# Vedhika
**Vedhika** (also credited as Vedhika Kumar or Vedhika Pooja Kumar) is an Indian actress and model who works across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema). She made her debut with the Tamil film *Madrasi* (2006), achieved her breakthrough as Angamma in Bala's period drama *Paradesi* (2013), and is best known commercially for the horror comedy *Kanchana 3* (2019), which her IMDb biography calls her biggest hit.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/) • [2](https://cinetown.org/people/profile/vedhika)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | February 21; sources disagree on the year, giving 1988[3](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2023192/) or 1998[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/); birthplace given as Sollapur, Karnataka[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/) or Solapur, Maharashtra[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/movie-actress/vedhika/list-of-movie-review) |
| Debut | *Madrasi* (2006), opposite Arjun Sarja; the film was dubbed into Telugu as *Shivakashi*[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/vedhika.html) |
| Breakthrough | Angamma in Bala's *Paradesi* (2013), a role that brought critical acclaim and awards[2](https://cinetown.org/people/profile/vedhika) |
| Biggest commercial hit | *Kanchana 3* (2019), which grossed more than 14 million dollars in India and a few other countries according to IMDb[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/) |
| Bollywood debut | *The Body* (2019), opposite Emraan Hashmi, with Rishi Kapoor, directed by Jeethu Joseph[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/i-got-the-right-launchpad-in-bollywood-with-the-body-says-vedhika-kumar/articleshow/72457960.cms) |
| Streaming debut | *Yakshini* (2024), a Disney+Hotstar series, in which she played Maya[7](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Jun/23/vedhika-i-would-love-to-do-a-film-like-black-swan) |
| Output | About 30 films between 2006 and 2026[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/movie-actress/vedhika/list-of-movie-review) |
## Early life and education
Vedhika was born in Solapur and brought up in Mumbai; her family hails from the border areas of the [Maharashtra](https://www.edgepedia.org/maharashtra) and [Karnataka](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka) states, and her mother tongue is Kannada.[2](https://cinetown.org/people/profile/vedhika) She has a degree in Business Administration and completed a master's degree in [Marketing](https://www.edgepedia.org/marketing) at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/) An interview profile adds that she trained in acting at the Namit Kapoor school and began her career as a model before director Arjun offered her the lead role in his production *Madrasi* (2006).[8](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/interviews/vedhika-interview-the-fairy-tale-princess/)
She has said she started acting while still completing her schooling, took a break after two or three films to finish her education in the UK, and speaks six languages fluently.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/i-got-the-right-launchpad-in-bollywood-with-the-body-says-vedhika-kumar/articleshow/72457960.cms) • [9](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2019/Apr/17/shooting-for-kanchana-3-was-like-a-holiday-vedhika-1965463.html) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/)
## Career
**Early Tamil films.** After *Madrasi*, Vedhika appeared in [Raghava Lawrence](https://www.edgepedia.org/raghava-lawrence)'s comedy horror *Muni* (2007), the first film of what became the Muni/Kanchana franchise, and in *Kaalai* (2008) opposite [Silambarasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/silambarasan). Her dance number "Kutti Pisaasu" in *Kaalai* was widely played on television at the time, and Silambarasan and the choreographer Lawrence both praised her dancing.[8](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/interviews/vedhika-interview-the-fairy-tale-princess/) • [7](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Jun/23/vedhika-i-would-love-to-do-a-film-like-black-swan) She also worked in Telugu and [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema) in this period, including *Vijayadashami* (2007), *Sakkarakatti* (2008), *Sangama* (2008), *Malai Malai* (2009), and *Baanam* (2009).[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/vedhika/upcoming-movies.html)
**Breakthrough.** Director Bala cast her as Angamma in *Paradesi* (2013), an adaptation of the 1969 novel *Red Tea* by Paul Harris Daniel set among bonded laborers on a tea plantation in the pre-independence 1930s.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/paradesi/movie-review/19002399.cms) The Times of India review, which rated the film 4.5 out of 5, wrote that after roles that only required her to look pretty, Vedhika "gets a chance to show off her acting skills."[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/paradesi/movie-review/19002399.cms) She has said she took the film because she wanted to work with Bala, and that afterward she began receiving many performance-oriented roles.[7](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Jun/23/vedhika-i-would-love-to-do-a-film-like-black-swan) She followed it with Vasantha Balan's period musical *Kaaviya Thalaivan* (2014), playing the theater artiste Vadivambal, a role she has called even more challenging than *Paradesi*.[12](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-actress/vedhika/an-interview-with-actress-vedhika.html)
**Return to commercial cinema.** After nearly five years away from Tamil films, she returned with *Muni 4: Kanchana 3* (2019), reuniting with Raghava Lawrence twelve years after *Muni*. She shot for 70 days on the film and described the experience as "like going on a big holiday."[9](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2019/Apr/17/shooting-for-kanchana-3-was-like-a-holiday-vedhika-1965463.html) The film became her biggest commercial success: IMDb states it grossed more than 14 million dollars in India and a few other countries,[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/) and [BookMyShow](https://www.edgepedia.org/bookmyshow) puts its box office at close to 1.38 billion (138 crores).