StephaineShrader at 20:27, 4 May 2026

2026-05-04T20:27:23Z

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{{Short description|Indian actress}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bhama
| image = Bhama.JPG
| caption =
| birth_name = Rekhitha R. Kurup
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Kottayam]], [[Kerala]], India
| occupation = Actress
| other names = Bhama Kurup
| years active = 2007–2019 ; <br> 2025–present
| height_cm =
| spouse =
| children = 1
| parents = Rajendran Kurup<br/>Shylaja
}}

'''Rekhitha R. Kurup''', better known by her stage name '''Bhamaa''', is an Indian actress who predominantly appeared in [[Malayalam]] and [[Kannada]]-language films. She made her cinematic debut in 2007 with the Malayalam film ''[[Nivedyam (2007 film)|Nivedyam]]'', directed by [[A. K. Lohithadas]] and had acted in over 42 films.

== Early life and education ==

Bhama is the youngest daughter of Rajendra Kurup & Shylaja. She has two elder sisters, Reshmitha R. Kurup and Renjitha R. Kurup.

Bhama did her schooling at St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, [[Manarcad]] and Infant Jesus Bethany Convent Girl's Higher Secondary School, [[Manarcad]]. She pursued a bachelor's in Sociology by correspondence course.<ref>{{cite journal |title=ml:മലയാളത്തിന്റെ ഭാമസൗന്ദര്യത്തിനും പ്രണയമുണ്ട് |issue=February 2013 |language=ml |pages=12, 13, 14}}</ref>

==Career==
Before she entered into the film industry, she was the host of a show on Surya TV titled ''Thaali''. She has also acted in a Christian devotional album. Director Lohithadas selected her as her first movie's lead heroine in [[Nivedyam (2007 film)|Nivedyam]]. Her second film was ''Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan'', directed by [[Vinayan]], in which she was cast opposite [[Manikuttan]]. She paired with [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]] in ''Cycle'' directed by [[Johny Antony]].

