By News Desk 
Priyamani began her acting journey at the age of 18 with the 2003 Telugu film Evare Atagaadu. However, it was in 2007 that her career took a dramatic leap with the Tamil film Paruthiveeran, where her performance as ‘Muththazhagu’ earned her the National Award for Best Actress. This role firmly established her as a powerhouse performer in Indian cinema. Since then, Priyamani has gone on to star in numerous South Indian hits, becoming one of the most respected and talented actresses in the industry.
Stepping into Bollywood
Priyamani entered Bollywood in 2010 with Mani Ratnam’s Raavan, starring alongside Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan in a supporting role. While the film didn’t perform well at the box office and her role received a lukewarm response, she bounced back with a bang in 2013. Her high-energy dance number “1 2 3 4 Get on the Dance Floor” in Chennai Express with Shah Rukh Khan became an instant chartbuster. The song’s popularity revived her presence in the Hindi entertainment scene.
She later appeared in the film Atithi and gained a fresh wave of fans through her role as ‘Suchi’ in Amazon Prime Video’s hit web series The Family Man.
Marriage and Controversy
In 2017, Priyamani married Mustafa Raj, an event manager-turned-producer. Coming from a Tamil Brahmin Hindu background and marrying a Muslim man brought her into the spotlight for reasons beyond her career. The interfaith nature of their wedding stirred online backlash. Speaking to Filmfare, Priyamani revealed that after announcing her engagement, she faced a wave of online trolling — with some accusing her of “love jihad.” She even recalled receiving disturbing comments, including hateful suggestions that her future children would join terrorist groups.
The actress said these personal attacks were painful, particularly because her husband is not a public figure. Even now, she admits that social media posts featuring her husband often attract hateful remarks centered around religion and caste.
Still Going Strong on Screen
Despite the negativity, Priyamani continues to shine as an actor. In her recent release Official on Duty (2025), she played the role of a college professor alongside Kunchacko Boban. Her performance was once again praised, showcasing her strength in portraying powerful female characters.
Apart from acting, Priyamani has also served as a judge on several dance reality shows. She hails from a culturally rich background — her grandmother, Kamala Kailas, was a noted Carnatic vocalist, and she is also the cousin of Bollywood actress Vidya Balan.
At 41, Priyamani remains active in both her personal and professional life. She continues to live with her husband Mustafa, but the couple has not made any public announcements regarding family planning.