Riythvika Panneerselvam, known simply as Riythvika, is an Indian actress who appears mainly in supporting roles in Tamil films. She was introduced by director Bala in Paradesi (2013) and won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress (Tamil) for her second year in films, as Mary in Pa. Ranjith's Madras (2014).
She reached a far wider audience in 2018 when she won the second season of Bigg Boss Tamil, hosted by Kamal Haasan on Star Vijay. Her films since then include Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu (2019), Walter (2020), Cadaver (2022) and the Netflix anthology Navarasa (2021).
As of November 2026, her most recent release is Thandakaaranyam (September 2025), produced by Pa. Ranjith's Neelam Productions, following the bilingual thriller Eleven and DNA earlier in 2025.
Quick facts
Full name | Riythvika Panneerselvam |
Born | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
Education | Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women, Chennai |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2013 to present |
First film | Paradesi (2013) |
Known for | Madras, Kabali, Bigg Boss Tamil 2, Walter |
Latest release | Thandakaaranyam (19 September 2025) |
Awards | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress (Tamil), 2015, for Madras; Bigg Boss Tamil 2 winner, 2018 |
Early life and education
Riythvika was born in Chennai and studied at Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women in Teynampet, Chennai. She has said she wanted to act from childhood, when she would re-enact film scenes and dialogue at home. While in college she acted in several short films and sent her photographs to film publicists in the hope of getting a break.
Career
Paradesi and Madras (2013 to 2014)
After a few rounds of auditions, Bala cast her in Paradesi, released on 15 March 2013. Based on Paul Harris Daniel's novel Red Tea about bonded labourers on the tea estates of the Madras Presidency, the film starred Atharvaa, Vedhika and Dhansika, and Riythvika played Karuthakanni, one of the exploited plantation workers. It was her first feature film. The same year she appeared in Sandhithathum Sindhithathum, and in 2014 she played Thenmozhi in Vikraman's romance Ninaithathu Yaaro.
Her breakthrough was Madras, written and directed by Pa. Ranjith and released on 26 September 2014. Produced by Studio Green and set in north Chennai, it starred Karthi as Kaali and Kalaiyarasan as his friend Anbu, and Riythvika played Mary, Anbu's wife. The film was praised by critics and won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress (Tamil) at the 62nd Filmfare Awards South in 2015, along with nominations in the same category at the 9th Vijay Awards and the 4th South Indian International Movie Awards.
Kabali and a busy 2016
Riythvika had six releases in 2016. She played the title role in Anjala, Saravanan's wife in Azhagu Kutti Chellam, Susheela in Oru Naal Koothu and Dhivya in Enakku Veru Engum Kilaigal Kidayathu. In Pa. Ranjith's Kabali, released worldwide on 22 July 2016 with Rajinikanth in the lead, she played Meena, a young woman struggling with drug addiction who is taken in by Kabali's school and later becomes his adopted daughter. She also made a cameo appearance in Iru Mugan. She has said that after Madras she was frequently offered roles as women from poorer backgrounds.
Bigg Boss Tamil 2 (2018)
In 2018 Riythvika entered the second season of Bigg Boss Tamil on Star Vijay, hosted by Kamal Haasan, on its opening day, 17 June 2018. Over 105 days she was nominated several times, was granted immunity by the host at one stage for her frank assessment of her housemates, and was house captain in week 13. She won the season at the finale on 30 September 2018, with Aishwarya Dutta as runner-up, taking home the trophy and a prize of fifty lakh rupees. The same year she played a ghost in the horror comedy Onaaigal Jakkiradhai and Kavitha in Torchlight, alongside Sadha.
After Bigg Boss (2019 to 2024)
In 2019 she appeared as Bhuvana in Sigai, which was released directly on ZEE5, as Jessie in Nethra and as the journalist Tanya in Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu. In 2020 she played Padmavathi in Walter, a police drama starring Sibiraj. She appeared in 4 Sorry (2021) and as Anbu in the Netflix anthology series Navarasa (2021).
Her 2022 releases were Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal, in which she played Kayal, Cadaver, as Priya, and Aadhaar, as Thulasi. In 2023 she appeared in Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir, 800 and Odavum Mudiyadhu Oliyavum Mudiyadhu, and in 2024 in the dramas Yaavarum Vallavare and Deepavali Bonus. On television she made a guest appearance as the lawyer Eswari in Zee Tamil's Thavamai Thavamirundhu in 2022.
Eleven, DNA and Thandakaaranyam (2025)
2025 brought three releases. In Eleven, a Tamil-Telugu bilingual thriller directed by debutant Lokkesh Ajls and released on 16 May 2025, she played the twin sisters Meera and Tara opposite Naveen Chandra, with music by D. Imman. In DNA, directed by Nelson Venkatesan and released on 20 June 2025, she played Dr. Punithavathi Rajasekhar, an obstetrician questioned during the investigation led by Atharvaa's character; the film, which also starred Nimisha Sajayan, was well received and began streaming on JioHotstar on 19 July 2025.
Thandakaaranyam, released on 19 September 2025, reunited her with Kalaiyarasan and with producer Pa. Ranjith, whose Neelam Productions backed the film. Written and directed by Athiyan Athirai, the action drama starred V R Dinesh and Kalaiyarasan, with Riythvika as Devi. The Times of India rated it 3 out of 5 and Cinema Express 2.5 out of 5.
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
2013 | Paradesi | Karuthakanni | First film; directed by Bala |
2013 | Sandhithathum Sindhithathum | Kumaresan's sister | |
2014 | Ninaithathu Yaaro | Thenmozhi | Directed by Vikraman |
2014 | Madras | Mary | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress (Tamil) |
2016 | