Karthika Menon, better known by her stage name Bhavana, is a popular actress in Mollywood, who actively appears in South Indian films. Bhavana began acting when she was 16 with a supporting role in the 2002 Malayalam film Nammal, which earned her appreciation and awards. She has since acted in more than 75 films, mainly in Malayalam, followed by Tamil Telugu, and Kannada. Her notable film credits include Daivanamathil, Chithiram Pesuthadi, Kudumbasree Travels, Honey Bee, Inspector Vikram, Bhajarangi 2, and Case of Kondana, among many others. She received critical acclaim and awards for her contribution to cinema, including two Kerala State Awards. So, who is Bhavana? Here’s everything we know about the star.
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Bhavana Biography
Bhavana was born on the 6th of June 1986, in Thrissur, Kerala, India. She is 37 years old, as of 2025.
| Birth Name | Karthika Menon |
| Nickname | Kaathi, Bhavana, Thakkidu |
| Date of Birth | June 6, 1986 |
| Place of Birth | Thrissur, Kerala, India |
| Age | 37 years old |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Profession | Actress, Model, Dancer |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Ethnicity | Indian (Malayali) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Naveen |
| Residence | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
Family and Education
Bhavana is the daughter of Pushpa and assistant cinematographer G. Balachandran. She has an elder brother named Jayadev. She attended Holy Family Girls’ High School, Chembukkavu, Thrissur.
Bhavana Husband
She married Kannada film producer and longtime friend Naveen on January 22, 2018. They got engaged in March 2017.
Physical Statistics
| Height | Feet – 5 feet 3 inches Centimeters – 160 cm Meters – 1.6 m |
| Weight | Kilograms – 58 kg Pounds – 127 lbs |
| Body Build | Slim |
| Body Measurements | 36-28-35 |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Shoe Size | 7 (US) |
| Dress Size | 4 (US) |
| Distinctive Features | Petite Body Frame |
Professional Statistics
Film Debut
She first appeared in the 2002 Malayalam film Nammal alongside Siddharth. She received Kerala State Film Special Jury Award and Aisanet Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the film.
Bhavana made her Tamil debut with the 2006 film Chithiram Pesuthadi starring alongside Narain and played the role of Charu. She made her debut in Telugu and Kannada with the 2008 film Ontari and the 2010 film Jackie, respectively.
Television Debut
She hasn’t appeared in television series except promotional talk shows.
Famous For
She is well known for her role as Sameera in the 2005 Malayalam film Daivanamathil.
Awards
- Kerala State Film Award – 2002, 2005
- Filmfare Awards South – 2006
- Asianet Film Award – 2002, 2005
Favorites
- Actors – Rajinikanth, Mammootty, Mohanlal, Kamal Haasan
- Actresses – Preity Zinta, Shobana
- Musicians – Ilayaraja, AR Rahman
- Color – Green, Yellow, Black
- Holiday Destination – Goa
Controversy
In February 2017, Bhavana hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons when she was abducted and allegedly raped by a group of men in a car. Police had nabbed them. Several film fraternities came in support of her during her bad times. Actor Dileep was allegedly involved in the abduction and was arrested and later released on bail. After the incident, she took a hiatus from the Malayalam movie industry for years and returned to the industry only in 2023.
Bhavana Facts
Bhavana is one of the most popular actresses in the south thus winning the likes of millions of people, thanks to her charming looks, bubbly smile, and attractive eyes.
Inspired to become an actress at an early age, she used to imitate her favorite scenes from movies in front of the mirror. She even broke her arms while trying to imitate actress Amala from the Malayalam movie Ente Sooryaputhrikku.
She is best known for her role as Sameera in the Malayalam-language film Daivanamathil.
Apart from doing films, Bhavana is also a brand ambassador for numerous products and brands, including the Textile giant in Kerala Pulimoottil.
She is also the brand ambassador for the celebrity cricket league franchise ‘Kerala Strikers’ along with actress Mamta Mohandas.
Bhavana is also a trained dancer.
In 2024, she starred opposite Vijay Raghavendra in the Kannada-language thriller film Case of Kondana. Directed and produced by Devi Prasad Shetty, the film was released on 26 January 2024.
Her upcoming movies include Pink Note, Hunt, Nadikar Thilakam, and The Door.