Apsara
Apsara is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Apsara began their career in 1994 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 32 years. With 30 credits to their name, Apsara remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 30+ years, Apsara's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
- Born
- Age
- 30
Biography
Apsara Rani (born Anketa Maharana) is an Indian actress working primarily in Telugu cinema, known for her collaborations with director Ram Gopal Varma. She appeared in D Company (2021) alongside Rock Kacchi and starred in Dangerous (2022), directed by Ram Gopal Varma and noted as India's first lesbian crime action film, co-starring Naina Ganguly and Rajpal Yadav. She made her acting debut in the romantic drama 4 Letters directed by R. Raghuraj, and also appeared in the Ram Gopal Varma-directed thriller Thriller. She adopted the screen name Apsara Rani at Ram Gopal Varma's insistence and has an upcoming project titled Blood Roses (2026).
Career Milestones
Acting debut in Telugu romantic drama as female lead
Name change to Apsara Rani on Ram Gopal Varma's insistence; appeared in RGV's romantic thriller
Special appearance in major commercial hit alongside Ravi Teja
Appeared in multilingual thriller released in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam
View film →Lead role in multilingual release across Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam
View film →Defining Moments
The 'Khatam' item song — Apsara Rani performs an intense, high-energy dance number in a red dress surrounded by men in a darkly lit room, becoming the film's most talked-about sequence
Went viral on social media and YouTube; Ram Gopal Varma personally hyped it by referencing Dawood Ibrahim's D Company, making it the defining breakout moment that established Apsara Rani's screen presence in Telugu cinema
View film →Special appearance dance sequence alongside Ravi Teja's blockbuster action film, cementing her status as a high-profile special-appearance performer
Appearing in one of Telugu cinema's biggest commercial hits of 2021 significantly raised her mainstream visibility beyond RGV's niche productions
Lead role as one half of a deadly lesbian couple — Apsara Rani and Naina Ganguly portray a darkly passionate relationship whose affair triggers a trail of murders involving cops and gangsters
Headlined India's first lesbian crime-action film as a primary lead (not just a side role), a landmark casting that drew widespread coverage and positioned her as a bold, unconventional actress willing to take on taboo subject matter
View film →Apsara by the Numbers
If you watched every Apsara film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 21 hours. Most-paired with Ram Gopal Varma — 2 films together.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →
Collaboration Network
The Constellation
Top 3 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Apsara.
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Apsara has worked most frequently with Ram Gopal Varma (2 films), Charlie (2 films), and Naina Ganguly (2 films).
Legacy & Influence
Apsara is an emerging actress in contemporary Indian cinema, primarily recognized for her work in Hindi-language films. Her career trajectory began with notable roles in the early 2020s, marking her entry into the industry during a period of significant digital and theatrical evolution. Her performances in films such as 'D Company' (2021) and 'Dangerous' (2022) have contributed to the diverse landscape of modern Indian storytelling, particularly within genres that explore gritty, real-world narratives and action-oriented plots. While her filmography is still developing, her presence adds to the growing roster of new talent navigating both mainstream and niche cinematic spaces. Her work, though early in her career, represents the ongoing expansion of opportunities for performers in India's multifaceted film industry. As she continues to build her body of work, Apsara's potential influence lies in her ability to take on varied roles that may resonate with evolving audience tastes. Her contributions, while not yet extensive, are part of the broader narrative of fresh artistic voices entering the field, contributing to its dynamism and future direction without the attribution of specific, unverified accolades or transformative impacts at this stage.