She is one of the highest-paid actresses in Malayalam cinema.
Kalyani Priyadarshan has quickly become one of the most exciting names in South Indian cinema.
With a career spanning multiple industries, she is now being hailed as a Malayalam superstar.
She made her acting debut in the Telugu film Hello (2017), which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South.
The role established her as a promising newcomer.
Kalyani soon expanded into Tamil cinema with Hero (2019) and Malayalam films with Varane Avashyamund (2020). She went on to star in Chitralahari, Maanaadu, Hridayam and Thallumaala.
Her performance in Bro Daddy (2022) opposite Mohanlal was widely praised and won her the SIIMA Award for Best Actress – Malayalam, cementing her rising popularity.
In 2025, she took centre stage with Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra.
The film marked a historic moment as Indian cinema’s first superheroine-led blockbuster, produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films.
Kalyani played Chandra Ananya, who is secretly Kalliyankattu Neeli, a supernatural being reimagined as a superheroine.
She trained in martial arts to bring authenticity to the physically demanding role.
The film not only received critical acclaim but also became the highest-grossing Malayalam movie of all time.
It propelled Kalyani into the prestigious 200 crore club, a first for a Malayalam actress.
Critics singled out her performance as the backbone of Lokah.
Hariprasad Sadanandan of The Week praised her body language and action skills, calling her “terrific as Chandra.”
However, her back-to-back release Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira with Fahadh Faasil told a different story.
The film was a box-office failure, and her chemistry with Fahadh faced heavy criticism.
Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express felt she struggled with the role and highlighted her need to refine diction and develop a greater vocal range for future projects.
Despite this setback, Kalyani remains in high demand.
She is one of the highest-paid actresses in Malayalam cinema and will next be seen in the Tamil film Genie opposite Ravi Mohan.
Beyond films, she has become a popular face for major brands like Kalyan Jewellers and Ajio.
She has also graced magazine covers, including Ritz and You & I.
In 2020, she was listed among Kochi Times’ Most Desirable Women and ranked eighth in Chennai Times’ list.
She also placed 41st in the Times’ Most Desirable Women.
With Lokah shaping up to be the beginning of a Malayalam superhero cinematic universe rooted in local folklore, Kalyani’s place at the forefront seems assured.
Controversy did briefly surround Lokah when dialogues by Inspector Nachiyappa Gowda drew outrage for negatively portraying Bengaluru.
Wayfarer Films issued an apology and clarified that the city shown was fictional.
Still, the success of Lokah has positioned Kalyani as a trailblazer for female-led Indian blockbusters.
Her entry into the 200 crore club has solidified her as a bankable star, shaping the future of Malayalam cinema.
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