Bhama said that until 2011, she was getting the same kind of roles in Malayalam. She started taking up Kannada film offers, after which she started getting fresh and interesting characters in Malayalam.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/Finally-Im-getting-my-due-in-Malayalam-Bhamaa/articleshow/21858576.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Finally, I'm getting my due in Malayalam: Bhamaa |access-date=17 August 2013 |archive-date=2 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102104215/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/Finally-Im-getting-my-due-in-Malayalam-Bhamaa/articleshow/21858576.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> She acted in Sohanlal's ''[[Kadhaveedu]]'' in which she played the heroine in [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]]'s segment, and her character was that of a modern girl, a media person, who is smart and energetic. She had a small but significant role in Vinod Vijayan's segment of ''[[D Company (film)|D Company]]'', ''Day of Judgement'', featuring Fahadh Faasil where she played a psycho and wore no make-up.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/Finally-Im-getting-my-due-in-Malayalam-Bhamaa/articleshow/21858576.cms |work=The Times of India |title=Finally, I'm getting my due in Malayalam: Bhamaa |access-date=17 August 2013 |archive-date=2 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102104215/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/Finally-Im-getting-my-due-in-Malayalam-Bhamaa/articleshow/21858576.cms |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014, she had five Malayalam releases. She played a Christian housewife in Rakesh Gopan's ''[[100 Degree Celsius]]'' and was seen as a 15-year-old mother in Vinod Mankara's ''Ottamandaram''.<ref>Radhika C Pillai (18 May 2014) [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news-and-interviews/I-am-on-the-right-track-Bhamaa/articleshow/35296278.cms I am on the right track: Bhamaa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923235057/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news-and-interviews/I-am-on-the-right-track-Bhamaa/articleshow/35296278.cms |date=23 September 2017 }}. ''Times of India''. Retrieved 18 May 2014.</ref> In her only non-Malayalam release of the year, the Tamil-English biographical film ''[[Ramanujan (film)|Ramanujan]]'' based on the mathematician [[Srinivasa Ramanujan]], she played the role of Janakiammal, Ramanujan's wife.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/geminis-grandson-to-play-lead-in-ramanujan-biopic/article4666422.ece |location=Chennai, India |agency=Indo-Asian News Service |work=The Hindu |title=Gemini's grandson to play lead in Ramanujan biopic |date=29 April 2013 |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-date=1 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501164057/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/geminis-grandson-to-play-lead-in-ramanujan-biopic/article4666422.ece |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article565480.ece |title=Bhama discards village belle image |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=14 July 2012 |access-date=10 July 2016 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817011138/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article565480.ece |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Playback singing===
Bhama has occasionally worked as a playback singer as well. She had reportedly sung the song "Kannil Kannil", composed by [[Rahul Raj]] for a film titled ''Bike'';<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/38797.html |title=Bhama turns Playback singer – Malayalam Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |date=26 May 2008 |access-date=25 January 2012 |archive-date=9 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709061606/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/38797.html |url-status=live}}</ref> however, the film was canceled and the song remains unreleased. She lent her voice for the devotional album ''Maaya Madhavam'' (2009),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/50520.html |title=Bhama turns a singer – Malayalam Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |date=5 October 2009 |access-date=25 January 2012 |archive-date=12 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712122522/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/50520.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and has sung the title song for the upcoming children's film ''Meow Meow Karimppoocha''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jiji Ann Cherian DC Kochi |title=Bhama, the girl next door |date=15 January 2012 |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/mollywood/bhama-girl-next-door-877 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |access-date=25 January 2012 |archive-date=17 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117233738/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/mollywood/bhama-girl-next-door-877 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She did voice over for the short film named Pacha directed by Sarayu.
She has sung a song in the movie [[100 Degree Celsius]] along with other heroines [[Ananya (actress)|Ananya]], [[Meghana Raj]], and [[Shwetha Menon]].<ref name="100 celsius">{{cite news |last1=V.P |first1=Nicy |title='100 Degree Celsius' Starring Meghana Raj, Bhama, Shwetha Menon to Hit Theatres This Week |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/100-degree-celsius-starring-meghana-raj-bhama-shwetha-menon-hit-theatres-this-week-610639 |access-date=15 June 2021 |work=ibtimes.co.in |date=6 October 2014 |ref=Malayalam film "100 degree Celsius" starring Shwetha Menon, Bhama, Meghana Raj, Ananya and Haritha Parokod is all set for release. |language=en}}</ref><ref name="celsius">{{cite news |last1=Sreekumar |first1=Priya |title=100 degree celsius going all over |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150928/entertainment-mollywood/article/100-degree-celsius-going-all-over |access-date=15 June 2021 |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=29 September 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==

In January 2020, Bhama married Arun and in May 2024, announced she is a single-parent mother living with her daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-07 |title=Actress Bhama reveals she is 'single mother', drops pics with daughter |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/actress-bhama-reveals-that-she-is-a-single-mother-1.9540170 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=English.Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Language !! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2007 || ''[[Nivedyam (2007 film)|Nivedyam]]'' || Sathya Bhama || rowspan="4" | [[Malayalam]]|| Malayalam Debut - Received the [[Asianet Film Awards#Best Star Pair|Asianet Film Award for Best Star Pair Award]] (shared with [[Vinu Mohan]])<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1178059.ece |title=Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News: Ujala-Asianet film awards announced |work=The Hindu |date=13 January 2008 |location=Chennai, India |access-date=10 July 2016 |archive-date=12 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012010220/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Ujala-Asianet-film-awards-announced/article15142929.ece |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan]]'' || Indhu ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2008 || ''[[Cycle (2008 film)|Cycle]]'' || Annie ||
|-
| ''[[One Way Ticket (2008 film)|One Way Ticket]]'' || Sunanda ||
|-
| ''[[Ellam Avan Seyal]]'' || Chinthamani || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ||Tamil debut
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2009 || ''Swapnangalil Haisal Mary''|| Haisal Mary|| rowspan="9" |Malayalam||
|-
| ''Kannerinu Madhuram'' || Subhadra||
|-
| ''[[Colours (2009 film)|Colours]]'' || Pooja ||
|-
| ''[[Ivar Vivahitharayal]]'' || Kavya ||
|-
| ''[[Oru Black and White Kudumbam]]'' || Minnu ||
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2010 || ''[[Sakudumbam Shyamala]]'' || Nandana ||
|-
| ''Neelambari'' || Parvathy ||
|-
| ''[[Koottukar (2010 film)|Koottukar]]'' || Aswathy ||
|-
| ''College Days'' || Athira ||
|-
| ''[[Modalasala]]'' || Deepu || [[Kannada]] ||Kannada debut
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2011 || ''[[Janapriyan]]'' || Meera || rowspan="3" | Malayalam ||
|-
| ''[[Sevenes]]'' || Gowri ||
|-
| ''[[Swapna Sanchari]]'' || Aswathi (Achu) ||
|-
| ''Manchivadu'' || Indu || [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ||Telugu debut
|-
| ''[[Shyloo]]'' || Shaileshwari (Shyloo) || Kannada ||
|-