[13](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/vedhika/4577/) In the same year she made her Bollywood debut in *The Body*, a thriller directed by [Jeethu Joseph](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeethu-joseph), playing Ritu opposite [Emraan Hashmi](https://www.edgepedia.org/emraan-hashmi), with Rishi Kapoor in the cast; she has said she had turned down earlier Hindi scripts because the scope for performance was limited.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/i-got-the-right-launchpad-in-bollywood-with-the-body-says-vedhika-kumar/articleshow/72457960.cms)
**Later work.** Her subsequent credits include *Home Minister* (2022) in Kannada with Upendra, the Telugu historical *Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad* (2024), *Petta Rap* (2024) opposite [Prabhu Deva](https://www.edgepedia.org/prabhu-deva), the Telugu thriller *Fear* (2024), and *Gajaana* and *Gana* (2025).[14](https://www.kollywoodzone.com/boxoffice/vedhika/) In 2024 she made her streaming debut as Maya in the Disney+Hotstar series *Yakshini*, which she has described as her most performance-oriented role to date, and appeared in the series *Sshhh* (2025).[7](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Jun/23/vedhika-i-would-love-to-do-a-film-like-black-swan) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/) As of 2026 she was shooting two Tamil projects, one a horror film and one a fantasy film, with the films *Vinodhan* and *Jungle* listed as upcoming.[15](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lot-left-to-experiment-says-actor-vedhika) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/)
## Dance numbers
Dancing has been a recurring thread in her career. Her first song with Raghava Lawrence, "Suru Suru Susuravarthi" from *Muni*, was well received, and the track "Oru Sattai Oru Balpam" from *Kanchana 3* trended on YouTube.[16](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/Apr/21/films-unlike-fashion-cant-sustain-on-trends-vedhika-11151.html) In 2026 she performed the item dance number "Sulthaan" in the Malayalam fantasy comedy *Aadu 3*, appearing alongside [Vinayakan](https://www.edgepedia.org/vinayakan) with [Jayasurya](https://www.edgepedia.org/jayasurya) also featured; the song was composed by [Shaan Rahman](https://www.edgepedia.org/shaan-rahman), written by Manu Manjith, and sung by Anila Rajeev.[17](https://www.manoramaonline.com/music/music-news/2026/03/15/aadu-3-sulthan-song-featuring-vedhika-released.amp.html) The video drew more than three million viewers before the film's release, and *Aadu 3* earned 100 million rupees (10 crore rupees) on its opening day.[18](https://www.manoramaonline.com/music/music-news/2026/03/21/vedhika-shares-aadu-3-theatre-celebration.amp.html) In a 2026 interview she said the song had clocked 8 million views on YouTube in a short span.[15](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lot-left-to-experiment-says-actor-vedhika)
## Recognition
Across her career she has received an Asiavision Award and two Edison Awards, and has received two [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south) nominations.[14](https://www.kollywoodzone.com/boxoffice/vedhika/) Sun Pictures' cast profile likewise notes Edison Awards wins and Filmfare Awards South nominations.[19](https://www.sunpictures.in/casts/vedhika/) She has said she received two awards for *Paradesi*.[12](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-actress/vedhika/an-interview-with-actress-vedhika.html)
## References
1. [Vedhika, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466628/)
2. [Vedhika, Cinetown profile](https://cinetown.org/people/profile/vedhika)
3. [Vedhika biography, elCinema](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2023192/)
4. [Vedhika Complete Filmography, nettv4u](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/movie-actress/vedhika/list-of-movie-review)
5. [Vedhika biography, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/vedhika.html)
6. ["I got the right launchpad in Bollywood with The Body", says Vedhika Kumar, Times of India (2019)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/i-got-the-right-launchpad-in-bollywood-with-the-body-says-vedhika-kumar/articleshow/72457960.cms)
7. [Vedhika: I would love to do a film like Black Swan, Cinema Express (2024)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Jun/23/vedhika-i-would-love-to-do-a-film-like-black-swan)
8. [Vedhika Interview: The Fairy Tale Princess, Silverscreen India](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/interviews/vedhika-interview-the-fairy-tale-princess/)
9. [Shooting for 'Kanchana 3' was like a holiday: Vedhika, The New Indian Express (2019)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2019/Apr/17/shooting-for-kanchana-3-was-like-a-holiday-vedhika-1965463.html)
10. [Vedhika filmography, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/vedhika/upcoming-movies.html)
11. [Paradesi Movie Review 4.5/5, Times of India (2013)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/paradesi/movie-review/19002399.cms)
12. [Actress Vedhika interview, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-actress/vedhika/an-interview-with-actress-vedhika.html)
13. [Vedhika profile, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/vedhika/4577/)
14. [Vedhika Photos, Kollywood Zone](https://www.kollywoodzone.com/boxoffice/vedhika/)
15. ["Lot left to experiment," says actor Vedhika, DT Next (2026)](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lot-left-to-experiment-says-actor-vedhika)
16. [Films, unlike fashion, can't sustain on trends: Vedhika, Cinema Express (2019)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/Apr/21/films-unlike-fashion-cant-sustain-on-trends-vedhika-11151.html)
17. [Aadu 3 Sulthan song featuring Vedhika released, Manorama Online (2026)](https://www.manoramaonline.com/music/music-news/2026/03/15/aadu-3-sulthan-song-featuring-vedhika-released.amp.html)
18. [Audience celebrates Vedhika's 'Sultan' song in Aadu 3, Manorama Online (2026)](https://www.manoramaonline.com/music/music-news/2026/03/21/vedhika-shares-aadu-3-theatre-celebration.amp.html)
19. [Vedhika, Sun Pictures cast profile](https://www.sunpictures.in/casts/vedhika/)
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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 T to W*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; 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