Here is a list of Telugu heroines who come from a Telugu background, either by birth or by upbringing, and have contributed to Telugu cinema:
Veteran Actresses (1940s-1970s)
Bhanumathi Ramakrishna – One of the earliest and most versatile actresses, also a singer and director. Savitri – Legendary actress known for her roles in films like Maya Bazaar, Missamma, and Gundamma Katha.
Jamuna – Popular for her roles in Missamma, Tenali Ramakrishna, and Mogudu Kaavali.
Krishna Kumari – A contemporary of Savitri, known for her performances in mythological and social dramas.
Anjali Devi – Known for her roles in Lava Kusha and Swarna Sundari.
Sowcar Janaki – Veteran actress with notable performances in Telugu and Tamil cinema.
S. Varalakshmi – Known for her roles in both Telugu and Tamil films, also a classical singer.
Vijaya Nirmala – Actress and director, entered the Guinness World Records for directing the most number of films by a female director.
Actresses from the 1970s-1990s
Vanisri – Popular for her roles in Prem Nagar, Jeevana Tarangalu, and Krishnaveni.
Jayaprada – Started her career in Telugu cinema with films like Siri Siri Muvva and later became a national star.
Jayalalitha – Known for her roles in Telugu films before gaining fame in Tamil cinema and later becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Sarada – Famous for her performance in films like Nimajjanam and Saptapadi. Radhika Sarathkumar – Born into a Telugu family, she worked in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam cinema.
Suhasini Maniratnam – Born into a Telugu family, she has acted in notable films across different languages, including Telugu.
Bhanupriya – Known for her performances in Swarnakamalam and Sitaara. Ramyakrishna – Gained fame in Telugu cinema with films like Narasimha, Baahubali, and Annamayya.
Rajasekhar’s Wife Jeevitha – Worked in a few films and later became more active behind the scenes.
Modern Era Actresses (2000s-Present)
Suhasini – Acted in films like Chantigadu and Prema Kavali.
Swathi Reddy (Colors Swathi) – Known for her roles in Ashta Chamma, Swamy Ra Ra, and Golconda High School.
Anjali – Although mainly active in Tamil films, Anjali is from a Telugu-speaking family and has appeared in Telugu films like Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu and Balupu.
Eesha Rebba – A Telugu-speaking actress known for her roles in films like Ami Thumi, Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha, and Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava. Ritu Varma – Known for her performance in Pelli Choopulu and Tuck Jagadish.
Ananya Nagalla – Gained recognition for her performance in Mallesham and Vakeel Saab.
Sreeleela – A rising star in Telugu cinema, known for her work in Pelli SandaD. Nanditha Raj – Known for her performances in films like Prema Katha Chitram and Savithri.
Manchu Lakshmi – From the Manchu family, she has acted in films like Gundello Godari and Dongata. Niharika Konidela – From the Mega family, Niharika has acted in films like Oka Manasu and Suryakantham.
Upcoming Talents
Shivathmika Rajashekar – Daughter of actors Rajasekhar and Jeevitha, she made her debut with Dorasani. Shivatmika – Another daughter from the same family, actively pursuing a career in cinema.
Mrunal Thakur – Although more famous in Bollywood, she has Telugu roots and appeared in Sita Ramam.
Priyanka Jawalkar – Known for her role in Taxiwala opposite Vijay Deverakonda.
This list includes actresses who have their roots in Telugu-speaking families and have made significant contributions to Telugu cinema over the years. Many of them have also worked in other South Indian languages and Bollywood, showcasing their versatility.
