# Sanusha
**Sanusha** (സനുഷ സന്തോഷ്, Sanusha Santhosh) is an Indian actress who works in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema). She began as a child artist in 2000 with the [Mammootty](https://www.edgepedia.org/mammootty) film *Dada Sahib*, directed by Vinayan, and became widely known as "Baby Sanusha" before returning to films as a lead actress in 2009.[1](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2025/10/07/actress-sanusha-celebrating-25-years-in-cinema.amp.html) She has acted in more than 40 films across the four South Indian languages.[2](https://www.manoramaonline.com/global-malayali/europe/2026/08/13/ukma-keralapooram-2026-actress-sanusha-santhosh-celebrity-guest.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sanusha Santhosh; known in childhood as "Baby Sanusha"[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/sanusha/15201) |
| Born | 1994 in Kerala, India, to Santhosh and Usha; one film database gives 1991 as the birth year[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1720175/bio/) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sanusha) |
| Child-artist debut | *Dada Sahib* (2000), directed by Vinayan[1](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2025/10/07/actress-sanusha-celebrating-25-years-in-cinema.amp.html) |
| Lead debuts | Tamil: *Naalai Namadhe* (2009); Malayalam: *Mr. Marumakan* (2012) opposite Dileep[6](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sanusha-santhosh.html) |
| Education | MA Sociology, St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam; MSc Global Mental Health & Society, University of Edinburgh[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/07/20/sanusha-santhosh-scotland-global-mental-health-scotland-university-of-edinburgh.amp.html) |
## Child artist career
Sanusha was born to Santhosh and Usha at Pallikkunnu in [Kannur district](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannur-district), Kerala.[1](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2025/10/07/actress-sanusha-celebrating-25-years-in-cinema.amp.html) She entered films as a child artist in Vinayan's *Dada Sahib* (2000), a Mammootty film, and over the following years appeared in more than 20 films as a child performer, including *Raavanaprabhu*, *Meghamalhar*, *Kanmashi*, *Meesa Madhavan*, *Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum*, and *Maampazhakkaalam*.[1](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2025/10/07/actress-sanusha-celebrating-25-years-in-cinema.amp.html) • [8](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/dad-mom-please-don-t-watch-this-interview-sanusha-039541.html) One database lists her first screen appearance in *Kallu Kondoru Pennu* (1998), while the Manorama silver-jubilee profile dates her film debut to *Dada Sahib* in 2000.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/sanusha/15201) • [1](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2025/10/07/actress-sanusha-celebrating-25-years-in-cinema.amp.html)
Her performance as Ambily in Blessy's *Kaazhcha* (2004) was highly acclaimed and won her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist for 2004, credited to her work in *Kaazhcha* and *Soumyam*.[9](https://www.ammakerala.com/meet-the-star/view/sanusha-santhosh) Commentators at the time described her as a likely future leading actress of [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema).[1](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2025/10/07/actress-sanusha-celebrating-25-years-in-cinema.amp.html)
## Transition to lead roles
Sanusha's debut as a heroine came in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) with *Naalai Namadhe* (2009), directed by Vinayan.[6](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sanusha-santhosh.html) Her break in Tamil came with *Renigunta* (2009), in which she played a mute girl, a role for which she continued to receive accolades; she said that in [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) she remained known as the heroine of *Renigunta*.[10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/malayalam/2012/May/25/nothing-has-changed-in-malayalam-sanusha-371293.html)
She returned to Malayalam as a lead actress opposite Dileep in *Mr. Marumakan* (2012), followed by *Idiots* (2012), in which she played a rich heiress.[6](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sanusha-santhosh.html) • [10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/malayalam/2012/May/25/nothing-has-changed-in-malayalam-sanusha-371293.html) Her role as Saira, a distressed pregnant girl, in *Zachariayude Garbhinikal* (2013) was highly acclaimed and brought a Special Jury Mention at the [Kerala State Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/kerala-state-film-awards), along with a [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south) nomination for Best Supporting Actress.