# Suma Kanakala
**Suma Kanakala** (born 1974) is an Indian television presenter, actor, and producer who works primarily in Telugu-language television, best known for hosting the ETV game show *Star Mahila*, described as one of the longest running women's game shows in India.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) Although a Malayali by birth, she is known for fluent, idiomatic Telugu on stage, and she has become the default host for Telugu film pre-release events, audio launches, and award functions.[2](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-how-much-income-anchor-suma-kanakala-earns-in-a-year-details-here-1803970.html/amp)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974, Palakkad, Kerala; raised in Secunderabad after her father moved there for work[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) • [3](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/anchor-suma-kanakala-birthday-special-336206.html) |
| Signature show | *Star Mahila* on ETV, a women's game show described as one of the longest running women's game shows in India[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) |
| Television start | Entered Doordarshan in 1991; moved to satellite channels as ETV and Gemini TV launched in 1995 and 1996[4](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sumakanakala_learning-journey-grow-activity-7081874737156521985-64mN) |
| Production house | K. Suma Rajeev Creations, founded 26 December 2012; produced *Lakku Kikku* on Zee Telugu[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) |
| Film work | Screen debut as one of two heroines in Dasari Narayana Rao's *Kalyana Praptirastu*; lead role in *Jayamma Panchayathi*[3](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/anchor-suma-kanakala-birthday-special-336206.html) • [5](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/anchor-suma-gives-clarity-on-she-will-stop-anchoring-after-jayamma-panchayathi-movie-released-au55-700365.html) |
| Family | Married actor Rajeev Kanakala in 1999; two children, Roshan Karthik Kanakala and Snehashwini[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) • [3](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/anchor-suma-kanakala-birthday-special-336206.html) |
| Languages | Malayalam (mother tongue), plus Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and English[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) |
## Early life and training
Suma was born in Palakkad, Kerala, in 1974. Her parents, P. N. L Pranavi and P. Vimala, had lived in [Secunderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/secunderabad) for a long time, and she grew up there.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) Her father's job in [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad) is credited in Telugu press coverage with giving her a strong command of Telugu despite her Kerala birth.[6](https://tv9telugu.com/topic/suma-kanakala)
She trained in acting under Lakshmi and Devadas Kanakala, a couple who trained many Telugu actors; Devadas Kanakala was the father of the actor Rajeev Kanakala, whom she later married.[7](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/happy-birthday-to-anchor-suma-kanakala-148341.html)
## Television career
**Doordarshan years.** Suma entered [Doordarshan](https://www.edgepedia.org/doordarshan) in 1991, before satellite channels carried Telugu programming, and her serial *Pelli Chupulu* aired there. In-house shooting required travel to Ramanthapur, where Doordarshan's headquarters was located. In 1994, Asia Net carried a two-hour Telugu slot, on which she hosted programs from a cooperative weavers society about available sarees. When ETV and [Gemini TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/gemini-tv) started in 1995 and 1996, India saw a growth in game shows, professional hosting, and talk shows, and her career moved with that shift.[4](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sumakanakala_learning-journey-grow-activity-7081874737156521985-64mN)
**Serials and breakthrough.** She entered serials and telefilms in 1995, and her breakthrough came with the expansion of satellite channels. Her major serials were *Swayamvaram*, *Anveshitha*, *Geetanjali*, and *Ravoyi Chandamama*.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) It was while working on the serial *Meghamala* that she met Rajeev Kanakala, and the acquaintance grew into a relationship.[8](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-suma-kanakala-acted-as-heroine-in-dasari-narayanarao-direction-1604181.html)
**Star Mahila and prime-time shows.** Her flagship program is *Star Mahila* on ETV, a game show aimed at female audiences that became one of the longest running women's game shows in India.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) Her other prime-time work has included *Panchavataram* on TV9, *Cash* on ETV, and *Start Music* on MAA TV, as well as *Kevvu Keka* on MAA TV with co-star Mano, produced by her own company.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) In 2023 she began hosting *Suma Adda*, a game show on ETV.[9](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/telugu/anchor/suma-kanakala) She has also hosted a Tamil show, the game show *Genes*.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html)
**Event hosting.** Beyond television, Suma hosts Telugu film pre-release events, trailer launches, audio functions, success meets, and award ceremonies, and she interviews film teams from small productions to pan-India releases.[2](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-how-much-income-anchor-suma-kanakala-earns-in-a-year-details-here-1803970.html/amp) • [5](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/anchor-suma-gives-clarity-on-she-will-stop-anchoring-after-jayamma-panchayathi-movie-released-au55-700365.html) A FilmiBeat listing credits her with interviewing more than 3,150 Tollywood celebrities.[10](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/top-listing/highest-paid-telugu-top-anchors-6-1334.html) TV9 Telugu reported in 2026 that she charges Rs 400,000 (Rs 4 lakh) to Rs 600,000 (Rs 6 lakh) per pre-release event, audio launch, or success meet.[2](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-how-much-income-anchor-suma-kanakala-earns-in-a-year-details-here-1803970.html/amp)
## Production and other work
Suma founded the production house K. Suma Rajeev Creations on 26 December 2012 and produced *Lakku Kikku*, telecast on Zee Telugu.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) She sang "Suya Suya" for the 2017 Telugu film *[Winner](https://www.edgepedia.org/winner-2017-film)*, starring [Sai Dharam Tej](https://www.edgepedia.org/sai-dharam-tej) and [Rakul Preet Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/rakul-preet-singh).[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) • [9](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/telugu/anchor/suma-kanakala) She also started a YouTube channel called "Suma Akka".[4](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sumakanakala_learning-journey-grow-activity-7081874737156521985-64mN)
