# Thapaswini Poonacha
**Thapaswini Poonacha** (ತಪಸ್ವಿನಿ ಪೂಣಚ್ಚ) is an Indian actress who works in Kannada-language cinema, best known for her debut role as Kushi Jokumaraswamy in the comedy-drama *Harikathe Alla Girikathe* (2022) and for playing Rukmini in *Premada Oorali* (2026).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13217882/) • [2](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/celebrity-interviews/from-cartoon-network-to-heroine-thapaswini-poonacha-opens-up-about-her-acting-journey-gvd/articleshow-3wcbgui) She is from Virajpet in the Kodagu district of [Karnataka](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka) and lives in Bengaluru.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/thapaswini-poonacha.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Profession | Actress (Kannada cinema); also credited as a model[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/thapaswini-poonacha.html) |
| Origin | Virajpet, Kodagu, Karnataka; current residence Bengaluru[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/thapaswini-poonacha.html) |
| Debut | *Harikathe Alla Girikathe* (2022), as Kushi Jokumaraswamy, opposite Rishab Shetty[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/Jun/21/thapaswini-poonacha-and-rachana-inder-on-working-in-rishab-shettys-hkgk-2467783.html) |
| Breakthrough role | Rukmini, a foreign-returned girl, in *Premada Oorali* (Kannada; released in Telugu as *Premane Oorilo*, 2 October 2026)[5](https://www.cinejosh.com/reviews/premane-oorilo-review/2049) |
| Other films | *Gajarama* (2025) as female lead; *A Film by Giri* (2026); *Mr Jack* (upcoming)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13217882/) • [6](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/movie-reviews/rajavardan-thapaswini-poonacha-ragini-dwivedi-starrer-gajarama-film-review-srcos4) |
| Award | Chittara Promising Star Award[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/thapaswini-poonacha.html) |
| Height | 5′ 4¾″ (1.65 m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13217882/) |
## Entry into films
Poonacha's entry into acting was accidental. According to a 2026 interview, she sent a photograph to an audition without any preparation, with no background in modeling, television serials, or theater, and was selected by the actor and filmmaker [Rishab Shetty](https://www.edgepedia.org/rishab-shetty) from a single candid photo among some 2,500 applicants for *Harikathe Alla Girikathe*.[2](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/celebrity-interviews/from-cartoon-network-to-heroine-thapaswini-poonacha-opens-up-about-her-acting-journey-gvd/articleshow-3wcbgui) Shetty then gave her three months of acting training, which she credits to him.[2](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/celebrity-interviews/from-cartoon-network-to-heroine-thapaswini-poonacha-opens-up-about-her-acting-journey-gvd/articleshow-3wcbgui) A 2022 profile in *The New Indian Express* reported that the offer arrived just as she completed her studies, and quoted her saying that getting the part in Shetty's film was a boon for someone with no experience or training in acting.[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/Jun/21/thapaswini-poonacha-and-rachana-inder-on-working-in-rishab-shettys-hkgk-2467783.html)
## Career
**Debut and early films.** In *Harikathe Alla Girikathe* (2022), a comedy-drama produced by Sandesh Production and directed by the duo Karan Ananth and Anirudh Mahesh, Poonacha appeared alongside Rishab Shetty as one of the two female leads with Rachana Inder.[4](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/Jun/21/thapaswini-poonacha-and-rachana-inder-on-working-in-rishab-shettys-hkgk-2467783.html) Her casting as the female lead of *Gajarama* opposite Rajavardan was announced in September 2022; the action film, directed by Sunil Kumar, released in 2025.[6](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/movie-reviews/rajavardan-thapaswini-poonacha-ragini-dwivedi-starrer-gajarama-film-review-srcos4) She has also acted in *A Film by Giri* (2026).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13217882/)
**Premada Oorali.** In *Premada Oorali*, a Kannada family drama directed by Manoj Kumar and released in Telugu as *Premane Oorilo* on 2 October 2026, Poonacha plays Rukmini, a foreign-returned girl from a large, wealthy family whose arrival with the tomboy Vasantha (Ramika Shivu) changes the life of the protagonist Santosh (Shree Raam) and his father Naganna ([Rangayana Raghu](https://www.edgepedia.org/rangayana-raghu)).