Vinaya Prakash ( Bhat), (22 November 1967) also credited as Vinaya Prasad, is an Indian actress known for her work predominantly in Kannada and Malayalam films in addition to a few Telugu, Tamil and Tulu films. Vinaya has appeared in more than 100 films and was one of the most sought after actresses during the 1990s.
Vinaya started her career in 1986 in the G. V. Iyer directed biographical film Madhwacharya. Her lead role and breakthrough came with the comedy film Ganeshana Maduve in 1990. The film was a huge commercial success and marked her shift from small roles to leading roles in Kannada cinema. She continued to appear in successful comedy films such as Gauri Ganesha (1991), Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare (1991), Yarigu Helbedi (1994) and Kona Eedaithe (1995). Her debut in Malayalam cinema came with the critically acclaimed Perumthachan (1991) directed by Ajayan. This was followed by a string of performance-oriented roles in films that include Aathanka (1993), Manichithrathazhu (1993), Karulina Koogu (1994), Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu (1994), Thumbida Mane (1995) and Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997). Her portrayal as a Nepali immigrant in her Tamil debut, Thaikulame Thaikulame (1995) brought her widespread recognition.
After 2000, Vinaya switched over to performing supporting characters across all the South Indian language films. Apart from films, Vinaya has established herself in television series and reality shows.
Early life Vinaya Prasad was born on 22 November 1965 in Udupi, Karnataka. Her father S. Krishna Bhat was a divisional officer with the LIC and her mother Vatsala worked as a school teacher. Vinaya often owes her clear diction and pronunciation to her father who used to narrate a story every day during her childhood. She completed her schooling from St. Cecily's Convent in Udupi and graduation in Commerce from Poornaprajna College. While she was still in college, she got offered her first film assignment.
Career Vinaya made her film debut with a small role in G. V. Iyer's Madhwacharya in 1986 where she played the role of one of the three queens of the King. She worked in smaller character roles before playing the leading lady in Ganeshana Maduve opposite Anant Nag. The film was a huge success and she went on to act in many more films in not only Kannada but also Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil . Some of her notable Kannada films include Ganeshana Maduve, Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare, Gauri Ganesha, Mysore Jaana and Suryodaya. She starred in a supporting role in Manichitrathazhu, opposite Mohanlal. In Tamil, she has acted as the heroine in the movie Thaikulame Thaikulame with Pandiarajan and Urvashi. In Telugu, her movies include Indra, Donga Dongadi and Andhrudu, for which her performance won a lot of praise.
After a successful career as a lead actress, Vinaya switched over to character roles. She is also an effective compere and singer. She has compered several important events like Vasantha Habba in Nrityagram and the annual Dasara procession in Mysore. She has starred in the longest-running and most popular daily soap opera on Malayalam TV, Sthree, which aired from late 1998 to mid 2000 on Asianet television channel. The popularity of this soap made her a household name among Malayalis. In 2006, she returned to the Malayalam small screen to reprise her role as Indu in the sequel to the original Sthree, also named, Sthree.
Personal life Vinaya is from the Udupi district in Karnataka and was raised in Udupi. In 1988, she married V. R. K. Prasad, a director and editor of Kannada films, who died at a young age.
In 2002, Vinaya married Jyotiprakash after they met during the making of the television series Sanjeevani. The couple currently resides in Bangalore with her husband and daughter Prathama Prasad. Jyotiprakash has a son named Jai Atre, from his previous marriage, who is into film direction and screenwriting in Mumbai.
