Anu Emmanuel – South Indian film actress with hit debut films, ‘Action Hero Biju’, ‘Majnu’ and ‘Thupparivaalan’ in three languages

Anu Emmanuel is a promising young actress who works in south Indian film industry. Marked her debut in a lead role opposite Nivin Pauley in 2016 commercial hit, ‘Action Hero Biju’, she later worked in Telugu and Tamil films. She is the daughter of Thankachan Emmanuel, Malayalam film producer, who produced hit movies such as Swapna Sanchari and Katha Thudarunnu, both starring Jayaram. She played female lead in her Telugu debut, Majnu, followed by Kittu Unnadu Jagratha and both were commercial hits. Her Tamil debut – Thupparivaalan, a thriller movie was also a commercial hit. Oxygen and Agnyaathavaasi are her other Telugu releases. Now she is one of the most sought young actresses of south Indian film industry, with many hit films to her credit.

Marked screen debut through Swapna Sanchari produced by her father

Anu Emmanuel was born into a Malayali family settled in Chicago, US. She did her schooling in Kerala, and later moved to US for her higher studies. She lived most of her time in US. Her father produced his movie in Malayalam, Katha Thudarunnu in 2010 which was a commercial hit. He produced his second film, Swapna Sanchari the following year, and casted his daughter Anu Emmanuel in a pivot role. She played teenage daughter of Jayaram who tries to commit suicide, in the movie. Her role got noticed.

Action Hero Biju – Anu’s first movie as female lead

As a lead actress she got her first break through comedy entertainer directed by Abrid Shine, Action Hero Biju (2016), where she played the brief role of Nivin Pauley’s fiancée. Her father who visited the sets of the movie recommended Anu’s name to the director, who was still in search of the female lead. Later Anu sent a video clip to Abrid, who finalized her after seeing it. Her photos also went viral over net very soon.

After her screen debut she moved to Telugu film industry

Same year she marked her Telugu debut with Majnu opposite Nani which was a commercial hit. She made a successful debut to Tamil film industry through Thupparivaalan (2017). In Telugu film industry she has been paired with superstars – Allu Arjun in Naa Peru Surya, Naa Illu India, and Pawan Kalyan in Agnyaathavaasi. Both the films were only average at box office. She was paired with Naga Chaitanya in Shailaja Reddy Alludu.

She played female lead in Tamil hit, Namma Veettu Pillai (2019) opposite Sivakarthikeyan. With multiple hit films in three different film industries, she has a great career ahead. Yet after her debut flicks – Swapna Sanchari and Action Hero Biju, she is yet to work in a Malayalam movie.

Anu Emmanuel – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. She was doing her studies when she did her first movie, Swapna Sanchari. After shooting was completed, she returned to US.

2. She owns a credit to have marked debut in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil movie industries with commercial hits.

3. She and actress Reba Monica John are cousins. Interestingly both marked their screen debut the same year opposite Nivin Pauley in two different films (Reba in Jacobinte Swargarajyam and Anu in Action Hero Biju in 2016) and both were commercial hits.

4. Also both the cousins were to mark screen debut in 2015, and got delayed for different personal reasons. Anu Emmanuel was initially offered the lead role of Tessa in Dulquer Salman starrer hit film, Charlie. As she was busy with her academics she didn’t accept the role. Reba Monica John was offered one of the female leads – Celine in yet another Nivin Pauley blockbuster, Premam. As her father was hospitalized she didn’t accept the role.

5. She was seen in a cameo appearance in Telugu hit rom-com, Geetha Govindam.