[5](https://www.cinejosh.com/reviews/premane-oorilo-review/2049) In an interview after release, she said the challenge of the role was conveying feeling through looks rather than long dialogue, and that a workshop held before shooting helped her; she also cited her scenes with Rangayana Raghu, including a rain-soaked night climax shoot, as the most memorable, saying she learned a great deal from him.[2](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/celebrity-interviews/from-cartoon-network-to-heroine-thapaswini-poonacha-opens-up-about-her-acting-journey-gvd/articleshow-3wcbgui) Reviewers noted that she handled the character's inner turmoil subtly;[7](https://www.vishwavani.news/movies/rangayana-raghu-shree-ram-thapaswini-poonacha-ramika-shivu-starrer-premada-oorali-movie-review-rating-in-kannada-90495.html) the cinejosh review called her performance passable as the foreign-returned girl.[5](https://www.cinejosh.com/reviews/premane-oorilo-review/2049)
**Upcoming work.** At the time of the October 2026 interview, *Mr Jack* was scheduled for release on December 4, in which she plays a teacher, and she said she had not accepted other new films.[2](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/celebrity-interviews/from-cartoon-network-to-heroine-thapaswini-poonacha-opens-up-about-her-acting-journey-gvd/articleshow-3wcbgui) She has said she wants to explore many kinds of roles, with a particular ambition to act in mythological and historical stories.[2](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/celebrity-interviews/from-cartoon-network-to-heroine-thapaswini-poonacha-opens-up-about-her-acting-journey-gvd/articleshow-3wcbgui)
## Approach to roles
In a 2024 statement that circulated widely, Poonacha said she does not sign every project she is offered: she considers whether she fits a role that the writers have conceived, and if she does not like the story or the character she says no without considering any monetary angle.[8](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/will-study-more-about-coffee-once-i-finish-film-shooting-says-thapaswini-poonacha-vcs-soqbew) A Times of India headline on an interview with her used a similar formulation, saying that roles have to make her soul happy, not just money.[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/thapaswini-poonacha)
## References
1. [Thapaswini Poonacha, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13217882/)
2. ["From Cartoon Network to Heroine: Thapaswini Poonacha Opens Up About Her Acting Journey", Asianet Suvarna News / Kannadaprabha, 16 October 2026](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/celebrity-interviews/from-cartoon-network-to-heroine-thapaswini-poonacha-opens-up-about-her-acting-journey-gvd/articleshow-3wcbgui)
3. [Thapaswini Poonacha: Biography, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/thapaswini-poonacha.html)
4. ["Thapaswini Poonacha and Rachana Inder on working in Rishab Shetty's HKGK", The New Indian Express, 21 June 2022](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/Jun/21/thapaswini-poonacha-and-rachana-inder-on-working-in-rishab-shettys-hkgk-2467783.html)
5. ["Premane Oorilo Review", cinejosh.com](https://www.cinejosh.com/reviews/premane-oorilo-review/2049)
6. ["Gajarama Film Review", Asianet Suvarna News / Kannadaprabha, 8 February 2025](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/movie-reviews/rajavardan-thapaswini-poonacha-ragini-dwivedi-starrer-gajarama-film-review-srcos4)
7. ["Premada Oorali Review", Vishwavani, 25 September 2026](https://www.vishwavani.news/movies/rangayana-raghu-shree-ram-thapaswini-poonacha-ramika-shivu-starrer-premada-oorali-movie-review-rating-in-kannada-90495.html)
8. ["Money is not important, says Thapaswini Poonacha", Asianet Suvarna News](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/will-study-more-about-coffee-once-i-finish-film-shooting-says-thapaswini-poonacha-vcs-soqbew)
9. [Thapaswini Poonacha: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/thapaswini-poonacha)
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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 L to Pr*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 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