Rachitha Mahalakshmi

Rachitha Mahalakshmi is an Indian television and film actress who works mainly in Tamil, with serials and films in Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam as well. Born in Bangalore, she began on Kannada television in 2007 and first drew Tamil audiences as Jyothi in the Star Vijay serial Pirivom Santhippom (2011 to 2012).

Her best-known role is Thanga Meenatchi in Saravanan Meenatchi, which she played across two seasons on Star Vijay from 2013 to 2018, winning the Vijay Television Award for Favourite Actor Female in 2015 and 2017. Later lead roles came in Nachiyarpuram, Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar and Idhu Solla Marandha Kadhai, and in 2022 she spent 91 days in the Bigg Boss Tamil 6 house.

As of November 2026, she plays the lead in the Telugu serial Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu on ETV, which began on 31 August 2026. Her most recent film is the Tamil release 99/66 (March 2026).

Quick facts

Early life

Rachitha was born in Bangalore. Her mother tongue is Kannada, and she is fluent in Tamil, Telugu and English, which has allowed her to work in serials across the southern languages.

Career

Kannada beginnings (2007 to 2010)

Rachitha made her television debut in 2007 in the Kannada serial Megha Mandala, which ran until 2009, and followed it with Suryakanthi on Zee Kannada in 2010. Her first film was the Kannada release Gani (2010), in which she played Shreya, and she appeared as Nandhini in Parijatha (2012).

Pirivom Santhippom (2011 to 2012)

Her Tamil debut, Pirivom Santhippom on Star Vijay, aired from 4 April 2011 to 4 May 2012 for 272 episodes under director Rasool. The serial followed two childhood friends, Revathy, played by Kalyani, and Jyothi, played by Rachitha, and looked at how prejudice about skin colour shapes their lives, with Jyothi's dark complexion delaying her marriage. Syed Anwar Ahmed and Dinesh Gopalsamy played the male leads. The role brought her first wide recognition among Tamil viewers.

Saravanan Meenatchi (2013 to 2018)

In 2013 she was cast in several serials at once: Maha Lakshmi, a police officer, in Sun TV's Ilavarasi (2013 to 2014); Anjali in Zee Tamil's Masala Kudumbam; Ganga in the Malayalam serial Avakashikal on Surya TV; and Neela in the Telugu serial Swathi Chinukulu on ETV (2013 to 2015). The role that defined her career came the same year, when she took over as the heroine of Saravanan Meenatchi for its second season.

Saravanan Meenatchi season 2 aired on Star Vijay from 21 October 2013 to 15 July 2016 for 710 episodes, directed by Praveen Bennett. Rachitha played Thanga Meenatchi opposite Kavin as Saravana Perumal, known as Vettaiyan. She won Favourite Actor Female at the 2nd Vijay Television Awards in 2015 for the role. She continued into season 3, which ran from 18 July 2016 to 17 August 2018 for 575 episodes with Rio Raj as the new Saravanan, playing Meenatchi and, in 2018, a second character, Vedhavalli. The third season brought her a second Favourite Actor Female award at the 3rd Vijay Television Awards in 2017.

During these years she also acted in the Tamil film Uppu Karuvadu (2015) as Uma, played Priya in the Kannada serial Geethanjali on Star Suvarna (2016 to 2017), appeared as a contestant on Zee Tamil's Mr & Mrs Khiladis (2016) and was a judge on the channel's Junior Senior (2017).

Nachiyarpuram and Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar (2019 to 2021)

Rachitha moved to Zee Tamil for Nachiyarpuram, which aired from 8 July 2019 to 14 August 2020 for 218 episodes and was created by Dinesh Gopalsamy, who also played the hero Karthi. She played Jyothi, a young woman whose romance with Karthi is complicated by an old rift between their families. The serial ended early because of the pandemic.

She then returned to Star Vijay as the female lead of the second season of Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar, playing the teacher Mahalakshmi, known as Maha, opposite Senthil Kumar in the dual role of the twins Mayan and Maran. She played the part from the season's start in 2020 until November 2021, when Monisha Arshak took over; the season ran until June 2022.

Idhu Solla Marandha Kadhai and Bigg Boss Tamil 6 (2022 to 2023)

In 2022 she headlined Idhu Solla Marandha Kadhai on Colors Tamil, a remake of the Hindi serial Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, which aired from 7 March to 23 September 2022 for 147 episodes. She played Sadhana, a widow bringing up two children, opposite Vishnu as the news reporter Arjun.

On 9 October 2022 she entered the sixth season of Bigg Boss Tamil, hosted by Kamal Haasan on Star Vijay, as one of the original housemates. She won the very first task of the season, was saved from nominations in week 6 after being named the best player of her team, and faced six nominations in all before being evicted by public vote on Day 91, finishing eighth. Mohamed Azeem won the season at the finale on 22 January 2023, and Rachitha returned for the finalists' reunion and the follow-up show Bigg Boss Kondattam.

Films and a Telugu serial (2024 to present)

Her recent work has leaned towards films. She played Varalakshmi in the Kannada film Ranganayaka (2024) and R. Shruthi in the Tamil film Xtreme (2025). In 99/66, released on 6 March 2026 and written, produced, directed and scored by M. S. Moorthy, she played Sangeetha. She also made a special appearance in the Kannada web series Love You Abhi on JioCinema (2023).

On 31 August 2026 she began a new Telugu serial as the lead of Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu on ETV, a family drama about a granddaughter who shields her grandfather and family from their troubles. Directed by R. K. Malineni and produced by Sridhar Gudur, it airs Monday to Saturday at 8.30 pm. As of November 2026 the serial is on air.

Television

Filmography

Web series

Awards

FAQ

Who is Rachitha Mahalakshmi?

She is a Bangalore-born actress who works mainly in Tamil television and is best known as Meenatchi in Star Vijay's Saravanan Meenatchi, which she played from 2013 to 2018.

Which serial is Rachitha Mahalakshmi acting in now?

As of November 2026 she plays the lead in the Telugu serial Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu on ETV, which began on 31 August 2026.

Did Rachitha win Bigg Boss Tamil 6?

No. She was evicted by public vote on Day 91 and finished eighth. Mohamed Azeem won the season.

Which awards has Rachitha Mahalakshmi won?

She won Favourite Actor Female at the Vijay Television Awards in 2015 and 2017, both for Saravanan Meenatchi.

What was Rachitha Mahalakshmi's first Tamil serial?

Pirivom Santhippom on Star Vijay (2011 to 2012), in which she played Jyothi opposite Kalyani's Revathy.

Which films has Rachitha Mahalakshmi acted in?

Her films include Gani (2010), Parijatha (2012), Uppu Karuvadu (2015), Ranganayaka (2024), Xtreme (2025) and 99/66 (2026).