Vinaya Prakash (née Bhat), (22 November 1967) also credited as Vinaya Prasad, is an Indian actress known for her work predominantly in Kannada and Malayalam films in addition to a few Telugu, Tamil and Tulu films. Vinaya has appeared in more than 100 films and was one of the most sought after actresses during the 1990s.
Vinaya started her career in 1986 in the G. V. Iyer directed biographical film Madhwacharya. Her lead role and breakthrough came with the comedy film Ganeshana Maduve in 1990. The film was a huge commercial success and marked her shift from small roles to leading roles in Kannada cinema. She continued to appear in successful comedy films such as Gauri Ganesha (1991), Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare (1991), Yarigu Helbedi (1994) and Kona Eedaithe (1995). Her debut in Malayalam cinema came with the critically acclaimed Perumthachan (1991) directed by Ajayan. This was followed by a string of performance-oriented roles in films that include Aathanka (1993), Manichithrathazhu (1993), Karulina Koogu (1994), Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu (1994), Thumbida Mane (1995) and Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997). Her portrayal as a Nepali immigrant in her Tamil debut, Thaikulame Thaikulame (1995) brought her widespread recognition.
After 2000, Vinaya switched over to performing supporting characters across all the South Indian language films. Apart from films, Vinaya has established herself in television series and reality shows.
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Early life
Vinaya Prasad was born on 22 November 1965 in Udupi, Karnataka. Her father S. Krishna Bhat was a divisional officer with the LIC and her mother Vatsala worked as a school teacher. Vinaya often owes her clear diction and pronunciation to her father who used to narrate a story every day during her childhood. She completed her schooling from St. Cecily's Convent in Udupi and graduation in Commerce from Poornaprajna College. While she was still in college, she got offered her first film assignment.
Career
Vinaya made her film debut with a small role in G. V. Iyer's Madhwacharya in 1986 where she played the role of one of the three queens of the King. She worked in smaller character roles before playing the leading lady in Ganeshana Maduve opposite Anant Nag. The film was a huge success and she went on to act in many more films in not only Kannada but also Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil . Some of her notable Kannada films include Ganeshana Maduve, Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare, Gauri Ganesha, Mysore Jaana and Suryodaya. She starred in a supporting role in Manichitrathazhu, opposite Mohanlal. In Tamil, she has acted as the heroine in the movie Thaikulame Thaikulame with Pandiarajan and Urvashi. In Telugu, her movies include Indra, Donga Dongadi and Andhrudu, for which her performance won a lot of praise.
After a successful career as a lead actress, Vinaya switched over to character roles. She is also an effective compere and singer. She has compered several important events like Vasantha Habba in Nrityagram and the annual Dasara procession in Mysore. She has starred in the longest-running and most popular daily soap opera on Malayalam TV, Sthree, which aired from late 1998 to mid 2000 on Asianet television channel. The popularity of this soap made her a household name among Malayalis. In 2006, she returned to the Malayalam small screen to reprise her role as Indu in the sequel to the original Sthree, also named, Sthree.
Personal life
Vinaya is from the Udupi district in Karnataka and was raised in Udupi. In 1988, she married V. R. K. Prasad, a director and editor of Kannada films, who died at a young age.
In 2002, Vinaya married Jyotiprakash after they met during the making of the television series Sanjeevani. The couple currently resides in Bangalore with her husband and daughter Prathama Prasad. Jyotiprakash has a son named Jai Atre, from his previous marriage, who is into film direction and screenwriting in Mumbai.
Filmography
Television
Serials
Shows