Kalpana Ranjani, known mononymously as Kalpana, was an Indian actress born on October 5, 1965, in Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram), Kerala, India. She was renowned for her comedy roles in South Indian cinema, predominantly in Malayalam and Tamil films, appearing in over 300 movies during her career. Kalpana won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Thanichalla Njan” (2012) and tragically passed away on January 25, 2016, at the age of 50 due to cardiac arrest in Hyderabad.
Kalpana Biography / Wiki
Kalpana Education
Specific details about Kalpana’s formal education have not been publicly disclosed. She grew up in a family of theater artists and was exposed to the performing arts from an early age, which shaped her career path. Her education primarily focused on developing her acting skills through family influence and practical experience in theater and cinema.
Early Life
Kalpana was born on October 5, 1965, in Trivandrum, Kerala. She was born to Chavara V. P. Nair and Vijayalakshmi, both of whom were established theater artists. Growing up in an artistic family provided Kalpana with early exposure to the performing arts.
Her family had deep connections to the entertainment industry. Her sisters Kalaranjini and Urvashi are both well-known actresses in South Indian cinema. Tragically, Kalpana lost two brothers, Kamal Roy and Prince, who died young at the ages of 17 and 27 respectively.
Kalpana made her screen debut as a child artist in the 1977 film “Vidarunna Pookkal”. This early start in cinema laid the foundation for what would become a prolific career spanning nearly four decades.
Kalpana Profession
Kalpana was a professional actress specializing in comedy roles in South Indian cinema. She worked primarily in Malayalam films but also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada language productions. Her forte was comedic performances, though she occasionally took on dramatic and character roles that showcased her versatility.
Kalpana Career Journey
Kalpana began her film career as a child artist in 1977 with “Vidarunna Pookkal”. She made her Tamil debut in 1985 with the successful film “Chinna Veedu” opposite K. Bhagyaraj, which established her presence in Tamil cinema. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she built a reputation as one of the most reliable comedy actresses in Malayalam cinema.
Her notable films from the 1990s include “Sathi Leelavathi” (1995), which became a commercial success, and “Kaliveedu” (1996). She also appeared in “Dr. Pasupathy” (1990), “CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed.” (1994), and numerous other commercially successful projects.
In 2012, Kalpana won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Thanichalla Njan”. This role was particularly significant as it departed from her typical comedy work, portraying social worker Razia Beevi in a film about national integration. Kalpana initially hesitated to take the role, feeling it was different from her usual work, and even suggested her sister Urvashi for the part, but ultimately delivered an award-winning performance.
Her career continued until her death in 2016. Her last completed film was “Charlie” (2015), starring Dulquer Salmaan, where she played a character named Mary. Though it was a small role, her performance was appreciated by critics and audiences. Coincidentally, her character commits suicide in the film.
At the time of her death, Kalpana was in Hyderabad shooting for the Telugu film “Oopiri/Thozha” starring Karthi. Over her 38-year career, she appeared in more than 300 films across various South Indian languages.
Kalpana Movies, Series
Kalpana appeared in over 300 films during her career spanning from 1977 to 2016. Notable films include:
Malayalam Films:
- Vidarunna Pookkal (1977) – Child artist debut
- Dr. Pasupathy (1990)
- CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. (1994)
- Sathi Leelavathi (1995)
- Kaliveedu (1996)
- Kowethuka Varthakal
- Butterflies
- Janapriyan (2011)
- Thanichalla Njan (2012) – National Award winning performance
- Charlie (2015) – Last completed film
Tamil Films:
Telugu Films:
Kalpana Controversies
No publicly reported controversies involving Kalpana have been documented during her lifetime. She maintained a professional reputation throughout her career and was respected within the South Indian film industry. Her divorce from director Anil Kumar in 2012 was handled privately and did not generate public controversy.
Kalpana Personal Life
Kalpana married Malayalam film director Anil Kumar in 1998. The couple had one daughter, Sreemayi, born around 2000. Their marriage ended in divorce in June 2012, after which their daughter continued to live with Kalpana.
After Kalpana’s death in 2016, her daughter Sreemayi, then 16 years old, went to live with Kalpana’s elder sister, actress Kalaranjini. Sreemayi later changed her screen name to Sreesangya and announced plans to enter the film industry, though she initially focused on completing her Visual Communication course in Chennai.
Kalpana was part of a prominent film family. Her sisters Urvashi and Kalaranjini are both established actresses in Malayalam cinema. Her family suffered multiple tragedies, having lost two brothers at young ages.
Kalpana Boyfriend, Husband, Wife, Girlfriend
Kalpana was married to Malayalam film director Anil Kumar. The couple married in 1998 and had one daughter together, Sreemayi. Their marriage lasted 14 years before they divorced in June 2012.
Following the divorce, Kalpana retained custody of their daughter. No other relationships have been publicly documented before or after her marriage.
Kalpana Family
Kalpana Net Worth
Kalpana’s net worth at the time of her death has not been publicly disclosed. As a working actress in South Indian cinema for nearly four decades with over 300 films to her credit, she earned income through film appearances and dubbing work. Specific financial details about her earnings or assets were not made public.
