Pooja Vijay (born 5 November 1991), better known by her stage name Swasika, is an Indian actress and television presenter. She predominantly appears in Malayalam and Tamil films.
Personal life
Swasika (Pooja Vijay) was born to Attupurath Vijayakumar (an accountant in Bahrain) and Girija and hails from Perumbavoor, Ernakulam, Kerala. She has a brother, Akash. After taking a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature, she enrolled in dancing lessons. She married actor and model Prem Jacob in January 2024.
Career Film Swasika made her film debut in Sundarapandi's Tamil love story Vaigai (2009), playing a character based on a real person. She was still a student when she played the second lead in Rasu Madhuravan's Goripalayam (2010). Her third film, Maithanam (2011), in which she played a village girl who "values culture and tradition", was well received by critics and audiences. She followed it with the contrasting role of a "city-bred college girl" in Seelan's Kandathum Kanathathum.
She made her Malayalam debut in Cinema Company (2012) and played the lead in Sajeevan Anthikkad's Prabhuvinte Makkal the same year. In the Tamil thriller Panduvam (2014), she played a psychiatrist, a more modern character than those in her earlier Tamil films.
In 2019, she was cast in the title role of the Rahman Brothers' Vasanthi. Her performance won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actress at the 50th Kerala State Film Awards, where Vasanthi also won Best Film and Best Screenplay. The film premiered at the International Film Festival of Kerala in 2021.
Television Swasika has also worked as a television presenter, hosting a show on Jeevan TV in 2014. She then took the lead role in the Mazhavil Manorama serial Dhathuputhri (2015), followed by My Marumakan (2015–2016) on Surya TV.
She played the title character in Chinthavishtayaya Seetha (2016–2017) on Asianet and in its sequel, Seetha (2017–2019), on Flowers TV. The role made her popular with Malayalam television audiences and won her several awards. She had also signed on for the serial Pranayini but later left the project.
She hosted the celebrity talk show Red Carpet on Amrita TV from 2020 to 2023, and began hosting the reality show Ammayum Makalum in 2023.
Alongside her screen work, she performs as a dancer in stage shows and has appeared in advertisements, dance music videos, music albums, short films and dance covers.
Filmography Year Title Role Language Notes 2009 Vaigai Uma Tamil Credited as Vishaka2010 Fiddle Gayathri's friend Malayalam Goripalayam Parvathy Tamil 2011 Maithanam Shanthi Kaatu Paranja Katha Malayalam 2012 Cinema Company Reena Saattai Mrs. Dayalan Tamil Ayalum Njanum Thammil Neethu Malayalam Banking Hours 10 to 4 Aparna Shekhar Prabhuvinte Makkal Devika Kandathum Kanathathum Kavitha Tamil Etu Chusina Nuvve Renu Telugu 2013 Orissa Dakshayani Malayalam Sokkali Malar Tamil 2014 Parayan Baaki Vechathu Karimani Malayalam Panduvam Madhivadhani Tamil Appuchi Gramam Selvi At Once Zareena Malayalam 2016 Kaattum Mazhayum Swarna Kaduva Riya Kattappanayile Hrithik Roshan Neethu 2018 Kuttanadan Marpappa Jinu Neeli Dancer Special appearance in the song Poomigaroo Oru Kuttanadan Blog Sujatha Koodasha Sowmya Prabha Prabha Tamil 2019 Swarna Malsyangal Wife Malayalam Soothrakkaran CI Laura Ishq Kunjechi Subharathri Sulnama Porinju Mariam Jose Lissy Ittimani: Made in China Betty 2020 Vasanthi Vasanthi 2021 Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan Suma2022 Aaraattu Balan's daughter CBI 5MerlinPathaam ValavuSujaKudukku 2025JwalaMonsterDianaKumari Lakshmikutty Autorickshawkarante Bharya Lilly Paul Chathuram Selena 2024 Vivekanandan Viralanu Sithara DNA Merlin Charlie Nunakkuzhi Maya Lubber Pandhu Yasodhai Tamil Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam ACP Sreya IPS Malayalam 2025 Randam Yamam Sofiya Retro Sandhya Thilagan Tamil Maaman Girija Ravi Thammudu Gutti Telugu Bhoghee Kavitha Tamil ShambhalaVasanthaTelugu2026 Ankam Attahasam Malayalam Karuppu Vasanthi Tamil Nooru Saami Selvi IrumudiDhanalakshmiTelugu
Television Acting Credits Year Title Role Network Language Notes Ref.2015 DhathuputhriKanmani/MeenuMazhavil Manorama Malayalam 2015 2016 My Marumakan Aishwarya Surya TV 2016 2017Chinthavishtayaya Seetha Seetha Asianet 2017 2019SeethaFlowers TV 2017 PranayiniMiliMazhavil ManoramaCameo in promo onlyReplaced by Sruthy BalaEnnalayude BaakiMaya Surya TVTelefilm2019Arayannanglude VeeduSeetha Flowers TVCameo appearance2020Lockdown PleaseVarious Roles PulivaalSherly/Teacher 2020-2022 Manam Pole MangalyamNila VarmaZee Keralam 2021 Mrs. Hitler Nila Cameo appearance Amma Makal Cameo in promo 2022 Seethapennu SeethaFlowers TV 2024Malikappuram: Apathbandhavan AyyappanHarikanyakaAsianet
TV shows Year Title Role Network Language NotesRef 2011 Vivel Active Fair Big Break: Contestant Surya TV Malayalam 2012 2014 Ragalayam Host Jeevan TV2013On The SpotIndiavision2015Raree Rareeram Raaro Season 2 Asianet PlusEthihasa Nayikakoppam Mazhavil Manorama2016 Smart ShowCo-HostFlowersReplaced Alina PadikkalSuper Challenge Participant Surya TV2016 2017ShubharathriHostJeevan TV Replaced Krishna Praba2017Celebrity League FlowersOnam ProgramPonnona RuchiOnam PachakamelaGolden CoupleSurya TV2017 2018Katturumbu FlowersKaathukuttan Katturumbu2019Start Music Aaradhyam PadumParticipant Asianet2020 2023Red CarpetHostAmrita TV2022My G Flowers Oru KodiParticipantFlowers TVMazhavil Music Awards 2022HostMazhavil Manorama2023–2024Ammayum MakalumAmrita TV2023Mazhavil Entertainment Awards 2023Mazhavil Manorama2024Cooku with Comali season 5GuestStar VijayTamilLubber Pandhu movie promotion2026-present Mahanadigai 2JudgeZee Tamil
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Work ResultKerala State Film Awards2019Best Character Actress VasanthiKerala Film Critics Association AwardsBest Supporting Actor (Female) Adoor Bhasi Television Awards 2017Best Television Actress SeethaAnanda Vikatan Cinema Awards2024Best Character Actress Lubber Pandhu70th Filmfare Awards SouthFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Tamil14th South Indian International Movie Awards 2025 Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Tamil Maaman
References
External links