| rowspan="4" | 2012 || ''[[Sevarkkodi]]'' || Valli || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Husbands in Goa]]'' || Abhirami || Malayalam ||
|-
| ''[[Ondu Kshanadalli]]'' || Divya || Kannada ||
|-
| ''[[101 Weddings]]'' || Rukhiya || Malayalam ||
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2013 || ''[[Auto Raja (2013 film)|Auto Raja]]'' || Radha/Rani || rowspan="3" | Kannada ||
|-
| ''[[Barfi (film)|Barfi]]'' || Kushi ||
|-
| ''[[Appayya (film)|Appayya]]'' || Gowri ||
|-
| ''[[D Company (2013 film)|D Company]]'' || Jeena || Malayalam ||
|-
| ''[[Ambara]]'' || Arundhathi || Kannada ||
|-
| ''[[Kadhaveedu]]'' || Jeena || rowspan="3" | Malayalam ||<ref>{{cite news |author=Priya Sreekumar |url=http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130517/entertainment-mollywood/article/village-belle-glam-doll |title=Village belle to glam doll |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=17 May 2013 |access-date=10 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005142900/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130517/entertainment-mollywood/article/village-belle-glam-doll |archive-date=5 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2014 || ''[[Konthayum Poonoolum]]'' || Amritha ||
|-
| ''[[Naku Penta Naku Taka]]'' || Shubha ||
|-
| ''[[Ramanujan (film)|Ramanujan]]'' || Janakiammal Ramanujan || English/Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[100 Degree Celsius]]'' || Nancy || rowspan="3" | Malayalam ||
|-
| ''Ottamandaram'' || Kala ||
|-
| ''[[Mathai Kuzhappakkaranalla]]'' || Annamma ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Arjuna (film)|Arjuna]]'' || Piya Arjuna|| Kannada ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2016 || ''[[Maalgudi Days]]'' ||Janet || rowspan=2 | Malayalam ||
|-
| ''[[Marupadi]]'' || Sarah||
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Raaga (film)|Raaga]]'' || Anu || Kannada ||
|-
| 2018|| ''Khilafath'' || Amina || rowspan=2 | Malayalam ||
|-
| 2025|| ''[[Sumathi Valavu]]'' || Malu ||<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-06 |title=After an 8-yr break, popular Malayalam actress Bhama is back with a bang in ‘Sumathi Valavu’ |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/after-an-8-yr-break-popular-malayalam-actress-bhama-is-back-with-a-bang-in-sumathi-valavu-ilybdy8l |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=@mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Bhama}}
* {{IMDb name|2778406}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhama}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses from Kottayam]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Indian women television presenters]]
[[Category:Indian television presenters]]
[[Category:Television personalities from Kerala]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam television]]
[[Category:Indian television actresses]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:St. Teresa's College alumni]]
[[Category:Kerala Film Critics Awards winners]]

Bhama Kurup - Revision history

StephaineShrader at 20:27, 4 May 2026