Ritu Varma (born 10 March 1990) is an Indian actress who works primarily in Telugu and Tamil cinema. She came to prominence with the lead role in the Telugu romantic comedy Pelli Choopulu (2016), for which she received both the Nandi Award for Best Actress and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu.
| Born | 10 March 1990 |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | From the early 2010s |
| Industries | Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema |
| Notable film | Pelli Choopulu (2016) |
| Major awards | Nandi Award for Best Actress; Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu |
Varma began her on-screen career through short films and supporting roles before transitioning to lead parts in feature films. Her early appearances established her presence in the Telugu film industry, after which she expanded her work into Tamil cinema.
Before her breakout role, Varma worked in short films and took on supporting parts in Telugu features. She appeared in Yevade Subramanyam (2015), a commercially successful Telugu film that helped raise her profile.
In 2016, Varma played the female lead in Pelli Choopulu, a Telugu romantic comedy that became both a critical and commercial success. Her performance earned her the Nandi Award for Best Actress and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu, marking her arrival as a leading actress in Telugu cinema.
Varma went on to feature in several commercially successful films across Telugu and Tamil cinema, including:
| Year | Film | Language |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Yevade Subramanyam | Telugu |
| 2016 | Pelli Choopulu | Telugu |
| 2020 | Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal | Tamil |
| 2022 | Oke Oka Jeevitham | Telugu |
| 2023 | Mark Antony | Tamil |
Varma is recognised as one of the actresses to have emerged from the new wave of Telugu cinema in the mid-2010s, with Pelli Choopulu often cited as a landmark in that period. Her cross-industry work in Telugu and Tamil films reflects the broader trend of South Indian actors moving fluidly between regional film industries.