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{{Short description|Indian actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Archana Kavi
| image = Archana kavi.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Archana in 2010
| birth_name = Archana Jose Kavi
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|01|04}}
| birth_place = [[New Delhi]], India
| othername =
| years_active = 2009–2016; <br>2025–2026
| spouse = {{Marriage|[[Abish Mathew]]|2015|2021|end=div}} {{Marriage|Rick Varghese|2025}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|YouTuber}}
}}

'''Archana Jose Kavi''' (born 4 January 1990) is an Indian actress, YouTuber and a television host.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=13877935&programId=7940954&channelId=-1073751665&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=8 |title=Manorama Online | Lifestyle | Models & Celebrities | |access-date=28 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203035953/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=13877935&programId=7940954&channelId=-1073751665&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=8 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She made her acting debut in film ''[[Neelathamara (2009 film)|Neelathaamara]]'' (2009) scripted by [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]] and directed by [[Lal Jose]].<ref>{{cite web |author=johnsonrichards |url=http://www.cochinsquare.com/archana-kavii-am-blessed/ |title=Archana Kavi:"I AM BLESSED" | Kochi Cochin News |publisher=Cochinsquare.com |date=25 June 2012 |access-date=12 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212001800/http://www.cochinsquare.com/archana-kavii-am-blessed/ |archive-date=12 December 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/going-native/article54576.ece |location=Chennai, India |title=Going native |access-date=10 June 2013 |work=The Hindu |date=25 November 2009}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Archana was born on 4 January 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archana Kavi {{!}} Actress, Writer, Director |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3896678/ |access-date=2025-12-05 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CYTvZmUvqZU/?hl=en |access-date=2025-12-05 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> in [[New Delhi]] to Jose Kaviyil, a senior journalist, and Rosamma. Jose Kaviyil's family is from [[Kudianmala|Kudiyanmala]] in Kannur district, [[Kerala]].<ref name="newindianexpress1">{{cite news|last=Sebastian |first=Shevlin |url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article149313.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023133742/http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article149313.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 October 2013 |title=Archana acting like a 'naadan' girl |newspaper=The New Indian Express |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> She was raised in Delhi and studied at [[St. Xavier's School, Delhi]].<ref name="newindianexpress1"/> In 2006, Archana moved to [[Ramapuram, Kottayam|Ramapuram]] in [[Kerala]] for a [[Bachelor of Business Administration]] course at the Mar Augusthinose College.<ref name="newindianexpress1"/> She stated that she came from a "typical [[Malayali]] middle-class family and acting was never considered a profession by us".<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/i-don-t-set-expectations-from-film-archana-kavi-news-national-mkiskgfdfbj.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924173028/http://www.sify.com/movies/i-don-t-set-expectations-from-film-archana-kavi-news-national-mkiskgfdfbj.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=I don't set expectations from film: Archana Kavi |website=[[Sify]] |date=8 October 2012 |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> She said that she wanted to be a journalist initially since her father was one and later wanted to be an [[Radio jockey|RJ]] but that people discouraged her.<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite news|author=Asha Prakash, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-22/news-interviews/29914593_1_tribal-girl-muslim-girl-kaithapram |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412064940/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-22/news-interviews/29914593_1_tribal-girl-muslim-girl-kaithapram |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2012 |title=Archana Kavi Turns Tribal|date=22 August 2011 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref>

Archana applied for an [[internship]] at the television channel [[Yes Indiavision]] and assisted in the production of certain programmes. After a year, she anchored the show ''Bloody Love'' on the same channel,<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite news|author=Athira M. |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/radio-and-tv/television-beckons/article4244682.ece |title=Television beckons |newspaper=The Hindu |date=27 December 2012 |access-date=14 October 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> while she was spotted by director [[Lal Jose]], who offered her the lead female role in his film in March 2009.<ref name="newindianexpress1"/><ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="indiatimes2">{{cite news|author=Sreedhar Pillai, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-10/news-interviews/28281931_1_tamil-film-characters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104021429/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-10/news-interviews/28281931_1_tamil-film-characters |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2012 |title=Archana Kavi gets bold|date=10 July 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref>

