List of Malayalam Actresses Who Are Popular in Other Language Films

One of the highly rated young actresses, Madonna Sebastian made herself a name in Tamil Cinema after making her acting debut in Mollywood. In the movie, Premam, she played the soulmate of the protagonist whom he ultimately marries. She reprised the same role in the Telugu remake where her performance received similarly good reviews. She is currently busy with projects in multiple languages - Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil. 

Manjima Mohan who made her Tollywood debut with Gautham Menon directorial Saahasam Swaasaga Saagipo where she paired up with Naga Chaitanya first proved her acting capabilities in her native Malayalam Cinema. Later she bagged several offers in Kollywood. She is currently playing the lead role in the Malayalam remake of the Bollywood classic Queen. 

Amala Paul is another popular actress down south who has made a mark for herself in a short period of time. Born in Aluva, Kerala, she made her screen debut in a supporting role in the 2009 Malayalam film Neelathamara. Thereafter, she appeared in all the leading south Indian language films including Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu.

Daughter of the celebrity couple, producer and director Suresh and actress Menaka, Keerthy Suresh worked as a child artist in Mollywood and gained prominence. She made her debut as an actress in the year 2013 with Priyadarshan's Geethanjali and received great appreciation for her work. She then ventured into Tamil industry with Rajini Murugan and later into the Telugu industry with Nenu Shailaja. Eventually, she gained popularity after her movies such as Bhairavaa opposite Ilayathalapathy Vijay and Nenu Local in Telugu. With some really interesting movies lined up for the year 2018 where she stars opposite stalwarts like Suriya, Vikram, Pawan Kalyan, Keerthy looks completely loaded.

Anupama Parameswaran made her acting debut through the classical hit Premam and shot to instant fame. She reprised the same role in the Tamil remake as well and the Telugu audience too fell for her charm. With movies such as A..Aa and Shatamanam Bhavati in Telugu and Kodi in Tamil, her popularity grew across South India and she now stands tall as one of the most popular sought after actress from Mollywood. She even won an IIFA for her debut act in Telugu.

Anu Emmanuel made her acting debut as a child artist in the movie, Swapna Sanchari where she played the daughter of Jayaram and Samvrutha in the movie. She then returned as an actress with the movie Action Hero Bijju opposite Nivin Pauly. He Telugu debut Manju opposite Nani gained great popularity winning her opportunities to act opposite Pawan Kalyan and Allu Arjun. Anu looks to be the girl in demand with a great future ahead.

Diana Mariam Kurian rechristened Nayantara, hails from Kerala and went on to make her debut in the Malayalam film Manassinakkare in 2003. Since then she hasn't looked back and continues to act in all southern language films. Currently, she is so above all other South Indian actresses in popularity that, she is known as the Lady Superstar of the South.

An actress and playback singer par excellence, Nithya Menen has carved a niche for herself in the industry in a very short span of time. Though she was born in Bangalore but hails from Kerala. She currently occupies the numero uno spot in Mollywood and has been paired with almost all the top young generation actors. Adding to this, she is also the most popular mallu actress in Telugu.

Asin Thottumkal is the latest entrant to Bollywood’s 100 crore-club and has made it all by herself. Though a regular feature in all the southern language films, Asin made her acting debut in Sathyan Anthikkad's Malayalam film Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka in 2001. But, she became a known figure with the Tamil blockbuster Ghajini. Her performance was so on the dot that she got the chance to reprise her role in the movie's Hindi remake. Once she entered the B-town, she quickly rose to the top and is the most known Malayalam Actress in Bollywood.

Though more popular in Hindi films, Vidya Balan was born in Palakkad, Kerala and has done a few regional films down south. She’s a recipient of many popular film awards in Hindi which includes the Padma Shri in 2014. Over the time, she has carved a niche for herself and now stands as one of the most popular actresses in Bollywood.

Originally from Palakkad, Kerala, Priyamani has come a long way since making her debut in the 2003 Telugu film Evare Atagaadu directed by P Bhanu Shankar. Subsequently, she made her Tamil and Malayalam debuts in 2004 but ultimately hit big time with the 2006 Telugu film Pellaina Kothalo. Since then there has been no looking back for this south Indian beauty.

Bhavana was born in Thrissur, Kerala and made her debut at the early age of 16 in Kamal's Nammal in 2002. She has turned into a critically acclaimed actress and won top state and regional awards in a short span of ten years. Since her debut, she has appeared in over sixty films and worked with some of the top actors and directors and won two Kerala State Film Awards. She is almost the most popular Mallu in Kannada films.

Mamtha Mohandas made her acting début in Hariharan’s 2005 Malayalam film Mayookham. She has made a mark for herself not only in acting but also playback singing. She has donned the greasepaint for several Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films over the last decade or so and has been associated with big star names and won several state and regional awards for her acting performances as well as playback singing in Malayalam and Tamil languages.

Shobana is an award-winning actress and trained Bharata Natyam dancer who hails from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. She made her debut in the 80’s and has acted in over 200 films in several languages with some of the iconic actors and directors of all time including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada and English. Her popularity is so high that, she is one of the very few female leads who can be rightfully be called a Lady Superstar.

A brilliant actress and director, Revathi was born in Kochi, Kerala but went on to do more of Tamil films than Malayalam. In fact, she was the most famous mallu actress in Tamil, of her times. She took to acting at a very early age and left a huge impact in every film of hers. Known for her matured and deglamorized roles, Revathi has come a long way as an actress and director.

Urvashi is another prominent Malayalam actress who made her debut in 1983 and went on to play the lead till 1999. She is known for her work more in Malayalam than other southern language films like Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu. She has written and produced a few films and has won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Achuvinte Amma (2005). She has also won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress six times.

A recipient of several national, regional and state film awards, Meera Jasmine has come a long way since she made her acting debut in the Malayalam film Soothradharan in 2001. She is one of the few actresses who has acted with almost all the big stars and thespians in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu cinema.

Gopika is a model turned actress who made her acting debut with the Malayalam film Pranayamanithooval in 2003 opposite Jayasurya and directed by Thulasidas. A career spanning over a decade, she has appeared in nearly 40 films including Tamil, Telugu and Kannada as well.

Zarina Wahab is a well-known actress who made her debut down south before making it big in Bollywood in the 70’s. A brilliant actress who never really was a part of the rat race but did some meaningful films with great actors and directors of all time. Nowadays she appears in character roles in south Indian as well as Hindi films.