Vivekparulekar at 21:28, 6 May 2026

2026-05-06T21:28:35Z

New page

{{short description|Indian actress}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Fathima Babu
| image =
| birth_date =
| birth_name = Fathima
| birth_place = [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], [[India]]
| occupation = Actress<br/>Former newsreader
| spouse = {{marriage|Babu|1989}}
| children = 2
| parents =
| imagesize =
| years active = 1996–present
}}

'''Fathima Babu''' (née '''Fathima''') is an Indian actress, former newsreader and socialite based in [[Chennai]] who hails from [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. She began her public career as a newsreader with [[DD Podhigai]], the Tamil version of Doordarshan news, and later worked for [[Jaya TV]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Native |first=Digital |date=2019-07-11 |title=Fathima Babu eliminated from 'Bigg Boss' Tamil house |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/fathima-babu-eliminated-bigg-boss-tamil-house-105044 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://tamil.asianetnews.com/cinema/farthima-babu-native-place-ptv1it |title=Fathima Babu native place and other details |website=Asianet News |access-date=1 September 2019 |archive-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901110409/https://tamil.asianetnews.com/cinema/farthima-babu-native-place-ptv1it |url-status=live }}</ref> She subsequently moved on to work in television serials, films and theatre performances, operating in the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]] languages.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tamil.asianetnews.com/cinema/farthima-babu-rare-photo-in-viral-ptulvn |title=Fathima Babu rare photo goes viral |website=Asianet News |access-date=1 September 2019 |archive-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901110409/https://tamil.asianetnews.com/cinema/farthima-babu-rare-photo-in-viral-ptulvn |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Fathima was born in a [[Malayalis|Malayali]] family based in [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]].<ref name=":0" /> She has a degree in commerce. Initially a [[Muslims|Muslim]], Fathima converted to [[Hinduism]] after marrying Babu, who she had met while working at [[Indian Oil Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karay |first=Kadar |date=2024-09-13 |title=இந்துவாக மாறியது ஏன்? விரட்டி விரட்டி காதலித்த பாபு? பாத்திமா பாபு லவ் ஸ்டோரி? |url=https://tamil.oneindia.com/news/chennai/why-became-a-hindu-who-is-this-babu-fathima-babu-love-story-638165.html |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=One India |language=ta}}</ref> The couple, married since 1989, has two sons.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chitramala.in/complaint-on-kollywood-actress-fathima-babu-224633.html |title=Complaint on Kollywood Actress Fathima Babu |date=29 April 2016 |access-date=1 September 2019 |archive-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901110406/https://www.chitramala.in/complaint-on-kollywood-actress-fathima-babu-224633.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tamil.behindtalkies.com/bigg-boss-fathima-babu-family/ |title=Fathima Babu converting her religion for her husband |date=July 2019 |access-date=1 September 2019 |archive-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901110411/https://tamil.behindtalkies.com/bigg-boss-fathima-babu-family/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Career==
Fathima became a newsreader with [[DD Podhigai]], the Tamil version of Doordarshan, in the late 1980s. In 1989, she briefly went missing causing much speculation as to her disappearance. Several years later, Fathima clarified that during the period she was missing, she was filming for a television serial known as ''Chithirapaavai'' and did not want to breach Doordarshan's rule of news anchors not being able to work in serials.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/cmcm/stalin-did-not-abduct-me-tv-news-reader-sets-record-straight-after-30-years |title=Stalin did not abduct me: TV news reader sets record straight after 30 years |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730120711/https://www.freepressjournal.in/cmcm/stalin-did-not-abduct-me-tv-news-reader-sets-record-straight-after-30-years |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2000-05-28/page/80/mode/2up |title=Kalki magazine 2000-05-28 |date=28 May 2000}}</ref>