==Career==
She made her cinematic debut in 2009 with the highly successful ''[[Neelathamara (2009 film)|Neelathaamara]]'', portraying the role of Kunjimalu, a maid in an old Nair Tharavadu (ancestral home) who falls for the young master of the house.<ref name="indiatimes2"/> Director Lal Jose said that "Archana has an in-born talent".<ref name="newindianexpress1"/> Her role won critical accolades. In her next venture titled ''[[Mummy & Me]]'', which narrated the tale of the tumultuous relationship between a modern-day teenager and her mother, she played the lead role of a teenager named Jewel.<ref name="hindu2">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/05/21/stories/2010052150910100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526050513/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/05/21/stories/2010052150910100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2010 |title=Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram : Goodbye and hello |date=21 May 2010 |access-date=14 October 2013 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Archana stated the character Jewel was "so very like the real me".<ref name="hindu2"/> But her following release ''[[Best of Luck (2010 film)|Best of Luck]]'' where she reunited with her ''Neelathamara'' co-stars Kailash and [[Rima Kallingal]], failed to make an impact at the box office. She made her Tamil debut in the period film ''[[Aravaan]]''<ref>{{cite news|author=Ammu Zachariah, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-15/news-interviews/30519574_1_archana-kavi-k-town-neelathamara |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016085706/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-15/news-interviews/30519574_1_archana-kavi-k-town-neelathamara |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 October 2013 |title=I'm here to stay: Archana Kavi|date=15 December 2011 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> in which she played a tribal character named Chimby.<ref name="indiatimes1"/>

In 2013 she also made her Telugu debut in ''[[Backbench Student]]''. Archana stated that she played "a college girl caught in a sweet love tale" in the film.<ref>{{cite news|author=Parvathy S Nayar, TNN |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/Mollywood-actress-Archana-heads-to-Tollywood/articleshow/16863556.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016083740/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-19/news-and-interviews/34556696_1_actress-archana-kavi-aravaan-lal-jose-s-neelathamara |url-status=live |archive-date=16 October 2013 |title=Mollywood actress Archana heads to Tollywood|date=19 October 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> She acted as the lead in ''[[Abhiyum Njanum]]'', in which she played a modern girl from Mumbai, who comes to Kerala in search of her fiancé.<ref>{{cite news|author=Manu Vipin, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-25/news-interviews/31100089_1_archana-kavi-sport-traces |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101125821/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-25/news-interviews/31100089_1_archana-kavi-sport-traces |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 November 2012 |title=It's boring to sport the same looks every day: Archana Kavi|date=25 February 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> In ''[[Honey Bee (2013 film)|Honey Bee]]'' she played a naïve Anglo-Indian girl Sara.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130607/entertainment-mollywood/article/archana-back-business |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173631/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130607/entertainment-mollywood/article/archana-back-business |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 October 2013 |title=Archana is back in business |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle |date=7 June 2013 |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> She played a supporting role as the hero Karthik's best friend in ''[[Pattam Pole]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Vijay George |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/romance-and-after/article5048576.ece |title=Romance and after |newspaper=The Hindu |date=22 August 2013 |access-date=14 October 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Her next films ''[[Bangles (film)|Bangles]]'' in which she played a junior artiste,<ref>{{cite news|author=Manu Vipin, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-28/news-and-interviews/32442395_1_suvid-junior-artiste-bangles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016080101/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-28/news-and-interviews/32442395_1_suvid-junior-artiste-bangles |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 October 2013 |title=Archana Kavi plays a junior artiste|date=28 June 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> and ''[[Nadodimannan]]'' in which she played a doctor,<ref>{{cite news|author=Sanjith Sidhardhan, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-02/news-interviews/30467252_1_dileep-ananya-political-satire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016083521/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-02/news-interviews/30467252_1_dileep-ananya-political-satire |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 October 2013 |title=Three heroines opposite Dileep!|date=2 December 2011 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> both released on the same day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001002215628/http://sify.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2000-10-02|title=Sify|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

