Manjula Ghattamaneni – Telugu actress and producer

Manjula Ghattamaneni is a film actress and producer, best known for her work in Telugu cinema. She is the daughter of veteran Telugu actor Krishna, and sister of popular Telugu actors – Ramesh Babu and Mahesh Babu. Telugu actor Sudheer Babu and Telugu Desam politician Jay Galla are her brother-in-laws while actress Vijaya Nirmala is her step-mother. Manjula Ghattamaneni is best known as a film producer, and has played both lead and supporting roles, and is associated with film industry since 1999.

Manjula Ghattamaneni was born in 1970 into a filmy family. Following her father’s footsteps she too joined Telugu film industry as an actress in 1999. Rajasthan and Malayalam film Summer in Bethlehem were her first releases. In 2002 she produced the first film, Show which won National Film Award for Best Screenplay as well as best regional film in Telugu. She also started a film production company called Indira Productions, named after her mother. In 2004 she produced her second film, Naani starring her brother Mahesh Babu. The film was a flop. However her third film as a producer ‘Pokiri’ was a huge hit.

In 2009 she marked her comeback to screen playing the lead role in Kavya’s Diary. She also produced the thriller movie. Her next movie as a film producer, Ye Maaya Chesave was a commercial hit. In 2018 she marked her directorial debut with Manasuku Nachindi. Now she wants to direct her brother Mahesh Babu, and Pawan Kalyan.

Manjula Ghattamaneni – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. Her husband Sanjay Swaroop is a film producer and actor.

2. Sister of superstar Mahesh Babu, Bollywood actress and model Namrata Shirodkar is her sister-in-law. Thus she is related to Bollywood actresses – Meenakshi Shirodkar and Shilpa Shirodkar.

3. She was to mark her screen debut with M. N. Nambiar’s grandson Deepak in a Telugu film, which never happened.

4. She played one among the 5 cousins of Jayaram in Malayalam film Summer in Bethlehem.

5. Her movies, Show earned Nandi Special Jury Award and Pokiri got Nandi Award for Best Popular Feature Film.

6. The popular south Indian actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu marked her screen debut with Ye Maaya Chesave, produced by she and her husband. The movie also marked the acting debut of her brother-in-law Sudheer Babu.

7. She shared screen space with her husband for the movie, Orange.