Malavika Avinash is an Indian film actress and television host noted for her wide repertoire of work in Kannada and Tamil. She was a host for Baduku Jataka Bandi, a television show that aired on Zee Kannada.

Biography

Malavika was born in a typical Tamil Iyer family to N. Ganesan, a retired banker and writer, and Savithri, a vocalist and dancer. Born into a family that nurtured and worshiped the classical arts, Malavika was initiated into Bharatanatyam very early. She nurtured her innate interest under the tutelage of Padmashree Leela Samson in Bharatanatyam and Pandit Partho Das on the Sitar. Acting came as an extension of her dancing abilities, when G.V. Iyer spotted her at a dance performance as Krishna and cast her as Krishna in his Krishnavataar. This was followed by her lead role as a princess in Prema Karanth’s Panorama children’s film Nakkalaa Raajakumaari.

Awarded with the III rank in her B.A.L., LL.B at Bangalore University, Malavika's stint as child artist was followed by her entry into cinema as heroine in award-winning films in Malayalam for Lenin Rajendran and popular films in Kannada. Television however, turned out to be the medium that she faster adapted to. Her earlier television series have been for the distinguished Girish Karnad and Ashutosh Gowariker in Hindi, Ashok Naidu in Kannada, Dinesh Baboo in Malayalam. Her performance in Mayamruga catapulted her to an iconic status in the hearts of Kannada television viewers. Mayamruga’s success caught the keen eyes of the legendary K. Balachander who then chose to usher her into the Tamil hearts across the world with Anni, where Malavika played the protagonist Anni. She currently stars in the Tamil serial Chellamey and hosts the popular show Baduku Jataka Bandi on Zee Kannada.

She is married to national and state award-winning actor Avinash.