Trisha Krishnan is an Indian film actress born on May 4, 1983, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, who works predominantly in Tamil and Telugu cinema. She has appeared in over 60 films across a career spanning more than two decades, earning recognition as one of South India’s most commercially successful and critically acclaimed actresses. She is best known for her roles in Ghilli (2004), 96 (2018), and the Ponniyin Selvan film series (2022–2023).
Trisha Krishnan Biography Overview
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Trisha Krishnan |
| Date of Birth | May 4, 1983 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 42 years |
| Birthplace | Madras (Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Religion | Hindu (Tamil Palakkad Iyer Brahmin) |
| Profession | Film Actress, Model |
| Languages Spoken | Tamil, English, Hindi, French |
| School | Sacred Heart Matriculation School, Church Park, Chennai |
| College | Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai |
| Degree | Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) |
| Film Debut | Jodi (1999) — beauty pageant appearance |
| Acting Debut | Mounam Pesiyadhe (2002) — directed by Ameer Sultan |
| Best Known For | Ghilli (2004), 96 (2018), Ponniyin Selvan I & II (2022–2023) |
| Father | Krishnan Iyer (died October 2012 of cardiac arrest) |
| Mother | Uma Krishnan |
| Siblings | None — only child |
| Marital Status | Unmarried (as of March 2026) |
| Ex-Fiancé | Varun Manian (engaged January 2015; called off May 2015) |
| Residence | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Film Fee | Approximately ₹10–12 crore per film (as of 2025) |
| Net Worth | Estimated ₹85–100 crore (as of 2026) |
Trisha Krishnan Early Life
Trisha Krishnan was born on May 4, 1983, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, into a Tamil Palakkad Iyer family. Her father, Krishnan Iyer, worked as a General Manager at a five-star hotel in Hyderabad, and the family spent a portion of her childhood years in New York when her father was posted there. He died of a cardiac arrest in October 2012.
She grew up primarily in Chennai and is an only child. Her mother, Uma Krishnan, has been a consistent presence throughout her career — accompanying her on film shoots, events, and public functions — and the two have also appeared together in a commercial advertisement. Uma Krishnan turned down offers to act in Tamil films herself, including offers from Kamal Haasan, choosing to focus entirely on Trisha’s career.
Trisha originally intended to become a criminal psychologist and resisted the idea of acting as a profession during her student years. Her entry into the entertainment world began through modelling and pageant participation, which preceded her acting career by several years.
Trisha Krishnan Education
Trisha Krishnan completed her schooling at Sacred Heart Matriculation School in Church Park, Chennai — one of the city’s established English-medium institutions. She subsequently pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree at Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai, balancing her academic work alongside her early modelling and acting commitments. She graduated with the BBA degree, making her one of the few leading South Indian actresses with a completed formal university qualification.
Trisha Krishnan Family
Trisha Krishnan’s father, Krishnan Iyer, worked as a General Manager at a five-star hotel in Hyderabad and had also been posted in New York during Trisha’s childhood, during which time the family relocated abroad briefly. He died in October 2012 following a cardiac arrest. His death is one of the few personal events Trisha has publicly acknowledged in media interviews over the years.
Uma Krishnan manages Trisha’s professional and personal schedule and travels with her daughter to film shoots, press events, and public appearances. She declined multiple acting offers from established Tamil directors and actors, including Kamal Haasan, to concentrate entirely on supporting Trisha’s career. The mother-daughter relationship is publicly visible and widely referenced in entertainment media coverage of Trisha’s career.
Trisha Krishnan Career
Modelling and Pageant Phase (1999–2001)
Trisha Krishnan entered the entertainment industry as a model and participated in several beauty pageants during the period 1999 to 2001. She won Miss Salem 1999, Miss Chennai 2000, and the Miss Beautiful Smile title at a pageant in 2001. Her first screen appearance was a background role in the 1999 Tamil film Jodi, and she appeared in Falguni Pathak’s music video Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye in 2000 alongside Ayesha Takia.
Acting Debut and Tamil Breakthrough (2002–2005)
Trisha Krishnan’s acting career began with Mounam Pesiyadhe (2002), directed by Ameer Sultan, in which she starred opposite Suriya. The film established her in the Tamil industry and was followed by Saamy (2003) opposite Vikram, which became one of her first major box office successes. Her profile rose further with Ghilli (2004) opposite Vijay — a commercial blockbuster that remains one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of its era and which was re-released for its 20th anniversary in 2024.
