Manjula Ghattamaneni
Manjula Ghattamaneni is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Manjula Ghattamaneni began their career in 2004 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 22 years. With 30 credits to their name and an average audience rating of 7.3, Manjula Ghattamaneni remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 20+ years, Manjula Ghattamaneni's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
- Born
- Age
- 55
Biography
Manjula Ghattamaneni is a Telugu cinema actress, film producer, and director, daughter of veteran actor Krishna Ghattamaneni and sister of superstar Mahesh Babu. She produced the 2002 film Show, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and later produced the blockbuster Pokiri (2006) starring Mahesh Babu. She made her directorial debut with Manasuku Nachindi (2018) and continued acting in films including Kavya's Diary (2009), Orange (2010), Malli Modalaindi (2022), Hunt (2023), and Month of Madhu (2023). Her career spans acting, production, and direction, making her one of the few women in Telugu cinema to work across all three crafts.
Career Milestones
Film acting debut in Malayalam cinema
Debut as film producer with Show, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
Co-produced Pokiri, the highest-grossing Telugu film of its time (~₹66 crore worldwide), winning Nandi Award for Best Popular Feature Film
Directorial debut with romantic drama she wrote and directed
Returned to acting in notable roles including Dr. Mithra and Sharmishtha Devi
View film →Iconic Roles
Show
Her breakout lead role in the National Award-winning Telugu film. Her performance was widely praised and established her as a serious actress beyond her family legacy.
Kavya's Diary
Critically acclaimed performance as a woman with complex motives who infiltrates a family; considered one of her finest acting showcases.
Orange
Supporting role opposite Ram Charan; noted for her nuanced screen presence and received critical appreciation alongside her Kavya's Diary performance.
Month of Madhu
Her comeback maternal role in this romantic drama, playing a character central to the film's generational family conflict narrative.
Defining Moments
Playing the supportive sister role in Ram's family scenes, providing emotional grounding to the protagonist's arc
Critically noted performance that showcased her acting range alongside Ram Charan; one of her most discussed on-screen roles before her decade-long hiatus from acting
View film →Comeback performance as Dr. Mithra, a therapist guiding the lead characters through a complex divorce-remarriage narrative
Marked her return to acting after over a decade away; her calm, authoritative therapist role was praised as a mature, confident comeback performance
View film →Portrayal of Sharmishtha Devi as the dignified mother figure in the family drama
Reinforced her screen comeback, demonstrating her ability to anchor emotional family dynamics in supporting roles
View film →Manjula Ghattamaneni by the Numbers
If you watched every Manjula Ghattamaneni film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 18 hours. Most-paired with Vennila — 2 films together.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →
Collaboration Network
The Constellation
Top 2 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Manjula Ghattamaneni.
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Manjula Ghattamaneni has worked most frequently with Vennila (2 films), and Ram Charan Teja (2 films).
Legacy & Influence
Manjula Ghattamaneni, while maintaining a relatively private profile, has made a distinct entry into the Telugu film industry as part of the esteemed Ghattamaneni family. Her career trajectory began with a supporting role in the 2009 film 'Kavya's Diary', which provided an initial glimpse into the industry. After a significant hiatus, she returned to the screen with a more prominent role in the 2023 action thriller 'Hunt', demonstrating a deliberate shift towards more substantial and contemporary projects. Her contribution lies in her choice to carve her own path within a legendary film family, moving beyond the immense shadow of her brother, superstar Mahesh Babu, to establish her individual identity as an actor. Her work in 'Hunt', a film noted for its technical craft and narrative, marks a step towards modern, content-driven cinema in Telugu. While her filmography is currently concise, her presence signifies the evolving opportunities for actors from film families to pursue diverse and character-oriented roles, contributing to the broader narrative of industry expansion beyond traditional star vehicles. Her career, though in early stages for an actor re-emerging after a break, represents a quiet perseverance and a focus on selective work, adding a nuanced layer to the legacy of the Ghattamaneni family in Indian cinema.