Filmography Kannada films
+ List of Vinaya Prasad Kannada film credits Year Title Roles Notes 1986 Madhwacharya Credited as Vinaya Bhat1990 Ganeshana Maduve Aadhi Lakshmi Policena Hendthi Baare Nanna Muddina RaniDoctor College Hero 1991 Gauri Ganesha Sarasu Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare Ramya Ide Police Belt Kiladi Gandu Lakshmi Shwethagni Gururayara Soththu Nayaka 1992 Mysore Jaana Asha Midida Shruthi Rajadhi Raja Police File Police Lockup Shakthi Yukthi Seetha Goonda Rajya Agni Panjara Vinaya1993 Dakshayini Sujatha Bhavya Bharatha Gundana Maduve Sarkarakke Saval Aathanka Vaani Suryodaya Pramila1994 Karulina Koogu Sharada Mouna Raga Lavanya Nanendu Nimmavane Samrat Special appearance Yarigu Helbedi Mahashakthi Maaye Soubhagya Anuraga Spandana Durga Pooje 1995 Kalyanotsava Kona Edaithe Goddess of Justice Shiva Thumbida Mane Thavaru Beegaru Lakshmi Mutthinantha Hendathi Lady Police 1996 Mahathai Sowbhagya Devathe Central Jail Hrudaya kallaruVinaya Sipayi Thali Pooje Punya Sathya Sangharsha Mouna Raga Balina Jyothi Janaki GodFather Anuraga Spandana 1997 Laali Guest appearance Kalla Banda Kalla Yuva Shakthi Baalida Mane Archana Bhoomi Geetha Mangala Sutra Seetha Raaja Manava 2022 1998 Andaman Preethsod Thappa Bhavani Daayadi Hoomale Vinaya Cameo1999 Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi Maha Edabidangi Vinaya ChandrodayaLawyer 2000 Independence Day 2001 Bannada Hejje Seetha Baava Baamaida Lekshmi2004 Love Nimma Preethiya Huduga Srirampura Police Station Monda 2005 Rishi Lekshmi Nenapirali 2006 Hatavadi Dattha Ashoka Shree Student 2007 Thayiya Madilu Aa Dinagalu Chethan's mother Krishna Anjali's mother Ugadi Ee Preethi Yeke Bhoomi Melide Guest appearance2008 Ravi Shastry Honganasu Ganesha Mathe Bandha Satya in Love Sangaathi Chikkamagaloora Chikka Mallige PUC Hrudaya I Miss You Huttidare Kannada Nadalli Huttabeku Jnana Jyothi Sri Siddagangadubbing Indra Bombaat Anand's mother Shankara Punyakoti Parvathy2009 Ghauttham 10th Class A Sec Shivamani 2010 Aptharakshaka Gowri's mother Shankar IPS Cheluveye Ninne Nodalu Sumithra Nee Bandu Ninthaga Pareekshe Parole Modalasala 2011 Krishnan Marriage Story Veera Babu I Am Sorry Mathe Banni Preethsona 2012 Shakthi 18th Cross Paper Dhoni Adhikara Parie Sagar 2013 Madarangi Shravani Subramanya Sri Aadiparashakthi Hara Sakkare Vasundhara2014 Preethi Geethi Ityadi Central Jail Abhimanyu Nandhini's mother2015 RX Soori Geetha Bangle Store Vamshodharaka 2016 Tyson Shivalinga Satya's mother Madhura Swapna Kalpana 2 Mary Akshathe Vaishnavi Saraswathi Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara 2017 March 22 Mumtaj Dhvani Lakshminarayanara Prapanchane Bere LekshmiAlso actor/director2018RajarathaUshaViraaj 2019Khanana 2020Kaanadante MaayavadanuNirupama2022Maaraya September 13Dr. ShubhaVijayanand Chandramma2024 Juni Partha's mother Jigar Thamate 2025 Muruga S/o Kaanunu GST 2026 Mother Promise Sharadamma
Malayalam films + List of Vinaya Prasad Malayalam film credits Year Title Roles Notes1991 Perunthachan Bhargavi Thampuratti Mookilla Rajyathu Leena 1993 Manichitrathazhu Sreedevi 1994 Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu Nancy Joseph1996 Laalanam Sasikala Swantham Makalkku Snehapoorvam 1997 Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu Uma2001 BhadraBhadra The Gift of God 2009 Oru Black And White Kudumbam Lakshmi2010 Marykkundoru Kunjaadu Mary 24 Hours Leela Varma2011 Aan Piranna Veedu Jithin's mother2012 Spanish Masala Rahul's mother Perinoru