Fathima made her film debut through [[K. Balachander]]'s [[Feminism|feminist]] film ''[[Kalki (1996 film)|Kalki]]'' (1996),<ref name=":0" /> where she starred alongside an ensemble cast of [[Shruti (actress)|Shruti]], [[Rashin Rahman|Rahman]], [[Prakash Raj]], [[Geetha (actress)|Geetha]], and [[Renuka (actress)|Renuka]]. The film garnered positive reviews, with a film critic noting that Fathima "has an impressive debut, performing with confidence".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/rewind/kalki.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919090120/http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/rewind/kalki.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Fathima moved on to play supporting roles in films, often portraying the mother of the lead characters.{{Citation needed|date= February 2022}}

Fathima started her own drama production group, Fab's Theatre, which performs shows in Chennai. She was initially introduced to theatre by K. Balachander, who often helped her work on and develop scripts. The group has made shows such as ''Sethu Vandirikkaen'' and ''Thaarama Tallyaa'' directed by Fathima, which opened in February 2016.<ref name="FABS">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/fathima-babuditrected-thaarama-tallyaa-was-impressive/article8253010.ece |title=An account of family ties |first=V. |last=Subramanian |work=The Hindu |date=18 February 2016 |access-date=29 June 2019 |archive-date=17 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817060931/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/fathima-babuditrected-thaarama-tallyaa-was-impressive/article8253010.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Sethu">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/lacked-in-originality-sethu-vandirukkaen/article7061348.ece |title=Lacked in originality |work=The Hindu |date=2 April 2015 |last=Krishnamachari |first=Suganthy |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-date=26 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726050518/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/lacked-in-originality-sethu-vandirukkaen/article7061348.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> She was also briefly involved in politics, and campaigned for the [[AIADMK]] on behalf of [[Jayalalithaa]], and eventually took up a role as a spokesperson of the party.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/jayalalithaa-ropes-in-kollywood-to-campaign-for-her-1424759.html |title=Jayalalithaa ropes in Kollywood to campaign for her |work=Firstpost |date=8 March 2014 |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730120711/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/jayalalithaa-ropes-in-kollywood-to-campaign-for-her-1424759.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After Jayalalithaa's death, Fathima joined [[O. Paneerselvam]]'s team, before ultimately distancing herself from politics. In 2019, she appeared in the reality television show ''[[Bigg Boss Tamil 3]]'' on [[Star Vijay]], and was the first contestant to be evicted.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/i-wanted-people-to-see-and-know-the-real-me-fathima-babu/articleshow/70158531.cms |title=I wanted people to see and know the real me: Fathima Babu |author=Sharanya CR |work=The Times of India |date=11 July 2019 |access-date=12 July 2019 |archive-date=23 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723194402/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/i-wanted-people-to-see-and-know-the-real-me-fathima-babu/articleshow/70158531.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Films==
===Tamil===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Kalki (1996 film)|Kalki]]'' || Kokila ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|1997 || ''[[Pasamulla Pandiyare]]'' || ||
|-
|''[[V. I. P. (1997 film)|V. I. P.]]''|| Priya's mother ||
|-
