Amala Akkineni () is an Indian actress, Bharatanatyam dancer, and activist. She has predominantly worked in Tamil films, in addition to Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada-language films. She was a leading actress in the Tamil film industry from 1986 to 1992 and has appeared in many blockbusters in Tamil and other languages. She has won two Filmfare Awards South, namely Best Actress – Malayalam for the 1991 film Ulladakkam and Best Supporting Actress – Telugu for the 2012 film Life Is Beautiful. Akkineni is the co-founder of Blue Cross of Hyderabad, a non-government organisation in Hyderabad, India, which works towards the welfare of animals and preservation of animal rights in India.
Early life and education Amala Akkineni was born Amala Mukherjee in Kalaikunda, West Bengal, to a Bengali father, M.K. Mukherjee and an Irish mother, Meitim Connolly. Their family soon shifted to Chennai, where she was brought up. She has a brother.
Akkineni holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Bharatanatyam from the Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai.
Personal life Amala Akkineni married Telugu actor Nagarjuna on 11 June 1992 and the couple has a son, actor Akhil born in 1994. She is the step-mother of actor Naga Chaitanya. They currently live in Hyderabad.
She has given many live performances worldwide. She is fluent in English, Tamil, and Telugu and can also understand Bengali.
Career She was persuaded to join films by T. Rajendar, who visited her home with his wife Usha and convinced her mother to let her act in the film, which would be a classical film featuring her Bharatanatyam dancing. That film was Mythili Ennai Kaathali (1986) which was a box office hit. After the film's success, she acted in several Tamil films such as Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu (1986), Panneer Nadhigal (1986) and Velaikkaran (1987). She acted with her future husband [Nagarjuna in hits such as Siva (1989) and Nirnayam (1991). She garnered acclaim for her role in the film Ulladakkam (1991).
She quit acting in 1992 following her marriage to Nagarjuna. After a hiatus of 20 years she made a comeback in 2012 with the Telugu film Life is Beautiful. She received a CineMAA Award for Best Outstanding Actress and Telugu category Filmfare Award for best supporting actress in 2013 for her portrayal.
She returned to Malayalam cinema with C/O Saira Banu after a gap of 25 years, since Ulladakkam.
Filmography +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released
Tamil Year Title Role Note1986 Mythili Ennai Kaathali Mythili Tamil film debut Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil Panneer Nathigal Meera Kanne Kaniyamuthe Kavita Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu Noorjahan Unnai Ondru Ketpen Gita Oru Iniya Udhayam Anju 1987 Velaikaran Kaushalya Idhu Oru Thodar Kathai Sumathi Kavithai Paada Neramillai Devi Koottu Puzhukkal Manga Poo Poova Poothirukku Mary Vedham Pudhithu Vaidehi Nominated — Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Tamil1988 Sathyaa Geetha Nair Agni Natchathiram Anjali Nethiyadi Amala Guest appearance Jeeva Geetha Illam Saradha Kaliyugam Nithya Kodi Parakkuthu Aparna1989 Naalai Manithan Preethi Varam Kavitha Uthama Purushan Rekha Vetri Vizha Lalitha Mappillai Geetha1990 Pudhu Padagan DeviPattanamthan Pogalamadi Unknown The song "Saamakozhi" picturised for shelved film Kavadi Sindhu was used in this film. Mounam Sammadham Hema1991 Vaasalil Oru Vennila Kamal Karpoora Mullai Maya Vinodini2022KanamAdhi's motherShot simultaneously in Telugu
Telugu Year Title Role Note 1987 Kirayi Dada Lata Telugu film debut1988 Chinababu Madhu Raktha Tilakam Radha1989 Siva Asha1990 Prema Yuddham Latha Raja Vikramarka Rekha Aggiramudu Manasa1991 Nirnayam Geetha Aagraham Chitra 2012 Life Is Beautiful Amma 2014 Manam Dance teacher Cameo appearance2022Oke Oka JeevithamAdhi's motherShot simultaneously in Tamil
Hindi Year Title Role Note1988 Dayavan Sarita Kab Tak Chup Rahungi Geeta 1989 Dost Pooja Jurrat Renu 1990 Shiva Asha2013 Listen... Amaya Sujata 2015 Hamari Adhuri Kahani Rohini Ruparel Cameo appearance2018KarwaanTahira2023 Tumse Na Ho Payega Pooja
Kannada Year Title Role Note1990 Bannada Gejje Menaka 1991 Agni Panjara 1992 Ksheera Sagara Belliyappa Bangarappa Mutthamma
Malayalam Year Title Role Note 1991 Ente Sooryaputhrikku Maya Vinodini Malayalam film debut Ulladakkam Reshma Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam 2017 C/O Saira Banu Adv. Annie John Tharavadi 2021The Fall into SpringSulochana RamachandranShort film
Sound Year Title Role Note1987 Pushpaka Vimana Magician's daughter
Television Year Title Role Language Network1991PennTamil Doordarshan1992SangurshHindi Doordarshan 2010 Super Mother Judge Tamil Star Vijay 2014–2015 Uyirmei Dr. Kavitha Sandeep Tamil Zee Tamil 2019 High Priestess Swathi Reddy Telugu ZEE5 2020 The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye Maya's mother Hindi Amazon Prime Video
Awards and honours Year Award Award category Work Result Ref. 1989 Cinema Express Awards Cinema Express Award for Best Actress Special Jury IllamAgni Natchathiram 1991 Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam Ulladakkam 2013 Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu Life Is Beautiful CineMAA Awards CineMAA Awards for Best Outstanding Actress 2013SIIMASIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu2023Oke Oka Jeevitham2024 Filmfare Awards SouthFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu
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