Her Tamil debut year also included Lesa Lesa (2003), directed by Priyadarshan — a project that her Wikipedia biography identifies as her first introduced role. She consolidated her Tamil standing with Thirupaachi (2005), also opposite Vijay, which added to her commercially successful pairing with the actor.
Telugu Film Entry and Dual Industry Career (2004–2010)
Trisha expanded into Telugu cinema with Varsham (2004) and achieved a breakthrough Telugu hit with Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005) opposite Siddharth — a romantic blockbuster that remains one of her most celebrated Telugu-language performances. She followed this with Athadu (2005) opposite Mahesh Babu, Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule (2007) opposite Venkatesh — a National Award-winning film — and Bujjigadu (2008). Her Tamil work in the same period included Stalin (2006) opposite Chiranjeevi, Aaru (2005), Unakkum Enakkum (2006), and Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) opposite Simbu.
Her only Hindi film release during this decade was Khatta Meetha (2010), directed by Priyadarshan and starring Akshay Kumar.
Mid-Career and Critical Recognition (2011–2019)
This phase of Trisha Krishnan’s career combined commercial Tamil and Telugu releases with a gradually increasing focus on content-driven films. Her notable credits include Mankatha (2011) opposite Ajith Kumar, Bodyguard (2011) in a special appearance, Yennai Arindhaal (2015) opposite Ajith Kumar, Aranmanai 2 (2016), Kodi (2016), Hey Jude (2018) — her Malayalam language film — and Petta (2019), a Rajinikanth-starrer directed by Karthik Subbaraj. Her most critically acclaimed performance of the decade was in 96 (2018), a Tamil romantic drama directed by C. Prem Kumar opposite Vijay Sethupathi, which earned widespread critical praise and became a cult favourite among Tamil cinema audiences.
Ponniyin Selvan Era and Current Career (2022–2026)
Trisha Krishnan’s contemporary career phase is defined by her association with director Mani Ratnam’s two-part epic Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), in which she played Princess Kundavai — one of the most celebrated female roles in Tamil cinema in recent years. The Ponniyin Selvan series is among the highest-grossing Tamil film productions in history. Following these releases, she appeared in Leo (2023) directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj opposite Thalapathy Vijay, for which she earned a reported ₹5 crore fee.
Her 2025 releases include Vidaamuyarchi (February 6, 2025) opposite Ajith Kumar directed by Magizh Thirumeni, Good Bad Ugly (April 10, 2025) opposite Ajith Kumar, and Thug Life (June 5, 2025) directed by Mani Ratnam opposite Kamal Haasan — her fourth collaboration with the director and one of the most anticipated Tamil releases of 2025. Her reported fee for Thug Life was ₹12 crore. She also appeared in Ram (December 26, 2025) opposite Mohanlal.
Her confirmed 2026 release is Vishwambhara alongside Chiranjeevi.