She has signed her second Tamil film ''Gnana Kirukkan''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/archana-kavi-is-back-in-kwood-news-malayalam-mi4nkgjdjda.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901025728/http://www.sify.com/movies/archana-kavi-is-back-in-kwood-news-malayalam-mi4nkgjdjda.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 September 2012 |title=Archana Kavi is back in K'wood |website=[[Sify]] |date=30 August 2012 |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> She is shooting for ''Day-Night'' opposite Maqbool Salmaan.<ref>{{cite news|author=TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-05/news-and-interviews/41092162_1_love-story-busy-bee-bank-employee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016084301/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-05/news-and-interviews/41092162_1_love-story-busy-bee-bank-employee |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 October 2013 |title=Maqbool Salmaan's next is a love story|date=5 August 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> She has acted as a Muslim girl in the film ''[[Mazhavillinattam Vare]]'', which is [[Kaithapram]]'s directorial debut.<ref name="indiatimes1"/> She will also be seen in Nemam Pushparaj's upcoming film ''Kukkiliyar'', in which she plays Manoj K Jayan's daughter who plays a 75-year-old.<ref>{{cite news|author=Asha Prakash, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-03/news-and-interviews/33549197_1_archana-kavi-kukkiliyar-manoj-k-jayan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423141206/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-03/news-and-interviews/33549197_1_archana-kavi-kukkiliyar-manoj-k-jayan |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 April 2013 |title=Archana in Pushparaj's next|date=3 September 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> Archana also shot for a Hindi film ''Saroja'', an offbeat film directed by Anjali Shukla, playing the role of a commercial sex worker.<ref>{{cite news|author=K. R. Manigandan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/shot-cuts/article3332412.ece |title=Shot Cuts |newspaper=The Hindu |date=19 April 2012 |access-date=14 October 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Manu Vipin, TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-01/news-interviews/31113479_1_archana-kavi-roles-urumi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016083409/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-01/news-interviews/31113479_1_archana-kavi-roles-urumi |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 October 2013 |title=Archana Kavi to do a Chameli|date=1 March 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref>

She anchored ''Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njaanum'', a reality show for television actors on [[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]].<ref name="thehindu1"/> She maintains a [[Twitter]] account. In 2010 she was only one of two Malayalam actresses maintaining an active Twitter account.<ref>{{cite news|author=Special Correspondent |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/actor-archana-kavi-to-attend-twestival/article304049.ece |title=Actor Archana Kavi to attend Twestival |newspaper=The Hindu |date=25 March 2010 |access-date=14 October 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> In 2021, she moved to direction with a web series titled Pandaraparambil House at 801.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nagarajan|first=Saraswathy|date=2021-01-11|title=Mollywood actor Archana Kavi turns director with a web series|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/mollywood-actor-archana-kavi-turns-director-with-a-web-series/article33549812.ece|access-date=2021-03-15|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Archana also owns a boutique named 'Chaaya' in [[Kochi]], Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.keralakaumudi.com/news.php?nid=15fdc80bcd4e01a4bbe42e308ab1ff29 |title=അർച്ചന കവി 'സുഖമായിരിക്കട്ടെ' |access-date=14 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114081942/http://news.keralakaumudi.com/news.php?nid=15fdc80bcd4e01a4bbe42e308ab1ff29 |archive-date=14 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Personal life==

Archana Kavi was engaged to standup comedian [[Abish Mathew]] on 31 October 2015. They were married on 23 January 2016 in [[Vallarpadam Church]], Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/archana-kavi-to-marry-abhish-mathew.html|title=Archana Kavi to marry stand-up comedian Abish Mathew | Archana Kavi to marry Abish Mathew}}</ref>
The marriage function was attended by [[Rima Kallingal]], [[Aashiq Abu]] and Abish's friends from Delhi and comedians like [[Kenny Sebastian]], [[Kaneez Surka]], [[Rohan Joshi]] and [[Kanan Gill]].
In 2021, the couple filed for divorce.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archana Kavi opens up about her fight with depression and her divorce|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2021/11/08/archana-kavi-opens-up-about-her-fight-with-depression-and-life.html|access-date=2021-12-23|website=OnManorama}}</ref>

Archana married Rick Varghese in October 2025. The two met on a dating app and decided to take their relationship to the next level.<ref>{{Cite web |title='We met through a dating app'. Archana Kavi spills the beans on her relationship with Rick |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/10/18/archana-kavi-wedding-rick-varghese-marriage-story.html |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=‘We met through a dating app’. Archana Kavi spills the beans on her relationship with Rick |language=en}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date= December 2022}}

