Menaka Suresh, (born Padmavathi Iyengar) known mononymously as Menaka, is an Indian actress and film producer.[1] She made her debut in the 1980 Tamil filmRamayi Vayasukku Vanthutta. In an acting career spanning from 1980 to 1987, Menaka appeared in over 125 films as a heroine, mostly in Malayalam. She also appeared in few Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films. She married Malayalam film producer G. Suresh Kumar.[citation needed] After 19 years, she made a comeback through the television serial Kaliveedu.[2] At 8th SIIMA, she received SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award.[3]
Early life
Menaka, whose real name is Padmavathy, was born into a TamilIyengarBrahmin family in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari district, India.[4] She was the only daughter among the four children of Rajagopal and Saroja. Both her parents were school teachers. Her mother Saroja taught at the Lourdes Girls' Higher Secondary School in Perambur, Madras.[5][6]
Career
Menaka had become one of the highest-paid actresses in South Indian cinema when she decided to retire from acting post-marriage.[5] After 24 years, she made a comeback as a film actress in 2011 with Fazil-directed Living Together, in a character role.[7]
