMDb's count and more than 200 by Tamil-language sources[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447) • [2](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/ramya-krishnan.html). She is best known for the antagonist Neelambari in *Padayappa* (1999) and as Rajamata Sivagami Devi in S.S. Rajamouli's *Baahubali: The Beginning* (2015) and *Baahubali 2: The Conclusion* (2017)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (one Tamil source gives 1967)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447) • [2](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/ramya-krishnan.html) |
| Output | Over 260 films across five languages (IMDb); Tamil sources count 200-plus[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447) • [2](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/ramya-krishnan.html) |
| Debut | Tamil film *Vellai Manasu* (1983), opposite Y.G. Mahendran, while in the eighth grade[3](https://theprint.in/feature/didnt-have-courage-to-leave-my-career-in-telugu-cinema-for-bollywood-ramya-krishnan/1103127/) • [2](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/ramya-krishnan.html) |
| Breakthrough | K. Viswanath's *Sutradharulu*, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447) |
| Signature roles | Neelambari in *Padayappa* (1999); Rajamata Sivagami Devi in the *Baahubali* films (2015, 2017)[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/ramya-krishnan-theres-no-logic-to-the-rajinikanth-phenomenon-its-beyond-us-8882269/lite/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447) |
| Awards | Nandi Award for Best Actress (*Kante Koothurne Kanu*, 1998); Filmfare Award for Best Actress (*Padayappa*); three Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447) • [5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae45HETL-u4) |
| Family | Married Telugu director Krishna Vamsi in 2003; they have a son[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447) |
## Early life and debut
Krishnan was born in Chennai and trained from childhood in [Bharatanatyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharatanatyam) and [Kuchipudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/kuchipudi), performing on stage before entering films[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447). She is the niece of [Cho Ramaswamy](https://www.edgepedia.org/cho-ramaswamy), the Tamil film actor, satirist, and former member of the Rajya Sabha[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447). In a 2024 television interview she said Cho disapproved of her joining cinema and that he stopped speaking to her mother for eight years over it[6](https://tamil.oneindia.com/television/actress-ramya-krishnan-about-actor-cho-ramaswamy-family-secret-616105.html).
Her first acting break came at age 13 in the Malayalam film *Neram Pularumbol*, but its release was delayed, so the Tamil *Vellai Manasu* (1983), opposite Y.G. Mahendran, became her first released film[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447) • [7](https://tamil.samayam.com/web-stories/entertainment/interesting-facts-about-ramya-krishnan-you-must-know/photoshow/110735546.cms). She followed with supporting roles in Tamil films including Rajinikanth's *Padikkadavan* (1985) and [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan)'s *Per Sollum Pillai* (1987)[8](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/579113-ramya-krishnan-birthday.html).
## Telugu stardom
Her early Tamil films failed to find an audience, and she moved to [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema), where she starred opposite top actors including [Nagarjuna](https://www.edgepedia.org/nagarjuna), Venkatesh, and Rajasekhar[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/ramya-krishnan-theres-no-logic-to-the-rajinikanth-phenomenon-its-beyond-us-8882269/lite/). [K. Viswanath](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-viswanath)'s *Sutradharulu* won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and after its success she was offered lead roles in the Telugu industry[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447). Box-office successes followed with *Alludugaru* (1990), *Allari Mogudu* (1992), *Major Chandrakanth* (1993), *Allari Priyudu* (1993), and the Nagarjuna devotional blockbuster *Annamayya* (1997)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447). Her lead performance in *Kante Koothurne Kanu* (1998) won the Nandi Award for Best Actress[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447).
During the same years she took supporting roles in Hindi films, including *Dayavan* (1988), *Parampara* (1993), *Khalnayak* (1993), *Chaahat* (1996), *Banarasi Babu* (1997), and *[Bade Miyan Chote Miyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/bade-miyan-chote-miyan-1998-film)* (1998)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447). In a 2022 interview with PTI she said none of her Hindi films did well and that, already a leading heroine in Telugu, she lacked the courage to leave that career and fight for a place in Hindi cinema[3](https://theprint.in/feature/didnt-have-courage-to-leave-my-career-in-telugu-cinema-for-bollywood-ramya-krishnan/1103127/).
## Padayappa and Neelambari
After about five years away from [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema), Krishnan returned in 1999 as the antagonist Neelambari opposite [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) in *Padayappa*[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/ramya-krishnan-theres-no-logic-to-the-rajinikanth-phenomenon-its-beyond-us-8882269/lite/). She has said she hesitated to take a negative role, reasoning that a villain part is considered a level below the heroine, but that she needed to be part of a Rajinikanth film as a career choice[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/ramya-krishnan-theres-no-logic-to-the-rajinikanth-phenomenon-its-beyond-us-8882269/lite/). The role changed the course of her career and won her the [Filmfare Award for Best Actress](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-award-for-best-actress)[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/ramya-krishnan-theres-no-logic-to-the-rajinikanth-phenomenon-its-beyond-us-8882269/lite/) • [5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae45HETL-u4). She was also applauded for devotional films such as *Ammoru* (1995) and *Annai Kaligambal* (2003)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447).
