Komal Mahuvakar, better known by her stage name Rupini, is an Indian former actress who has appeared in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu language films during the late 1980s and early 1990s.[2]

Rupini
Born
Komal Mahuvakar

(1969-11-04) 4 November 1969 (age 55)[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Indian classical dancer
  • doctor
Years active1975–2020
PartnerMohan Kumar
Children1

Early life

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Mahuvakar was born in Mumbai into a well educated family. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a dietitian.[3][4] She started to learn dancing at the age of four from Lachhu Maharaj in Mumbai. She learnt all the forms of classical dances including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi and Kathak in a short span.

Career

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She was accidentally spotted by the film-maker Hrishikesh Mukherjee who offered her child roles in his films such as Mili (1975), Kotwal Saab (1977) and Khubsoorat (1980). Earlier she acted in few Hindi movies, doing character roles under her real name Komal Mahuvakar.[5] She started appearing in lead roles in movies like Payal Ki Jhankaar (1980), (1980), Ghungroo (1983), Meri Adalat (1984) and Awara Baap (1985). She changed her name to Rupini after taking up acting assignments in South Indian movies like Cooliekkaran (1987), Manithan (1987), En Thangachi Padichava (1988), Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990) and Madurai Veeran Enga Saami (1990). Though she shuffled between Bollywood and Kollywood movies but preferred to use both names.[6] She stopped acting after her marriage to Mohan Kumar in 1995.[7] Soon after her marriage, Rupini quit films and concentrated on her family based at Chembur. She started a heart hospital at Chembur for ailing patients and named it Universal Heart Hospital.[8] In 2020, she made her comeback in the Tamil television series Chithi 2.[9]

Filmography

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Tamil

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Year Title Role Note
1987 Cooliekkaran Priya
Ninaikka Therintha Maname Vidya
Theertha Karaiyinile Poonjolai
Manithan Roopa
1988 En Thangachi Padichava Valli
Thaai Paasam Divya
Puthiya Vaanam Devaki
1989 Enne Petha Raasa Lakshmi
Pillaikkaga Rupini
Apoorva Sagodharargal Mano
Raja Chinna Roja Rupini
1990 Pulan Visaranai Gayathri
Pattikattan Mala
Salem Vishnu Shanthi
Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga Renu
Pattanamdhan Pogalamadi Kalaa
Madurai Veeran Enga Saami Sakthi
Thalattu Padava Narmadha
Michael Madana Kama Rajan Chakkubai
1991 Naadu Adhai Naadu Manimegalai
Annan Kaatiya Vazhi Seetha
Vetri Karangal Priya
Thanga Thamaraigal Latha
Captain Prabhakaran Gayathri
Veetla Eli Velila Puli Lakshmi
Pudhiya Raagam Sheela
Naan Valartha Poove Seetha
Pillai Paasam
Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu Geetha
Moondrezhuthil En Moochirukkum Parvathy Namboodiri
1992 Ellaichami Kaveri
1993 Uzhaippali Dancer
Pathini Penn Kavitha Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize
1994 Athiradi Padai Dancer
Namma Annachi Ayya's wife
Thamarai Sarasu

Malayalam

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 Naduvazhikal Rose Mary
1990 Midhya Devi
1992 Kunukkitta Kozhi Swarnalatha
Naadody Meera Nair
1993 Bandhukkal Sathrukkal Sakunthala

Hindi

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 Mili Child artiste
1977 Kotwal Saab Child artiste
1978 Des Pardes Child artiste
1979 Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin Child artiste
1980 Khubsoorat Child artiste
Payal Ki Jhankaar Shyama (lead role)
1983 Ghungroo
1984 Meri Adalat Aasha
Naache Mayuri Shanthi
1985 Meraa Ghar Mere Bachche Keerthy
Awara Baap
1986 Chameli Ki Shaadi Anita
Chhota Aadmi Kavitha
Pyaar Ho Gaya Sapna Rai
Nagina Vijaya Singh
1986 Shatru
1987 Woh Din Aayega Dancer
1988 Bahaar Savithri

Kannada

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 Olavina Aasare Rajini
1989 Deva Ningamma
1990 Mathe Haditu Kogile Sangeetha
1991 Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare Rukmini
Bhairavi Selvi
1992 Rajadhi Raja Kamalu
Saptapadi Sahana
Ravivarma Jennifer
Gopi Krishna Geetha
Mallige Hoove Gowri

Telugu

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 Ontari Poratam Indu
1994 Gandeevam Rekha

Television

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Year Title Role Channel Notes
2005-2006 Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki Sheetal Mittal Sahara One
2020 Chithi 2 Padma Shanmugapriyan Sun TV Comeback after 26 years

References

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  1. ^ https://celtalks.com/celebs/rupini?ID=894 [bare URL]
  2. ^ "Rupini". Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  3. ^ "തിരിച്ചുവരവ് ആലോചിച്ചിട്ടില്ലെന്ന് രൂപിണി". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 20 December 2009. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  4. ^ NSK (20 August 1988). "How Roopini graduated to stardom". The Indian Express. p. 18. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  5. ^ "This 80s Leading Actress, Who Debuted At 6 In Bollywood, Gained Stardom In South Movies". 26 July 2024.
  6. ^ "13 Popular Actresses Who Opted for a Name Change Mid-Career".
  7. ^ "Remember Actress Rupini Who Ruled The Late 80s? This Is How She Looks Like Now". 14 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Komal Mahuvakar".
  9. ^ "Serial Chithi 2 Characters And Artist Name - Latest Tamil Series On Sun TV". indiantvinfo.com. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
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