Who is Ananthika Sanilkumar? Meet 19-year-old actress, black-belt holder, trained in four classical dances and Rajinikanth’s youngest co-star

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Ananthika Sanilkumar has been making waves in the film industry with her captivating and nuanced performances, especially in the movie “8 Vasantalu.” At only 19 years old, she made her debut in cinema in 2022, but her talent and achievements have quickly earned her widespread recognition. This article delves into more about this young actress who has garnered much attention for skills that extend far beyond the silver screen.

Who is Ananthika Sanilkumar?

Hailing from Thrissur, Kerala, Ananthika Sanilkumar was born in February 2006. This promising South Indian actress has made significant strides in both the Telugu and Tamil film industries, earning recognition for her accomplishments. She resides with her parents and a younger sibling.

Following her high school education, this rising actress is now studying for her bachelor’s degree in law at a university in Kerala. Thanks to her family’s backing, she manages to juggle her academic and career obligations effortlessly.

Ananthika Sanilkumar is trained in various art forms

Starting at the tender age of five, Ananthika embarked on her journey of learning classical dances. Through diligent practice and unwavering passion, she has now become proficient in no less than four different classical dance styles: Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, and Mohiniyattam.

She’s been dancing in various stage productions since she was young, demonstrating her elegant mastery of all four dance styles.

Yet, there’s more to Ananthika’s skills than meets the eye. She isn’t just proficient in one area; she’s a black belt holder in karate, having attained the highest rank achievable in this martial art. Furthermore, her talents extend to Kalaripayattu, an ancient martial art hailing from Kerala, where she too demonstrates great skill.

Moreover, she also knows sword fighting and plays the traditional instrument called the Chenda.

Ananthika’s film debut at the age of 17

In 2022, one of the newest faces in the film industry, Ananthika, made her cinematic debut with the Telugu movie titled Rajahmundry Rose Milk.

Following that, Ananthika secured some smaller roles in Malayalam films initially, but eventually got a significant chance in Tamil cinema with the Vikram Prabhu-starrer Raid in 2023. In this movie, she portrayed the female lead character, and her acting was positively received.

That very year, she graced the screen in Nithiin’s movie titled “Mad.” This role once more illuminated her skills and talents. Subsequently, Ananthika experienced a remarkable surge in popularity.

Ananthika’s parents were hesitant about her film debut

During an earlier conversation with The New Indian Express, Ananthika’s mom, Jini Sanilkumar, shared their initial reluctance about allowing their daughter to pursue a career in movies.

At first, she was uncertain about taking up any film roles because she wasn’t familiar with the business. Over time, though, Ananthika found herself drawn to it and decided to give it a shot.

Ananthika became Rajinikanth’s youngest co-star

18-year-old Ananthika was cast in superstar Rajinikanth’s film titled Lal Salaam, making her one of his youngest co-stars. In the movie, she portrayed Dhanalakshmi, who was the main love interest for Vishnu Vishal’s character, Thirunavukarasu.

Ananthika delivered a strong performance with 8 Vasantalu

Skipping ahead to 2025, Ananthika once again captivated audiences with her impressive portrayal in the film 8 Vasantalu. Starring alongside Ravi Theja Duggirala as the main characters, her convincing and multidimensional performance garnered significant praise from viewers.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but acknowledge that she was undeniably the primary engine propelling the film’s storyline, from its inception to its conclusion. The movie has been keeping audiences captivated at the box office and is poised for its Netflix premiere this week.

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2025-07-09 15:07