Manju Warrier Biography:
Manju Warrier (born September 10, 1978) is an acclaimed Indian actress primarily known for her work in Malayalam cinema. She has received numerous accolades, including a National Film Award, a Kerala State Film Award, and seven Filmfare Awards South.
Warrier made her acting debut in the film Sakshyam (1995) and gained recognition for her performances in notable films such as Thooval Kottaram (1996), Sallapam (1996), Ee Puzhayum Kadannu (1996), and Aaraam Thampuran (1997). After her marriage, she took a hiatus from acting but made a triumphant return with the critically acclaimed film How Old Are You? (2014).
Manju Warrier Family & Education:
Manju Warrier was born on September 10, 1978, in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, into a Malayali family originally from Pullu village in Thrissur district, Kerala. Her father, T. V. Madhavan, worked as an accountant at Shakthi Finance’s Nagercoil regional office, while her mother, Girija, from Thiruvilwamala, was a homemaker. She has an elder brother, Madhu Warrier, who is also an actor and producer.
Warrier completed her primary education at CSI Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Nagercoil. After her father’s promotion, the family moved back to Kerala, settling in Kannur district. She continued her studies at Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Kannur, and later attended Chovva Higher Secondary School.
Manju Warrier Career:
Manju Warrier began her career with a television serial called Moharavam, which aired on Doordarshan. At just 17, she made her film debut in Sakshyam (1995). The following year, she starred in Sallapam (1996) alongside Dileep, whom she later married.
Despite a brief three-year career in the industry, Manju appeared in 20 Malayalam films, earning acclaim from both audiences and critics. Her performance in Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999) garnered a special mention from the National Film Awards jury. Notable films from this period include Aaraam Thampuran (1997) and Kanmadam (1998) with Mohanlal, as well as Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, Kaliyattam (1997), Summer in Bethlehem (1998), Pranayavarnangal (1998), and Pathram (1999) with Suresh Gopi. She also featured in successful films with Jayaram, such as Dilliwala Rajakumaran (1996) and Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997). In 1998, her lead role in M. T. Vasudevan Nair’s Daya won several awards.
Manju received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for Ee Puzhayum Kadannu (1996) and won four consecutive Filmfare Awards for Best Actress for her performances in Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, Aaraam Thampuran, Kaliyattam, Kanmadam, and Pathram. Many of her films were box-office successes, with Aaraam Thampuran and Pathram being the highest-grossing Malayalam films in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Her last film before taking a hiatus was Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu.
After marrying Dileep, Manju took a break from acting. She made her return to the stage on October 24, 2012, with a Kuchipudi dance recital at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, performing in front of a large audience. In July 2013, she featured in a commercial for Kalyan Jewellers alongside Amitabh Bachchan and appeared in the Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada versions of the ad. During this time, she also published a book titled Sallapam, which shared memoirs of her life.
Manju made her highly anticipated film comeback after a 15-year hiatus with How Old Are You? in 2014, directed by Rosshan Andrrews.
Manju’s subsequent film, Ennum Eppozhum, directed by Sathyan Anthikad, reunited her with Mohanlal after 17 years. She then starred in Rani Padmini, released in October 2015, which, despite underperforming at the box office, was regarded as an “underrated gem” that celebrated female friendships. In her last release of the year, she played an animator in Jo and the Boy.
In 2016, she appeared in Vettah, Karinkunnam 6, and Shakuntala. The following year, she had notable roles in C/O Saira Banu, Villain, and Udaharanam Sujatha.
In 2018, Manju starred in the Kamala Surayya biopic Aami and played a die-hard fan of Mohanlal in the musical romantic comedy Mohanlal. Although the latter received mixed reviews, her comedic performance was well received. Her final film of the year, Odiyan, achieved the highest opening day collection for a Malayalam film, earning praise for her portrayal of Prabha.
In 2019, Manju featured in Lucifer, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, where her role as a grieving daughter was lauded for its emotional depth. The film became the first Malayalam movie to surpass ₹200 crore at the box office. That year, she also made her Tamil debut in Asuran alongside Dhanush, with critics praising her intense performance. She wrapped up 2019 with Prathi Poovankozhi, where her powerful portrayal of a strong female character was highlighted by reviewers.
In March 2021, Manju began filming for Amriki Pandit, marking her Hindi film debut opposite R. Madhavan. She also collaborated with Mammootty for The Priest in 2021 and reunited with Biju Menon for Lalitham Sundaram in 2022 after a 20-year gap.
Manju Warrier Marriage, Daughter & Divorce:
On October 20, 1998, Manju Warrier married actor Dileep at the Aluva Sri Krishna Temple. They have a daughter named Meenakshi. The couple filed for divorce in 2014, which was finalized in January 2015. Manju currently resides in Thrissur, Kerala.
Facts About Manju Warrier:
Manju Warrier’s characters are frequently featured on lists highlighting strong female characters in Indian cinema. She is regarded as the highest-paid actress in the Malayalam film industry.
In addition to her acting career, Manju is a trained Kuchipudi dancer, having studied under Geetha Padmakumar. She actively participates in classical dance performances and made her return to the stage in 2012 during the Navaratri dance festival at Guruvayur. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2014, becoming the first recipient of this award for Kuchipudi.
Beyond films, she serves as a brand ambassador for several companies, including Kalyan Jewellers, Sony India, Lasagu Coaching App, MyG, Ujala Detergent, Kitchen Treasures, Ajinorah, and KLM Axiva. She has appeared in commercials for brands like Lifebuoy and Meriiboy Icecreams. Additionally, she was the first brand ambassador for a Malayalam entertainment channel, Zee Keralam.
Manju is also a goodwill ambassador for various government and social initiatives, such as the State Literacy Mission, She Taxi, Kudumbashree’s organic farming project (inspired by her role in “How Old Are You?”), Horticorp, and Naipunnya Development projects.
Manju Warrier Physical Apperance:
Height:
Weight:
Figure Measurements:
Eye Color: Black
Hair Color: Black
Manju Warrier Controversies:
Awards:
Alia Bhatt's latest release, Jigra, has faced disappointment at the box office, grossing just Rs…
Tamil actress Helen Nelson, popularly known as Oviya, has made headlines after a purported 'private…
Keerthi Suresh, who made her mark among today's leading heroines with the blockbuster Mahanati, has…
Hansika Motwani is embracing new beginnings with her lifestyle upgrades. Recently, she made headlines by…
One of the most anticipated films in Kollywood, Kanguva, starring Suriya and directed by Siruthai…
Dushara Vijayan Biography: Dushara Vijayan (born 14 October 1997) is an Indian actress primarily known…
This website uses cookies.