## Baahubali and later career
Her role as Rajamata Sivagami Devi in S.S. Rajamouli's *Baahubali: The Beginning* (2015) and *Baahubali 2: The Conclusion* (2017) became one of her biggest box-office successes and most acclaimed performances[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447). According to a Times of India report cited by [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express), Sridevi was Rajamouli's first choice for Sivagami but declined over remuneration, reportedly asking Rs 60 million (Rs 6 crore); the makers paid Krishnan Rs 25 million (Rs 2.5 crore) for the role[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/baahubali-ramya-krishnan-was-not-ss-rajamouli-first-choice-to-play-sivagami-it-was-sridevi-4644990/). At the film's audio launch Rajamouli said he regretted not approaching her first[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/baahubali-ramya-krishnan-was-not-ss-rajamouli-first-choice-to-play-sivagami-it-was-sridevi-4644990/). Krishnan won Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress for the *Baahubali* films (2016 and 2018) and for *Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam* (2009)[5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae45HETL-u4).
She reunited with Rajinikanth in [Nelson Dilipkumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/nelson-dilipkumar)'s *Jailer* (2023), playing the wife of his character Muthuvel Pandian[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/ramya-krishnan-theres-no-logic-to-the-rajinikanth-phenomenon-its-beyond-us-8882269/lite/). Her recent and upcoming credits include *Devara: Part 1* (2024), *Guntur Kaaram* (2024), *Jaat* (2025), *Jailer 2* (2026), and *Baahubali: The Eternal War - Part 1* (2027), in which she returns as Sivagami[10](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/ramya-krishnan/filmography/star-cast/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447).
## Television and streaming
Krishnan has appeared in Sun TV serials including *Thangam* (2009), *Rajakumari* (2013), and *Vamsam* (2013)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447). She hosted Bigg Boss Telugu Season 3 when the regular host Nagarjuna Akkineni had to travel to Spain, and in November 2021 she took over Bigg Boss Tamil Season 5 from Kamal Haasan when he was diagnosed with COVID, becoming the first woman to host the Tamil show[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447). She entered streaming in 2019 with the web series *[Queen](https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-2019-tv-series)*, playing Jayalalithaa, the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, and made her OTT judging debut in 2022 on the AHA show *Dance Ikon*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447).
## Personal life
Krishnan married Telugu film director Krishna Vamsi in 2003, after working with him on *Chandralekha* (1998), and the couple have a son[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447) • [11](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/lifestyle/ramya-krishnan-family-kids-ramya-krishnan-husband-son-9759030). In 2018, at the 30th Ugadi Celebrations & Puraskar Presentation, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu honored her with a special award.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447)
## References
1. [Ramya Krishnan (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471447)
2. [ரம்யா கிருஷ்ணன்: திரைப்படங்கள், வயது, பயோடேட்டா, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/ramya-krishnan.html)
3. [Didn't have courage to leave my career in Telugu cinema for Bollywood: Ramya Krishnan, ThePrint/PTI](https://theprint.in/feature/didnt-have-courage-to-leave-my-career-in-telugu-cinema-for-bollywood-ramya-krishnan/1103127/)
4. [Ramya Krishnan: 'There's no logic to the Rajinikanth phenomenon, it's beyond us', The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/ramya-krishnan-theres-no-logic-to-the-rajinikanth-phenomenon-its-beyond-us-8882269/lite/)
5. [Ramya Krishnan | Prema The Journalist #119 | Full Interview, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae45HETL-u4)
6. [Actress Ramya Krishnan about actor Cho Ramaswamy, Tamil Oneindia](https://tamil.oneindia.com/television/actress-ramya-krishnan-about-actor-cho-ramaswamy-family-secret-616105.html)
7. [Interesting facts about Ramya Krishnan, TamilSamayam](https://tamil.samayam.com/web-stories/entertainment/interesting-facts-about-ramya-krishnan-you-must-know/photoshow/110735546.cms)
8. [Ramya Krishnan birthday special, Hindu Tamil Thisai](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/579113-ramya-krishnan-birthday.html)
9. [Baahubali: Ramya Krishnan was not SS Rajamouli's first choice to play Sivagami. It was Sridevi, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/baahubali-ramya-krishnan-was-not-ss-rajamouli-first-choice-to-play-sivagami-it-was-sridevi-4644990/)
10. [Ramya Krishnan Movies List, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/ramya-krishnan/filmography/star-cast/)
11. [Ramya Krishnan family and husband, Indian Express Tamil](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/lifestyle/ramya-krishnan-family-kids-ramya-krishnan-husband-son-9759030)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames K to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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