Urvashi is an Indian film actress who works predominantly in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema. Active since the early 1980s, she is known for her command of comic timing as well as for nuanced dramatic performances, and is a recipient of multiple National Film Awards and state honours. She is among a small group of South Indian actresses to have sustained leading and character roles across four decades.
| Born | Kavitha Ranjini, 25 February 1968, Anchal, Kollam district, Kerala |
|---|---|
| Other names | Urvashi Rajan |
| Occupation | Actress, film producer, television presenter |
| Years active | 1976 (child artiste) – present |
| Languages of work | Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi |
| Family | Sister of actresses Kalpana and Kalaranjini; daughter of Chavara V. P. Nair and Vijayalakshmi |
| Spouse | Manojkumar Sivachandran |
| Notable awards | National Film Awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress; Kerala State Film Awards; Tamil Nadu State Film Awards; Filmfare Awards South |
Urvashi was born Kavitha Ranjini in Anchal, in the Kollam district of Kerala, into a family with deep roots in performing arts. Her elder sister Kalpana was a National Award–winning actress, and her sister Kalaranjini is also an actress. The family's involvement in stage and cinema brought Urvashi into the industry at a young age.
She first appeared on screen as a child artiste in the late 1970s. Her transition to lead roles came with the Malayalam film Mundanai Mudichu in Tamil (1983), directed by K. Bhagyaraj, which established her as a leading actress in Tamil cinema. Around the same period, she became a sought-after heroine in Malayalam cinema, paired with established stars including Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Jayaram.
Through the late 1980s and 1990s, Urvashi appeared in a large number of Malayalam and Tamil films across genres. Films such as Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu, Boeing Boeing, Kilukkam, Mithunam, Godfather, Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal, Bharatham, and Aniyathipraavu showcased her range. Her work with directors such as Priyadarshan, Sathyan Anthikad, Sibi Malayil, Kamal and Lohithadas placed her at the centre of the so-called middle-stream Malayalam cinema of the period.
In Tamil, she partnered Bhagyaraj, Kamal Haasan, Sathyaraj and others in films including Magalir Mattum (1994), where she was part of an ensemble of three women anchoring the narrative.
Urvashi took a break from films around the late 1990s following her marriage. She returned to acting in the 2000s, increasingly taking on character and supporting roles while continuing to play significant lead parts in select projects. Her later films include Achuvinte Amma (2005), Pokkiri Raja, Mamangam, and the Tamil drama Soodhu Kavvum's contemporaries; she has also worked in Telugu and Kannada productions.
She has hosted television shows on Malayalam channels, including comedy and reality formats, and has been associated with film production. Her appearances as a celebrity panelist and host have broadened her presence beyond cinema.
Urvashi married actor and producer Manojkumar Sivachandran. The couple have a daughter. She has spoken publicly about the loss of her sister Kalpana in 2016.
Urvashi is regarded as one of the most versatile actresses to have emerged from South Indian cinema. Her ability to combine sharp comic delivery with restrained emotional performance gave her a distinct position during a period when Malayalam cinema was producing realist, character-driven films. Her longevity, multilingual filmography, and recurring National Award wins have made her a reference point in discussions of female-led performance in regional Indian cinema.