[9](https://www.ammakerala.com/meet-the-star/view/sanusha-santhosh) Later Malayalam films included *Sapthamashree Thaskaraha* (2014), *Mili* (2015), *Nirnayakam*, *Vettah* (2016), and *Oru Murai Vanthu Paarthaya* (2016), in most of which she played the second lead.[8](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/dad-mom-please-don-t-watch-this-interview-sanusha-039541.html) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sanusha) In Tamil she appeared in *Alex Pandian* (2013) opposite Karthi and in *Kodiveeran* (2017) as the sister of [M. Sasikumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-sasikumar)'s character.[8](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/dad-mom-please-don-t-watch-this-interview-sanusha-039541.html) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sanusha) Her Telugu films include *Bangaram* (2006) and *Genius* (2012).[8](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/dad-mom-please-don-t-watch-this-interview-sanusha-039541.html)
## Education and break from Malayalam cinema
Sanusha completed a bachelor's degree in commerce at SN College, Kannur, and a master's in sociology at St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam, while continuing to act.[1](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2025/10/07/actress-sanusha-celebrating-25-years-in-cinema.amp.html) She then took a deliberate six-year break from Malayalam cinema, remaining active in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada during that period, and completed an MSc in Global Mental Health & Society at the [University of Edinburgh](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-edinburgh) in Scotland in 2024.[11](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/actress-sanusha-santhosh-reveals-why-she-took-a-break-from-malayalam-cinema-097399.html) • [7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/07/20/sanusha-santhosh-scotland-global-mental-health-scotland-university-of-edinburgh.amp.html)
She returned to Malayalam with *Jaladhara Pump Set Since 1962*, acting alongside Urvasi and Indrans.[11](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/actress-sanusha-santhosh-reveals-why-she-took-a-break-from-malayalam-cinema-097399.html) Her recent credits include *India Today* (2019), *Jersey* (2019), and *Maratakam* (2023).[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1720175/bio/) • [12](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sanusha-santhosh/filmography.html) In interviews she has spoken openly about a period of severe depression during her lead-actress years, saying that few in the industry recognized her as a heroine, and she has since advocated for mental health awareness.[1](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2025/10/07/actress-sanusha-celebrating-25-years-in-cinema.amp.html)
## References
1. [നായികയായി പലരും അംഗീകരിച്ചില്ല; വിദേശ പഠന മികവില് ജീവിതം മാറിമറിഞ്ഞ് സനുഷ, Malayala Manorama Online (October 2025)](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2025/10/07/actress-sanusha-celebrating-25-years-in-cinema.amp.html)
2. [യുക്മ കേരളപൂരം വള്ളംകളി: സനൂഷ സന്തോഷ് സെലിബ്രിറ്റി ഗസ്റ്റ്, Manorama Online Global Malayali (August 2026)](https://www.manoramaonline.com/global-malayali/europe/2026/08/13/ukma-keralapooram-2026-actress-sanusha-santhosh-celebrity-guest.html)
3. [Sanusha – Movies, Biography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/sanusha/15201)
4. [Sanusha – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1720175/bio/)
5. [Sanusha Movies List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sanusha)
6. [സനുഷ സന്തോഷ് അഭിനയിച്ച സിനിമകള് | Sanusha Filmography, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sanusha-santhosh.html)
7. [Sanusha Santhosh completes her post-graduate studies from Scotland, Onmanorama (July 2024)](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/07/20/sanusha-santhosh-scotland-global-mental-health-scotland-university-of-edinburgh.amp.html)
8. [Dad, Mom – Please don't watch this Interview: Sanusha Santhosh, Filmibeat Malayalam (December 2017)](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/dad-mom-please-don-t-watch-this-interview-sanusha-039541.html)
9. [Sanusha Santhosh, Amma Kerala (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists)](https://www.ammakerala.com/meet-the-star/view/sanusha-santhosh)
10. [Nothing has changed in Malayalam: Sanusha, The New Indian Express (May 2012)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/malayalam/2012/May/25/nothing-has-changed-in-malayalam-sanusha-371293.html)
11. [Actress Sanusha Santhosh Reveals Why She Took A Break From Malayalam Cinema, Filmibeat Malayalam (August 2023)](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/actress-sanusha-santhosh-reveals-why-she-took-a-break-from-malayalam-cinema-097399.html)
12. [Sanusha Filmography in Malayalam, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sanusha-santhosh/filmography.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames Pu to Se*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license