Harshika Poonacha
Born
Ammathi, Kodagu, Karnataka, India
NationalityIndian
EducationBachelors in Engineering
Alma materCambridge Institute of Technology, Bangalore
OccupationActress
Years active2008–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2023)​

Harshika Poonacha is an Indian actress who mainly works in Kannada films. She rose to fame with the 2008 Kannada film PUC.

Career

Harshika Poonacha started her career at the age of 15 by acting in PUC (2008 Kannada film) while she was doing her 12th Standard at Christ Junior College, Bangalore.[1] After completing 12th standard, Harshika spent the next two months working as a television anchor by hosting[2] shows like Nimmindha Nimagaagi, Hrudayadinda[3] and Sarigamapa before beginning a professional course.[4] Harshika then joined Cambridge Institute of Technology, Bangalore[5] and completed her Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical.[6][7] In 2012, she joined Maxpro Software Company and agreed to work for five days a month while working 21 days in films.[8] She said Getting into films was an accident. I never dreamt of becoming an actress.[9]

After PUC (2008 Kannada film), she acted in a Kodava language film Ponnamma,[10] a Konkani film Kazar[11] and a Telugu film Edukondalavada Venkataramana Andaru Bagundali.[12] In 2010, Harshika acted in an important role in Jackie with Puneeth Rajkumar, which catapulted her to an instant celebrity status. She later appeared in Thamassu with Shiva Rajkumar[13] for which she won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress,[14] and played Ramya in Nariya Seere Kadha,[15] in which Ravichandran played the lead role. She also acted in a film named Cycle opposite Shivarjun.[16] She played the daughter of a crorepati who gets kidnapped for ransom in the comedy film 5 Idiots.[2] In 2013, she first had two releases in a row, Cycle and Ale and her third release Managana Kaili Maanikya opposite Ramesh Aravind, which was her first comedy film,[17] in July.[18] Her two films, B3 a love story directed by Gana Shyam with Srikanth and Adwaitha an action-based film directed by MB Giriraj which has Ajay Rao in the lead, released both on 6 December.[19]

She has signed her first Tamil film Anandha Thollai.[20][21][5] She also has a Telugu film titled Panipuri coming up.[22]

She also appeared in a video album Hoo Manase.[4] She and her cousin Bhuvaan Ponannaa own a company called Glamgod Fashion and Events and conduct fashion shows and fashion weeks.[22] She made her Bhojpuri debut from the film Hum Hai Raahi Pyar Ke with Pawan Singh in 2021.

Personal life

Harshika was born in Ammathi, Kodagu district of Karnataka[3] and is the only daughter to Uddappanda Poonacha and Shambhavi.[6][23] She married actor Bhuvann Ponnannaa in 2023.[23]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2008 PUC Gowri
2009 Ponnamma Kodava film
2009 Kazar Konkani film
2009 Edukondalavada Venkataramana Andaru Bagundali Telugu film
2010 Sugreeva
2010 Thamassu Amreen Sabha Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
2010 Jackie Yashodha Suvarna Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada
2010 Jugaari
2010 Naariya Seere Kadda Ramya
2011 5 Idiots Sheetal
2011 Murali Meets Meera Shwetha
2011 Krishnan Marriage Story Prospective bride Cameo
2012 Ko Ko Ganga
2012 Parie Sumedha
2012 Crazy Loka Chandini
2013 Cycle
2013 Ale Geetha
2013 Mangana Kaiyalli Manikya Manohar's fiancé
2013 Case No. 18/9 Special appearance
2013 Advaitha Ambika
2013 B3 Anu
2014 Maryade [24]
2016 Bhale Jodi Ramya
2016 ...Re Parvathi
2016 Beat
2016 Appudala Ippudila Telugu film
2017 Upendra Matte Baa Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) – Kannada
2018 Charminar Nanda Malayalam film[25]
2018 Chitte
2019 Udgharsha
2021 Hum Hai Raahi Pyar Ke Bhojpuri film
2023 Kaasina Sara Sampige
2023 Sthabda Indu
2023 Bera
TBA Un Kadhal Irundhal Tamil film

References

  1. ^ Kavya Balaraman. 'I'm not a party girl' Archived 16 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Deccan Herald.
  2. ^ a b Y Maheswara Reddy (16 July 2010) 'I want to act with all actors' Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. newindianexpress.com
  3. ^ a b "Kodagu lass Harshika to debut in Kannada movie". kodagucommunity.com. 5 October 2008. Archived from the original on 23 September 2009.
  4. ^ a b Harshika in video album - Kannada Movie News Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Indiaglitz.com (20 February 2012). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  5. ^ a b Y Maheswara Reddy (20 June 2011). "Actor's juniors did her homework". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Harshika Poonacha of Thamassu and Jugari fame is an engineer now". Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  7. ^ 'I want the groom to be from Coorg' Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. The New Indian Express. 30 June 2010.
  8. ^ Harshika happy! - Kannada Movie News Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Indiaglitz.com (18 April 2012). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  9. ^ Y Maheswara Reddy (20 May 2010) The rich girls of Sandalwood Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. newindianexpress.com
  10. ^ 'Ponnamma' to be shot in 25 days Archived 11 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu (23 November 2008). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Mangalore Konkani Movie Kazar to Hit Screens on Sep 9" Archived 6 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Daijiworld.com. 22 May 2009.
  12. ^ Film on problems of farmers Archived 11 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  13. ^ Y Maheswara Reddy (26 June 2011) Harshika strikes a fine balance. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  14. ^ I am comfortable doing Lovemaking scenes: Harshika Poonacha – The Times of India Archived 11 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of India. (2 November 2013). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  15. ^ Y Maheswara Reddy (27 November 2010). "A shoddy screenplay". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  16. ^ Y Maheswara Reddy (2 March 2011). "Love is in the air". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  17. ^ Ayswarya Murthy (23 January 2013) Ale & hearty start for the star. Deccan Chronicle.
  18. ^ Only work matters: Harshika Poonacha Archived 11 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine. The New Indian Express (23 July 2013). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  19. ^ Double dhamaka for Harshika Poonacha – The Times of India Archived 14 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of India. (27 November 2013). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  20. ^ Rajani Hegde (18 May 2010). "I want to portray difficult roles". Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  21. ^ "Harshika signs another Tamil film". indiaglitz.com. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  22. ^ a b Harshika Poonacha's Panipuri moment – The Times of India Archived 14 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of India. (5 December 2013). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  23. ^ a b "Pics: Harshika Poonacha ties a knot with sandalwood actor Ulliyada Bhuvan Ponnanna". The Times of India. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  24. ^ Marayade shoot in final stages – The Times of India Archived 25 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of India. (19 August 2013). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  25. ^ The New Indian Express (9 March 2018). "Harshika Poonacha: Playing a supermodel". Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.

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