Vani Viswanath is an Indian actress who predominantly appeared in Malayalam and Telugu films. In 2000, Vani won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for her performance in Susanna, directed by T. V. Chandran. She was termed as Mollywood's "Action Queen". In 2017, she joined in Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh.
Early life
Vani was born as the fourth among the five children of Malayali parents Thazhathuveettil Vishwanathan, an astrologer and Girija, a housewife in Ollur, Thrissur. She did her schooling at St. Raphael's Convent Girls High School, Ollur and thereafter at Chennai. When she was 13, her father predicted through astrology that she will become an actor and also she will enter into the politics.
Career
She has appeared predominantly in Malayalam and Telugu movies. She acted in The King with Mammootty and in Usthad with Mohanlal and in Chinthamani Kolacase with Suresh Gopi respectively. She also appeared in Kannada and Tamil movies. She was among the big stars of her time in South India. Her Tollywood movie Gharana Mogudu with Tollywood superstar, Chiranjeevi was a huge hit. Vani also acted in two Hindi film with Superstar Mithun Chakraborty in Jung and Bhishma.
Personal life
While acting for several films with Baburaj, she fell in love with him. The couple got married in 2002 and have two children.
Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
2000 - Second Best Actress - Susanna
Filmography
Malayalam
Mangalya Charthu (1987) as Sithara (Debut Film) Evidence (1988) as Dahlia Aadyaraathrikku Munpu (1992) Sipayi Lahala (1995) as Radhika Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995) as Meera Varma /Stella Fernandez Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta (1995) as Maya Surendran/ Manaseswari Gupta The King (1995) as Anuradha Mukharji Thakshashila (1995) as Amalendu Swarnakireedam (1996) as Sindhu Man of the Match (1996) as Sonia Mandrika Kuthira (1996) as Ancy Sunny Kaliveedu (1996) as Yamini Menon Hitler (1996) as Ammu The Good Boys (1997) as Guest Role Poothumbiyum Poovalanmarum (1997) as Nanditha Kilukil Pambaram (1997) as Sugandhi Kannur (1997) as Annie Rozario Janathipathyam (1997) as Maya Pillai Anubhoothi (1997) as Radha Ilamura Thamburan (1998) as Urmila Harthal (1998) as Mekhamala S Thampy Dravidan (1998) as Jiji Philipose Panchaloham (1998) as Jagadha The Truth (1998) as SP Meena Nambiar IPS Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1999) as Jayanthi Ustaad (1999) as Police Commissioner Varsha The Godman (1999) as Adv. Aswathy Menon Thachiledathu Chundan (1999) as Ambika James Bond (1999 film) (1999) as Dayana IPS Officer Captain (1999) as Renuka Varma Independence (1999) as Indu Garshom (1999) as Sushama The Gang (2000) as Kathy Saimon India Gate (2000) as Parvathi Sharma Rapid Action Force (2000) as Adithya Varma IPs Ival Draupathi (2000) as Ajitha Madhavan Daivathinte Makan (2000) Indriyam (2000) as Neeli Susanna (2000) as Susanna Ee Nadu Innalevare (2001) as Beena Benjamin IPS Nagaravadhu (2001) as Sukanya India Gate (2002) as IPS Officer Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha (2002) as Unniyarcha Ente Hridhayathinte Udama (2002) as Uma Ee Bhargavee Nilayam (2002) as Bhargavi Akhila (2002) as Akhila Bheri (2002) as Vasudha Nedungadi Danny (2002) as Margarette Balram Vs Tharadas (2006) as MLA Rani Chinthamani Kolacase (2006) as Adv.Pattammal Twenty:20 (2008) as Archive footage only Black Dalia (2009) as IPS Officer Daisy Wilfred Manushyamrugam (2011) { N/A} - Producer only Uppukandam Brothers Back In Action (2011) as Kochamini Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 (2014) as Lakshmi (Cameo) The Criminal Lawyer - TBA