Trisha Krishnan: Complete Filmography (Selected)
| Year | Film | Language | Co-Star / Director |
| 2002 | Mounam Pesiyadhe | Tamil | Suriya / Ameer Sultan |
| 2003 | Saamy | Tamil | Vikram / Hari |
| 2004 | Ghilli | Tamil | Vijay / Dharani |
| 2004 | Varsham | Telugu | Prabhas / Vasu Varma |
| 2004 | Aayitha Ezhuthu | Tamil | Suriya / Mani Ratnam |
| 2005 | Thirupaachi | Tamil | Vijay / Boopathy Pandian |
| 2005 | Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana | Telugu | Siddharth / Puri Jagannadh |
| 2005 | Athadu | Telugu | Mahesh Babu / Trivikram |
| 2006 | Aaru | Tamil | Dhanush / Hari |
| 2006 | Stalin | Tamil | Chiranjeevi / S. J. Suryah |
| 2006 | Unakkum Enakkum | Tamil | Jayam Ravi / Boopathy Pandian |
| 2007 | Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule | Telugu | Venkatesh / Vasu Varma |
| 2008 | Bujjigadu | Telugu | Prabhas / Puri Jagannadh |
| 2010 | Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa | Tamil | Simbu / Gautham Menon |
| 2010 | Khatta Meetha | Hindi | Akshay Kumar / Priyadarshan |
| 2011 | Mankatha | Tamil | Ajith Kumar / Venkat Prabhu |
| 2011 | Bodyguard | Tamil/Hindi | Vijay / Siddique (guest) |
| 2015 | Yennai Arindhaal | Tamil | Ajith Kumar / Gautham Menon |
| 2016 | Aranmanai 2 | Tamil | Siddharth / Sundar C. |
| 2018 | 96 | Tamil | Vijay Sethupathi / C. Prem Kumar |
| 2018 | Hey Jude | Malayalam | Nivin Pauly / Shyamaprasad |
| 2019 | Petta | Tamil | Rajinikanth / Karthik Subbaraj |
| 2022 | Ponniyin Selvan: I | Tamil | Ensemble / Mani Ratnam |
| 2023 | Ponniyin Selvan: II | Tamil | Ensemble / Mani Ratnam |
| 2023 | Leo | Tamil | Vijay / Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| 2025 | Vidaamuyarchi | Tamil | Ajith Kumar / Magizh Thirumeni |
| 2025 | Good Bad Ugly | Tamil | Ajith Kumar / Adhik Ravichandran |
| 2025 | Thug Life | Tamil | Kamal Haasan / Mani Ratnam |
| 2025 | Ram | Malayalam | Mohanlal / Jeethu Joseph |
| 2026 | Vishwambhara | Telugu | Chiranjeevi / Mallidi Vassishta |
Trisha Krishnan Personal Life
Trisha Krishnan has remained unmarried as of March 2026 and resides in Chennai with her mother Uma Krishnan and grandmother. She follows a vegetarian diet and speaks Tamil, English, Hindi, and French. She has consistently maintained that she prioritises her acting career and has publicly stated her intention to continue working as an actress throughout her professional life.
Trisha Krishnan Relationship History
Trisha Krishnan has never been married as of March 2026.
Engagement to Varun Manian (2015)
On January 23, 2015, Trisha Krishnan got engaged to Varun Manian, a Chennai-based businessman. The engagement was a publicly announced event that generated widespread coverage in Tamil entertainment media. She called off the engagement in May 2015, approximately four months after it was announced.
The publicly reported reason for the breakup was a disagreement about whether Trisha would continue acting after marriage. In subsequent media comments, Trisha stated that the person she intended to marry asked her not to act in films, and she chose her career over the marriage. The exact details of the full circumstances surrounding the breakup are not independently confirmed in verified sources beyond these public statements.
Rumoured Links
Trisha Krishnan’s name has been publicly linked through media speculation rather than any confirmed or verified report to several co-stars and public figures throughout her career. None of these linkages have been confirmed by Trisha Krishnan or the parties involved in any formal statement.
In February 2026, BJP Tamil Nadu state president Nainar Nagenthran made remarks linking her name to TVK’s Vijay, which Trisha responded to through a formal legal statement asserting her political neutrality and describing the remarks as “distasteful and inappropriate”.
Marriage Reports (2025)
In late 2025, multiple entertainment media outlets including Times of India carried reports suggesting that Trisha Krishnan was set to marry a Chandigarh-based businessman. These reports cited family approval and longstanding family ties between the two parties. As of March 2026, Trisha Krishnan has neither confirmed nor formally denied these reports through any verified public statement.
Controversy
2021 — Promotion Controversy
In 2021, the producers of Paramapadham Vilayattu publicly criticised Trisha Krishnan for missing the film’s pre-release promotional event at Satyam Cinemas in Chennai. Producer Suresh Kamatchi stated that the actress’s absence from a female-centric film’s promotions was damaging to the other cast members, particularly newcomers in the film. Reports at the time alleged she demanded ₹15 lakh extra for promotion appearances, though these claims were not confirmed by Trisha Krishnan herself.
February 2026 — Political Remarks Controversy
In February 2026, BJP Tamil Nadu state president Nainar Nagenthran made public remarks linking Trisha Krishnan to TVK’s Vijay in the context of Vijay’s wife Sangeetha filing for divorce, with allegations in the divorce proceedings referencing an unnamed actress. Trisha Krishnan responded through a formal legal statement issued by her lawyer, asserting her complete political neutrality and calling the BJP leader’s remarks “distasteful and inappropriate”. She posted the legal statement on X with the caption: “Disrespect should and always will be called out”.