Makan Bhanumathi2014 Om Shanti Oshana Rachel Ulsaha Committee Jhansi Bangalore Days Mrs Francis Avatharam Karimban John's wife Villali Veeran Geetha CousinsTheresa2015 Two Countries Revathy2016 Shajahanum Pareekuttiyum Nancy Welcome to Central Jail Janaki2017 Sunday Holiday Narayanankutty's wifeCameo2018 AamiSulochana NalappatChanakya ThanthramArundhathi Mottita Mullakal Badhravathi 2019Madhura RajaLillykutty teacher2022KaypakkaParvathiHeavenMariyam2024Extra DecentLakshmi2025ThugRebecca 2026Maduramee JeevithamMadhavikutty
Telugu films + List of Vinaya Prasad Telugu film credits Year Title Roles Notes1996 Nayudu Gari Kutumbam 2000 Kalisundam Raa Anasooya 2002 Indra 2004 Donga Dongadi 2005 Andhrudu Munna's mother Subash Chandra Bose 2006 Chinnodu 2007 Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule Janaki 2008 Ready Pooja's aunt SouryamCommissioner Sarath's wife2009 Anjaneyulu Lekshmi Bangaru Babu 2010 Adhurs Varudu Deepti's mother Namo VenkatesaPooja's aunt Bava 2011 Oh My Friend DookuduTulasi2012 Lovely Lavanya's mother Shirdi Sai Baajiya Bai2013 Sketch for Love DoosukelthaAlekhya's mother Bhai Shadow Lakshmi's sister-in-law2014 Power Baldev's mother Jaihind 2 Nandhini's mother2016 SarrainoduGana's mother
Tamil films + List of Vinaya Prasad Tamil film credits Year Title Roles Notes 1995 Thaikulame Thaikulame Monisha2000 Independence Day 2005 Chandramukhi Lakshmi Kandaswamy Ambuttu Imbuttu Embuttu Vijaya 2008 Vaitheeswaran Saravanan's mother2014 Jaihind 2 Nandhini's mother2015 Anegan Madhumitha's mother2019 Igloo Jaya
Tulu films + List of Vinaya Prasad Tulu film credits Year Title Roles Notes2007 Koti Chennaya 2016 Panoda Bodcha
Television Serials + List of Vinaya Prasad television serials credits Year Series Role Language Channel1987Bisilu Kudure Kannada1990Badukkinalli Ondu TiruvuSavithri1991Kavalu Dari 1998Shakthi 1998–2000SthreeInduMalayalamAsianet2000–2001Sthree (Part 2) 2002SaradaSarada2003SthreeInduKannadaAsianet Kaveri 2004Nanda Gokula 2005–2007Sthree (Sequel to Part 1)InduMalayalamAsianet2007–2008PriyamanasiManasiSurya TV2009SreemahabhagavathamKuntiAsianet2010DevimahatymamDevammaAnupamaAnupamaKannadaZee Kannada2010–2013BangaaraKanchanaUdaya TV2011DevimahatymamShivaniMalayalamAsianet2013Nithyothsava Pratibha GunturKannadaZee Kannada2014–2015BalamaniSumangala a.k.a. AzhakathammaMalayalamMazhavil Manorama2016PonnambiliAppu mash's wife (Photo Presence)SundariNandhiniKannadaUdaya TV2017–2018Ammuvinte AmmaPadmajaMalayalamMazhavil Manorama2018–2024PaaruAkhilandeshwariKannadaZee Kannada2020RojaRenuka Devi (cameo)TamilSun TVThinkalkalamaanKalamandalam UmadeviMalayalamSurya TV2020–2021Anbe VaaAnnalakshmiTamilSun TV2024Snehapoorvam ShyamaMalayalamZee Keralam
Shows + List of Vinaya Prasad television show credits Year Title Role Language Channel2007, 2008, 2009 Star SingerCelebrity judgeMalayalamAsianet2010Nanna Haadu Nannadu HostKannadaZee Kannada2011Hairomax Mrs.KeralaJudge MalayalamUT TV2012Sakhiyare Sakath MaathuHostKannadaUdaya TV2013Amma2015Kitchen GalattaContestantTamilSun TV2018Comedy Stars Season 2 JudgeMalayalamAsianetComedy Super NightHerselfFlowers TV2019Weekend with Ramesh Season 4GuestKannada Zee Kannada2020Thutta MuttaParticipantUdaya TV2021Red CarpetMentorMalayalamAmrita TV2022Panam Tharum PadamParticipantMalayalamMazhavil ManoramaJodi No 1 AkhilandeshwariKannadaZee Kannada2022Flowers Oru KodiParticipantMalayalamFlowers TV2023Enteamma SuperaaJudgeMalayalamMazhavil Manorama
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