Harshika Poonacha is an Indian actress born on 1 May 1993 who mainly works in Kannada films. She rose to fame with the 2008 Kannada film PUC.
Harshika Poonacha | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 May 1993 (1993-05) (age 29) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Website | actressharshika |
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.
She was born in Ammathi, Kodagu district of Karnataka[3] and she is the only daughter to her parents.[6] She is a Bachelor of Engineering Graduate. Harshika's cousin Bhuvan Ponnanna is a model, actor and Bigg Boss Kannada 4 contestant.
| 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 | Murali Meets Meera | Shwetha | |
| 2011 | 5 Idiots | Sheetal | |
| 2012 | Ko Ko | Ganga | |
| 2012 | Pari | Sumedha | |
| 2012 | Crazy Loka | Chandini | |
| 2013 | Cycle | ||
| 2013 | Ale | Geetha | |
| 2013 | Mangana Kaili Maanikya | ||
| 2013 | Case No. 18/9 | Special appearance | |
| 2013 | Advaitha | Ambika | |
| 2013 | B3 | Anu | |
| 2014 | Maryade | [23] | |
| 2016 | Bhale Jodi | ||
| 2016 | ...Re | ||
| 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 | [24] |
| 2018 | Chitte | ||
| 2019 | Udgharsha | ||
| 2021 | Hum Hai Raahi Pyar Ke | Bhojpuri film | |
| TBA | Un Kadhal Irundhal | Tamil film | |