## Acting
Suma wanted to be a film actor and made her screen debut as one of two heroines in *Kalyana Praptirastu*, directed by [Dasari Narayana Rao](https://www.edgepedia.org/dasari-narayana-rao), but did not find major success in films.[3](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/anchor-suma-kanakala-birthday-special-336206.html) She has since appeared in supporting and character roles in films including *Pavithra Prema*, *Chala Bagundi*, *Varsham*, *Swarabhishekam*, *Dhee*, *Badshah*, and *O Baby*.[3](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/anchor-suma-kanakala-birthday-special-336206.html) In *Jayamma Panchayathi* she took the lead role, marking her big-screen comeback after first appearing as the lead heroine in *Kalyana Praapthirasthu* in 1996.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) • [5](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/anchor-suma-gives-clarity-on-she-will-stop-anchoring-after-jayamma-panchayathi-movie-released-au55-700365.html) • [14](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/it-felt-empowering-to-return-to-a-film-set-after-25-years-suma/articleshow/88477982.cms) Around the film's release she publicly clarified that she was not stopping her anchoring career.[5](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/anchor-suma-gives-clarity-on-she-will-stop-anchoring-after-jayamma-panchayathi-movie-released-au55-700365.html)
## Philanthropy
Through the initiative Festivals For Joy, Suma has supported students with donor funding; she stated in a LinkedIn reply that more than 30 students supported by donors were studying in various colleges, with some completing courses and securing placements in multinational companies.[11](https://in.linkedin.com/in/sumakanakala)
## Family
Suma married the actor Rajeev Kanakala in 1999.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html) The couple have two children, a son, Roshan Karthik Kanakala, and a daughter, Snehashwini.[3](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/anchor-suma-kanakala-birthday-special-336206.html) Roshan entered films as a lead actor with *[Bubblegum](https://www.edgepedia.org/bubblegum-film)* and has described his mother's energy and work ethic as an example he learned from.[12](https://telugu.abplive.com/entertainment/cinema/roshan-kanakala-about-his-mother-anchor-suma-and-assets-in-interview-157207/amp) In November 2025, Suma responded sharply to social-media rumors that she and Rajeev had divorced, calling such speculation foolish.[13](https://telugu.samayam.com/telugu-movies/cinema-news/telugu-anchor-suma-kanakala-responds-to-divorce-rumours/amp_articleshow/125196011.cms)
## References
1. [Suma Kanakala Biography, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suma-kanakala/biography.html)
2. [Do You Know How Much Income Anchor Suma Kanakala Earns in a Year, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-how-much-income-anchor-suma-kanakala-earns-in-a-year-details-here-1803970.html/amp)
3. [Suma Kanakala: 'Super Anchor' Suma Kanakala!, NTV Telugu](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/anchor-suma-kanakala-birthday-special-336206.html)
4. [Navigating Change: Adapting to the Digital Era in my 30-Year TV Hosting Career, Suma Kanakala on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sumakanakala_learning-journey-grow-activity-7081874737156521985-64mN)
5. [Anchor Suma Gives Clarity on She Will Stop Anchoring After Jayamma Panchayathi Movie Released, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/anchor-suma-gives-clarity-on-she-will-stop-anchoring-after-jayamma-panchayathi-movie-released-au55-700365.html)
6. [Suma Kanakala news in Telugu, TV9 Telugu topic page](https://tv9telugu.com/topic/suma-kanakala)
7. [HBD Suma Kanakala, NTV Telugu](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/happy-birthday-to-anchor-suma-kanakala-148341.html)
8. [Do You Know Suma Kanakala Acted As Heroine in Dasari Narayanarao Direction, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-suma-kanakala-acted-as-heroine-in-dasari-narayanarao-direction-1604181.html)
9. [Telugu Anchor Suma Kanakala Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/telugu/anchor/suma-kanakala)
10. [Highest Paid Telugu Top Anchors, FilmiBeat](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/top-listing/highest-paid-telugu-top-anchors-6-1334.html)
11. [Suma Kanakala, Suma Filmy Arts, LinkedIn profile](https://in.linkedin.com/in/sumakanakala)
12. [Roshan Kanakala About His Mother Anchor Suma And Assets In Interview, ABP Desam](https://telugu.abplive.com/entertainment/cinema/roshan-kanakala-about-his-mother-anchor-suma-and-assets-in-interview-157207/amp)
13. [Telugu Anchor Suma Kanakala Responds to Divorce Rumours, Samayam Telugu](https://telugu.samayam.com/telugu-movies/cinema-news/telugu-anchor-suma-kanakala-responds-to-divorce-rumours/amp_articleshow/125196011.cms)
14. [It felt empowering to return to a film set after 25 years: Suma, Telugu Movie News - Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/it-felt-empowering-to-return-to-a-film-set-after-25-years-suma/articleshow/88477982.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Television presenters and hosts › Game show hosts and announcers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; 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