| ''[[Nerukku Ner]]'' || Alamu ||
|-
| rowspan="8"|1998 || ''[[Ulavuthurai]]'' || Sangeetha's mother ||
|-
|''[[Swarnamukhi (film)|Swarnamukhi]]''|| Vanaja ||
|-
| ''[[Thulli Thirintha Kaalam]]'' || Visalam ||
|-
| ''[[Sollamale]]'' || Vikram's mother ||
|-
|''[[Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen]]''|| Vasanthi, Radha's stepmother's younger sister ||
|-
| ''[[Simmarasi]]'' || Maragatham's wife ||
|-
| ''[[Kannathal]]'' || Kannatha's mother ||
|-
| ''[[Kalyana Galatta]]'' || Commissioner's wife||
|-
| rowspan="6"|1999 ||''[[Ninaivirukkum Varai]]''|| Sandhya's mother||
|-
| ''[[Nee Varuvai Ena]]'' || Subramani's mother ||
|-
| ''[[Mugam (1999 film)|Mugam]]'' || ||
|-
|''[[Mudhalvan]]''|| Aranganathar's wife ||
|-
| ''[[Unnaruge Naan Irundhal]]'' || Jamindar's wife ||
|-
| ''[[Ponnu Veetukkaran]]'' || Gangadaran's wife||
|-
| rowspan="7"|2000 || ''[[Mugavaree]]'' || Viji's mother ||
|-
| ''[[Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven]]''|| Indu's mother||
|-
| ''[[Simmasanam]]'' || Annapoorani's sister-in-law ||
|-
| ''[[Parthen Rasithen]]''|| Pinky Raja ||
|-
| ''[[Ilaiyavan]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Anbudan]]''|| Sathya's mother ||
|-
| ''Ninaivellam Nee''|| Nurse ||
|-
| rowspan="6"|2001 ||''[[Minnale]]''|| Shanti, Reena's mother ||
|-
| ''[[Paarvai Ondre Podhume]]'' || Visalakshi ||
|-
| ''[[Little John (film)|Little John]]''|| Nirmala ||
|-
| ''[[Manadhai Thirudivittai]]'' || Shruti's mother ||
|-
| ''[[Aalavandhan]]'' || Tejaswini's mother||
|-
| ''[[Love Marriage (2001 film)|Love Marriage]]''||Shreekanth's mother ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|2002||''[[Alli Arjuna]]''|| Usha ||
|-
| ''[[Youth (2002 film)|Youth]]''|| Sandhya's mother ||
|-
| rowspan="6"|2003||''[[Manasellam]]''|| Bala's mother ||
|-
| ''[[Lesa Lesa]]''|| Varalakshmi ||
|-
| ''[[Aahaa Ethanai Azhagu]]''|| ||
|-
| ''[[Thithikudhe]]''|| Venu's adopted mother||
|-
| ''[[Thathi Thavadhu Manasu]]''|| ||
|-
|''[[Indru]]''|| Gauthaman's mother||
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Kavithai]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="4"|2005 || ''[[Thirupaachi]]'' || Raj's wife ||
|-
| ''[[Kannadi Pookal]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Devathaiyai Kanden]]'' || Uma's mother ||
|-
|''[[Amudhey]]'' || Nancy's mother ||
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Thirudiya Idhayathai]]'' || ||
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Thirupathi (2006 Tamil film)|Thirupathi]]'' || Minister's wife||
|-
| rowspan="3"|2007||''[[Adavadi]]''|| ||
|-
| ''[[En Uyirinum Melana]]'' || Kamakshi ||
|-
| ''18 Vayasu Puyale''|| Seetha ||
|-
| rowspan="4"|2008||''[[Kuselan]]''|| Sister Maria || Simultaneously shot in Telugu as ''Kathanayakudu''
|-
| ''[[Saroja (2008 film)|Saroja]]''|| Car passenger || Special appearance
|-
| ''[[Vasool]]''|| Angayarkanni||
|-
|''Thithikkum Ilamai''|| Defense lawyer||
|-
| rowspan="3"|2011|| ''[[Sabash Sariyana Potti]]'' || "Sabash Sariyana Potti" judge ||
|-
|''[[Kasethan Kadavulada (2011 film)|Kasethan Kadavulada]]''|| ||
|-
|''Kaila Kaasu Vaaila Thosa''|| ||
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Thiruthani (film)|Thiruthani]]''|| Andiyappan's wife ||
|-
| rowspan="5"|2013 || ''[[Puthagam]]'' || Veni ||
|-
| ''Naanum En Jamunavum'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Thirumathi Thamizh]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Chithirayil Nilachoru]]'' || Church mother ||
|-
| ''[[Maayai]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|2014 || ''[[Azhagiya Pandipuram]]''|| Madhavan's mother ||
|-
| ''[[Nee Naan Nizhal]]'' ||Rohit's mother ||
|-
| ''[[Namma Gramam]]'' ||Karthyayani ||
|-
|2015 ||''[[Muthukumar Wanted]]'' || Anandhi's mother ||
|-
|2016 ||''Jennifer Karuppaiya'' || Court Judge ||
|-
|2020 ||''Vidhipadi'' || Jennifer's mother ||Short film
|-
|2025 ||''[[Mrs & Mr]]'' || Ranganayaki ||
|-
|}