=== Films ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Language !! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Neelathamara (2009 film)|Neelathaamara]]'' || Kunjimalu || rowspan="5" | [[Malayalam]] ||
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010 || ''[[Mummy & Me]]'' || Jewel ||
|-
| ''[[Best of Luck (2010 film)|Best of Luck]]'' || Neethu ||
|-
|2011 || ''[[Salt N' Pepper]]'' || Pooja Nair || rowspan="2" | Cameo appearance
|-
| rowspan="3" |2012 || ''[[Spanish Masala]]'' || Lillykkutty
|-
| ''[[Aravaan]]'' || Chimitti || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ||
|-
|''[[Mazhavillinattam Vare]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1152535.ece|title=Bowled over by cinema|author=P. K. Ajith Kumar|date=4 February 2004|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=5 February 2011|location=Chennai, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023095201/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1152535.ece|archive-date=23 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> || Rabiya || Malayalam ||
|-
| rowspan="6" |2013 || ''[[Backbench Student]]'' || Priyanka || [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ||
|-
| ''[[Abhiyum Njanum]]'' || Abirami || rowspan="8" | Malayalam ||
|-
| ''[[Honey Bee (2013 film)|Honey Bee]]'' || Sara ||
|-
| ''[[Pattam Pole]]'' || Sherin ||
|-
| ''[[Bangles (film)|Bangles]]'' || Angel ||
|-
| ''[[Nadodimannan]]'' || Aathira ||
|-
| rowspan="4" |2014 || ''[[To Noora with Love]]'' || Sreeparvathi ||
|-
| ''Day Night Game'' || Abhirami ||
|-
| ''Monayi Angane Aanayi'' || Merin ||
|-
| ''[[Gnana Kirukkan]]'' || Sumathi || Tamil ||
|-
| rowspan="2" |2015 || ''Sughamaayirikkatte'' || Ramla || rowspan="4" | Malayalam ||
|-
| ''Kukkiliyar'' || Sarayu ||
|-
|2016 || ''[[Dooram]]'' || Rasiya ||
|-
| 2025 || ''[[Identity (2025 film)|Identity]]'' || Dr. Devika Shankar ||<ref>{{Cite web |last=Features |first=C. E. |date=2024-09-16 |title=First look of Tovino Thomas-starrer Identity out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/Sep/16/first-look-of-tovino-thomas-starrer-identity-out |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref>
|}

==Other works==
; Television
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|2008||''Bloody Love''||Host||
|-
|''Himamazhayil''||Archana||Music Album
|-
|2010|| ''Ente Priya Ganangal'' ||Host||
|-
|2013|| ''Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njaanum'' ||Host||Reality Show
|-

|2022–2023||''[[Rani Raja]]''||Anamika/Aami||TV series on Mazhavil Manorama <br>Replaced by [[Mridula Vijay]]
|}
;Web series
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|2016||''Talk With Archie''||Host|| rowspan="2" |Vlog
|-
|2016–2017||''Travel''||Host
|-
|2017||''Toofan Mail''||Ammu||Web Series<br>Writer also
|-
|2018||''Big Talks''||Host||Web Series
|-
|2019||''Meenaviyal''|||Amrita ||Web Series
|-
|2020||''Bae Control''||Vedhika||Web Series
|-
|rowspan=2|2020–2022||''Talk With Archie Season 2''||Host|| rowspan="2" |Vlog
|-
|''Zoomling Talks / QnA''||Host
|-
|2021–2022||''Pandaraparambil House''||Director/Producer||Web Series
|-
|2023–present
|''Pursuit of madness ''||Host||vlog
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Archana Kavi}}
* {{IMDb name|id=3896678}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kavi, Archana}}
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses from Kochi]]
[[Category:Actresses from New Delhi]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam television]]
[[Category:Indian television actresses]]
[[Category:Indian women television presenters]]
[[Category:Indian television presenters]]
[[Category:1990 births]]

Archana Kavi - Revision history

Republic Bangla at 05:47, 6 February 2026