Divya Shaji, better known by her stage names Chippy and Shilpa in Malayalam and Kannada films respectively, is an Indian actress and producer who works in the South Indian film industry, primarily in Malayalam and Kannada films. She has won several accolades including the Filmfare Award for Best Kannada Actress & Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Janumada Jodi (1996).
Biography She has acted in many Kannada superhit films such as Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga (1998), Mungarina Minchu (1997) and Idhu Entha Premavayya (1999). Shilpa and Ramesh Aravind pair is considered as one of the best onscreen pairs in Kannada cinema. Her best known works in Malayalam-language films include sister of Aadu Thoma (Mohanlal) in Spadikam and Chandradas's (Mammootty) estranged daughter in Patheyam.
She has also acted in several Malayalam Superhit TV series and her notable works include Sthreejanmam, Sthree oru Santhwanam, Sreeguruvayoorappan, Aakashadoothu and Santhwanam.
Career
Chippy made her film debut with the Bharathan directorial Padheyam in 1993, co-starring Mammootty. She has acted in several Malayalam films in supporting roles and a few lead roles. In 1995, she acted as the sister of the iconic goon Aadu Thoma in the film Spadikam starring Mohanlal. Later she debuted as Shilpa in Kannada cinema through the 1996 Kannada film, Janumada Jodi, which broke many records in the Kannada film industry and screened for five hundred days. She received the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress award from the Government of Karnataka for her role portrayal in the same film establishing herself as a lead actress in the Kannada cinema. Post marriage she shifted her focus into Malayalam television serials. She played Mayamma in Sthreejanam. Later she launched her own production house, Avanthika Creations, a subsidiary of her husband M.Renjith's film production company Rejaputhra Visual Media. She produced and played lead roles in Malayalam serials Akashadoothu, Vanambadi, Santhwanam and in Tamil serials Mouna Raagam and Mouna Raagam 2. In 2026, she made her comeback to films after a gap of almost 25 years through Malayalam film Thudakkam.
Personal life
Chippy was born as Divya to Shaji Dharmapal and Thankam Shaji at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Chippy has a sister, Drishya. She was educated at Nirmala Bhavan Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram and at Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram. Chippy is married to M. Renjith, a film and television producer who runs Rejaputhra Visual Media. The couple have a daughter Avanthika.
Filmography Malayalam
+ List of Chippy Renjith Malayalam film credits Year Title Role Notes 1993 Sopanam Anju Varma Padheyam Haritha Menon 1994 Harichandanam Vendor Daniel State Licency Seetha CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. Damayanthi Santhanagopalam Ammini Puthran Lekha 1995 Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum Shobha Spadikam Jancy Chacko No. 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North Sindhu Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu Radhika Sargavasantham Abhirami Prayikkara Pappan Radha Indian Military Intelligence Sreedevi Varma Minnaminuginum Minnukettu Indira Kusruthikaatu Ganga Kakkakkum Poochakkum Kalyanam Shyamala Aadyathe Kanmani Hema Mimics Action 500 Sridevi/Souparnika Thampuratti 1996 Padanayakan Sreedevi Kaathil Oru Kinnaram Varsha Kalyana Sougandhikam Vasumathi Devaraagam Rukku Harbour Sophie Ee Puzhayum Kadannu Aarathi Hitler Thulasi 1997 Asuravamsam Gayathri 1998 Poothiruvathira Ravil Radha Achaammakkuttiyude Achaayan Mereena Inspector Eeswara Iyer Green Roomilundu Aaram Jaalakam 2000 Kattu Vannu Vilichappol Seetha 2026 Thudakkam Meenu's mother
Kannada
+ List of Chippy Renjith Kannada film credits Year Title Role Notes 1996 Janumada Jodi Kanaka Filmfare Award for Best Actress – KannadaKarnataka State Film Award for Best Actress 1997 Kalyani Kalyani 1997 Muddina Kanmani Hema 1997 Lakshmi Mahalakshmi Lakshmi 1997 Vimochane Sumathi 1997 Mungarina Minchu Indu 1997 Chikka Kasthuri 1998 Suvvi Suvvalali Chandana 1998 Bisi Raktha 1998 Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga Nilambika 1998 Megha Banthu Megha Vedha 1999 Premachaari Gowri 1999 Arunodaya Nirmala 1999 Naanenu Madlilla Puttathayi 1999 Idu Entha Premavayya Apoorva 2000 Khadga Jhanvi 2002 Dharma Devathe Bheema 2004 Pandava Anasooya
Tamil
Dharma (1998), Geetha
Telugu
Pelli Peetalu (1998), Aswini
Television career As an actress + List of Chippy Renjith television credits as an actress Year Title Role Channel language Notes 2002–2003 Sthree Janmam Mayamma Surya TV Malayalam Television debut 2003–2004 Sthree oru Santhwanam Seetha Asianet 2006-2007 mazhamegha pravukal seetha Surya TV 2005 Nokketha Doorath Asianet 2006 Amma ManassuIsa Asianet 2007–2008 Sree GuruvayoorappanGauri Antharjanam a.k.a. Kururamma Surya TV 2007 Mizhiyoram Kerala Vision/Surya TV 2008 Aliyanmarum Penganmarum Amritha VijayanAmrita TV 2009 Adiparasakthi Chottanikkarayamma — Surya TV Cameo Appearance in the title song 2011–2013 Akashadoothu Meenu Surya TV Also producer 2011 Sreekrishnan Yashoda Surya TV 2017–2020 Vanambadi Nandini Asianet Also Producer 2017-2020 Mouna Raagam Mallika / Karpagam Star Vijay Tamil Also producer 2020– 2024 Santhwanam Sreedevi Balakrishnan a.k.a. Devi Asianet MalayalamAlso Producer2021–2023 Mouna Raagam 2 Mallika Star Vijay Tamil Also producer2022Bharatidasan ColonyStar Vijayproducer
As a Judge Junior Idol (Jaihind) Comedy Stars (Asianet) Super Dancer Junior 5 (Amrita TV) Red Carpet (Amrita TV) – Mentor
As a Guest Flowers oru kodi Tharapakittu Thiranottam
As a Reality show contestant Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran – 2017
Awards
+ List of Chippy Renjith awards Year Ceremony Category Film/serial Result1996Karnataka State Film AwardsKarnataka State Film Award for Best ActressJanumada JodiRowspan=10 Filmfare AwardFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada2005Asianet Television AwardsBest daughter Sthree oru Santhwanam2017Best Actress Vanambadi 2017 Best Serial2018 Most Popular Serial2019 Best Serial2022Best serialSanthwanam2022Best actress
References
External links