===Malayalam===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Raavanaprabhu]]'' || Mundakkal Sekharan's wife ||
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Onnaman]]'' ||Deepa ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2007 || ''[[Ali Bhai]]'' || Ambu Bhai's wife ||
|-
| ''[[Hallo (film)|Hallo]]'' || Shivaraman's mother ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Madampi]]'' || Shyamala's mother ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2009 ||''[[My Big Father]]''|| Alby's mother ||
|-
|''[[Bhramaram]]'' || Sivankutty's sister||
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2010 || ''[[Oru Naal Varum]]''|| School Principal ||
|-
| ''[[Alexander the Great (2010 film)|Alexander the Great]]'' ||Sumithra ||
|-
|''[[Shikkar]]'' || Manu's mother ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2011 ||''Kottarathil Kutty Bhootham'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Traffic (2011 film)|Traffic]]'' || Raihan's mother ||
|-
| rowspan="5"| 2012 || ''[[The King & the Commissioner]]'' || Justice Eliyamma Pettikaran ||
|-
| ''[[Josettante Hero]]'' || Sajan's mother||
|-
| ''[[Grandmaster (2012 film)|Grandmaster]]'' || Alice ||
|-
| ''[[Gramam]]''|| Karthyayani || Simultaneously shot in Tamil as ''Namma Gramam''
|-
| ''[[Matinee (2012 film)|Matinee]]'' || Fathima ||
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2014 || ''[[@Andheri]]'' ||Appu's mother ||
|-
|''[[1 by Two]]'' || Ammukkuty Amma ||
|-
|''[[Asha Black]]''|| Rohit's mother || Simultaneously shot in Tamil as ''Nee Naan Nizhal''
|}

===Telugu===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2005||''[[Gowtam SSC]]''|| Chaya Rani (Gowtam's Mother) ||
|-
| 2008||''[[Kathanayakudu (2008 film)|Kadhanayakudu]]''|| Sister Maria ||
|}

==Dramas==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Actor !! Director !! Written By !! Ref.
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Ponniyin Selvan#Stage play|Ponniyin Selvan]]''
| Nandhini
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/kalki-classic-for-your-ears/article4810308.ece |work=The Hindu |title=Kalki classic for your ears! |date=13 June 2013 |access-date=29 June 2019 |last=Charukesi |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426223558/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/kalki-classic-for-your-ears/article4810308.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2014
| ''Koodi Vaazhnthal'' (Short Play)
| {{N/A}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Aashiq Babu
|
|-
| 2014
| ''Seethai Mark Seeyakaithool'' (Short Play)
| Subbamma
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Sundara Ramasamy
|
|-
| 2014
| ''Aan Dharmam'' (Short Play)
| Paanjali
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Jayanthan
|
|-
| 2014
| ''Thappattam'' (Short Play)
| {{N/A}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Vaseekaran
|
|-
| 2014
| ''Naan Avan Illai'' (Short Play)
| {{N/A}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Chelli Sreenivasan
|
|-
| 2015
| ''Sethu Vandhirukken''
| Vanaja
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| [[K. Balachander]]
| <ref name="Sethu" />
|-
| 2016
| ''Thaarama Tallyaa''
| Radha
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Chitralaya Sriram
|<ref name="FABS" />
|-
| 2019
| ''Valayil Sikkiya Meen''
|
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|
|
|}

