Vaishnavi – South Indian film actress of 1980s and 1990s

Vaishnavi is a former actress of south Indian screen, who played lead and supporting roles in 1980s and 1990s. She predominantly worked in Tamil movies. She is the maternal granddaughter of south Indian actress Sowcar Janaki, and niece of Latha Rajinikanth, actor Rajinikanth’s wife. Thus Soundarya Rajinikanth and Aishwarya R. Dhanush are her younger cousins. She started her film journey with Tamil films in 1987, and later received limited success in Malayalam films. She has also done a few B-grade films before disappearing from screen.

Vaishnavi was born into a family with close links to cine world. Her maternal grandmother Sowcar Janaki remained a prominent heroine of Tamil movies of 1960s and 1970s. Started her film career in Tamil language in 1987, she appeared in more than 40 films belonging to all the four south Indian languages. Her role as Madhoo’s elder sister in Maniratnam’s Roja was well received. Apart from lead and parallel lead roles, she played character roles on screen. Mrigaya, Ayalathe Adheham, Maantrikam, Makkal Mahatmyam, Aham and Sooryamanasam are among her noted roles in Malayalam cinema. She quit acting after she got married in 1996. She has two daughters.

Vaishnavi – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. She had a brief stint with theatre in the 1990s.

2. She was a part of the famous show, “Lakshmi Kalyana Vaibhovame” which was staged more than 100 times, in India and abroad.

3. As she is related to Rajinikanth, she becomes a close relative to actor Dhanush.

4. She played lead role in a few Telugu and Kannada movies.