Trisha Krishnan Net Worth
Trisha Krishnan’s estimated net worth stands at approximately ₹85–100 crore as of 2026, making her one of the five richest South Indian actresses. Her income sources include acting fees, brand endorsements, and commercial work:
- Film fee: Approximately ₹10 crore per film — rising to a reported ₹12 crore for Thug Life (2025)
- Leo (2023): Reported fee of ₹5 crore
- Brand endorsements: Reportedly charges approximately ₹9 crore for brand endorsement deals and promotional campaigns
- Commercial work: Multiple television commercial appearances over a two-decade career
Trisha Krishnan Physical Appearance
Trisha Krishnan has dark hair and dark eyes and has maintained a consistent public appearance throughout her career. Her height is reported at approximately 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) across multiple biographical listings. She follows a vegetarian diet and does not publicly discuss a specific fitness or wellness regimen beyond the physical demands of her film work.
Interesting Facts About Trisha Krishnan
- She was born into a Tamil Palakkad Iyer family and grew up partly in New York when her father was posted there
- She originally planned to become a criminal psychologist and resisted acting as a profession during her student years
- She appeared in Falguni Pathak’s music video Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye in 2000 alongside Ayesha Takia before her film career began
- She graduated with a BBA from Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai
- Her mother Uma Krishnan declined acting offers, including from Kamal Haasan, to focus entirely on managing Trisha’s career
- Ghilli (2004) was re-released for its 20th anniversary in 2024 and became one of the highest-grossing re-release events in Indian film history
- She has collaborated four times with director Mani Ratnam — Aayitha Ezhuthu, Ponniyin Selvan I & II, and Thug Life
- She received a reported ₹12 crore fee for Thug Life (2025) — her highest single-film remuneration on public record
- She is fluent in four languages: Tamil, English, Hindi, and French
- She is an only child and has lived with her mother and grandmother in Chennai since her father’s death in 2012
- She called off her engagement to businessman Varun Manian in May 2015, reportedly because he asked her to stop acting after marriage
- She issued a formal legal statement in February 2026 against BJP Tamil Nadu state president for linking her name to Vijay in political commentary
- Her estimated net worth of ₹85–100 crore places her among the top five richest South Indian actresses as of 2026
- She has appeared in films opposite virtually every major Tamil and Telugu leading actor of the past two decades, including Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Mahesh Babu, Prabhas, and Chiranjeevi
- Her upcoming film Vishwambhara (2026) is a Telugu fantasy adventure with Chiranjeevi
People Also Ask
Q: Who is Trisha Krishnan?
Trisha Krishnan is an Indian film actress from Chennai who works in Tamil and Telugu cinema. She is best known for Ghilli (2004), 96 (2018), and the Ponniyin Selvan film series (2022–2023).
Q: When was Trisha Krishnan born?
She was born on May 4, 1983, in Madras (Chennai), Tamil Nadu.
Q: Is Trisha Krishnan married?
No. As of March 2026, Trisha Krishnan has not married. She called off her engagement to businessman Varun Manian in May 2015.
Q: What is Trisha Krishnan’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is approximately ₹85–100 crore as of 2026, making her one of the highest-earning South Indian actresses.
Q: What is Trisha Krishnan’s film fee?
She reportedly charges approximately ₹10 crore per film as of 2025, rising to ₹12 crore for Thug Life.
Q: Where did Trisha Krishnan study?
She completed schooling at Sacred Heart Matriculation School in Church Park, Chennai, and earned a BBA from Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai.
Q: What languages does Trisha Krishnan speak?
She speaks Tamil, English, Hindi, and French.
Q: Who is Trisha Krishnan’s mother?
Her mother is Uma Krishnan, who accompanies Trisha on all professional engagements and who declined her own acting opportunities to focus on Trisha’s career.
Q: What is Trisha Krishnan’s most recent film?
Her most recent confirmed theatrical release is Ram (December 26, 2025) opposite Mohanlal, with Vishwambhara opposite Chiranjeevi confirmed for 2026.
Q: Did Trisha Krishnan make a Hindi film?
Yes Khatta Meetha (2010), directed by Priyadarshan and starring Akshay Kumar, is her confirmed Hindi-language theatrical release.
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