==Television==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Program
! Role
! Channel
! Language
! Notes
|-
| 1989 || ''Chithirappaavai'' || Saradha ||[[DD Podhigai]] || Tamil ||
|-
| 1997|| ''Nila Pookkal'' || Possessive wife ||[[Star Vijay]] || Tamil || Telefilm
|-
| 1999 || ''Chinna Chinna Aassai : Suyamvaram'' || ||Varnam TV || Tamil ||
|-
| 2001 || ''Kaaveri'' || ||[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] || Tamil ||
|-
| 2003–2005 || ''Priyanka'' || Indrani ||[[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]] || Telugu ||
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Kadamattathu Kathanar (TV series)|Kadamattathu Kathanar]]'' || Nicolas's Mother ||[[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]] || Malayalam ||
|-
| 2006–2008 || ''[[Lakshmi (2006 TV series)|Lakshmi]]'' || Chandra || [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] || Tamil||
|-
| 2006–2007 || ''Raja Rajeshwari'' || Lakshmi Amma || [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] || Tamil||
|-
| 2007|| ''[[Swami Ayyappan (TV series)|Swami Ayyappan]]'' || Unnikrishnan's mother ||[[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]|| Malayalam ||
|-
| 2008 || ''Alaipayuthey'' || || [[Jaya TV]] || Tamil||
|-
| 2008 || ''Simran Thirai'' || ||[[Jaya TV]] || Tamil || Story : Anuvum Naanum
|-
| 2008–2009 || ''Thangamana Purushan'' || Lion Janaki || [[Kalaignar TV]] || Tamil||
|-
| 2009 || ''Sollathan Ninaikiren'' || || [[Zee Tamil]] || Tamil||
|-
| 2017–2021 ||''[[Yaaradi Nee Mohini (TV series)|Yaaradi Nee Mohini]]''<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/team-yaaradi-nee-mohini-celebrates-600-episodes-milestone-see-pics/articleshow/69328061.cms |title=Team Yaaradi Nee Mohini celebrates 600 episodes milestone; see pics |website=The Times of India|date=14 May 2019 }}</ref>|| Neelambari|| [[Zee Tamil]] || Tamil|| Died in serial
|-
|2017–2018||''Uyyala Jampala''||Shantamma||[[Star Maa]]||Telugu||
|-
|2017||''Muddha Mandaram''|| ||[[Zee Telugu]]||Telugu||
|-
|rowspan=3|2018|| ''[[Makkal (TV series)|Makkal]]'' || Saraswathi || [[Mazhavil Manorama]] || Malayalam || Replaced by [[Shobha Mohan]]
|-
|''[[Aranmanai Kili (TV series)|Aranmanai Kili]]'' || Judge Kaveri|| [[Star Vijay]] || Tamil||
|-
| ''[[Genes (season 3)|Genes]]'' || Guest || [[Zee Tamil]] || Tamil|| One episode
|-
|2019|| ''[[Bigg Boss Tamil 3]]''<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/bigg-boss-tamil-3-fathima-babu-to-get-evicted-from-the-house/articleshow/70113685.cms |title=Bigg Boss Tamil 3: Fathima Babu to get evicted from the house? |website=The Times of India |date=7 July 2019 |access-date=1 September 2019 |archive-date=18 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718031632/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/bigg-boss-tamil-3-fathima-babu-to-get-evicted-from-the-house/articleshow/70113685.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>|| Contestant || [[Star Vijay]] || Tamil || Evicted on Day 14
|-
|2019|| ''Bigg Boss 3 Kondattam''|| Herself || [[Star Vijay]] || Tamil || Special show
|-
|2021|| ''[[BB Jodigal]]''|| Contestant || [[Star Vijay]] || Tamil ||
|-
|2022|| ''[[Sippikul Muthu]]''||Suseela || [[Star Vijay]] || Tamil ||
|-
|2023|| ''[[Uppena (TV series)|Uppena]]'' || Visalakshi || [[Gemini TV]] || Telugu ||
|-
| 2024 ||''Janaki Ramayya Gari Manavaralu'' || Janakamma || [[Zee Telugu]] || Telugu ||
|-
|2025–Present ||''[[Karthigai Deepam (TV series)|Karthigai Deepam]]'' || Kaaliamma || [[Zee Tamil]] || Tamil ||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|1679553}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Babu, Fathima}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Indian Tamil people]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:People from Madurai district]]
[[Category:Actresses from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam television]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil television]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu television]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Converts to Hinduism from Sunni Islam]]
[[Category:Indian former Sunni Muslims]]

Fathima Babu - Revision history

Vivekparulekar at 21:28, 6 May 2026