Pushpavalli

Pushpavalli Biography

Pushpavalli was a popular actress of south Indian film industry who worked in Telugu and Tamil movies. She regularly worked with Gemini Ganesan for many Tamil movies and later it paved way to their relationship. Gemini married four women in his life including Pushpavalli, though Alamelu is his only legal wife whom he married first. Pushpavalli and Gemini Ganesan had two daughters from their relationship. The elder daughter is Bollywood diva – Rekha who ruled millions of fans and their second daughter Radha too appeared in a few movies before she migrated to US after marriage. Pushpavalli’s brother Vedantam Raghavaiah was a famous producer, director and choreographer associated with Telugu cinema whose daughter Subha has been a popular south Indian actress in the 1980s.

She was born in Tadepalligudem, West Godavari District. She started her film journey during the silent era of 1930s and was associated with mythological movies most in the first phase of her career. She played the role of Mohini in Mohini Bhasmasura released in 1938. Satyanarayana Vratam (1938), Sampoorna Ramayanam (1936), Vishwamohini (1940), Malathi Madhavam (1940), Bala Nagamma (1942), Paduka Pattabhishekam (1945) and Choodamani (1941) are some of her earliest movies, where she played both lead roles as well as supporting roles. Satyabhama is one of her noted roles.

She played the female lead in Miss Malini (1947) which marked the acting debut of Gemini Ganesan. It started her long-term relationship with Gemini Ganesan, who was known for his intimate relations with multiple ladies. Later they starred in many successful movies together. Acknowledged as the second romantic interest of Gemini Ganesan, Pushpavalli gave birth to two daughters. Rekha was born out of wedlock and Gemini didn’t acknowledge her as his daughter. Later he wanted to reconcile with his daughter. But Rekha did not oblige. Pushpavalli passed away in 1991.

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Updated: December 30, 2015