Namitha Vankawala

Biography

Namitha Vankawala, born on 10 May 1981, is an Indian actress, model, and politician. She began her career as a beauty pageant contestant, winning the Miss Surat title in 1998 at the age of 17 and finishing as the third runner-up in the 2001 Miss India pageant. The recognition she gained prompted her to move to Mumbai, where she appeared in various television commercials before pursuing acting in South Indian films.

Film Career

Namitha made her acting debut with the Telugu film Sontham (2002) and gained further attention with Gemeni (2002), where her performance as a Marwadi girl received critical acclaim. In the mid-2000s, she became a popular face in Tamil cinema, often cast opposite senior actors like Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj, Arjun, and Sarathkumar. She appeared in action and comedy films, including Aai (2005), Chanakya (2005), Aanai (2005), and Engal Anna (2004).

She also worked in Hindi, Kannada, and English films, such as Love Ke Chakkar Mein, Namitha I Love You, and Kamasutra Nights (2008). Namitha’s glamorous screen presence earned her a devoted fan following and a “cult” status in Tamil Nadu.

Over time, her popularity declined as the industry moved away from casting women in overtly glamorous roles. She shifted focus to smaller roles, guest appearances, and Kannada films, with a brief comeback attempt in 2016. Namitha later appeared on the Tamil reality show Bigg Boss (2017) and in films such as Pottu (2019) and Miya (2020), as well as TV shows like Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal and Kanni Theevu Ullasa Ulagam 2.0.

Media and Public Life

At the peak of her fame, a devoted fan built a temple in her honor near Coimbatore, making her the second actress, after Khushbu, to receive such devotion in Tamil Nadu. She has been an advocate for safe driving and participated in awareness campaigns alongside fellow actors.

Politics

Namitha entered politics by joining the AIADMK in 2016 and later the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019. In 2020, she became a state executive member of the BJP in Tamil Nadu.

Personal Life

Namitha married businessman Veerendra Chowdary in November 2017. The couple announced their pregnancy on her 41st birthday, and she gave birth to twin sons in August 2022.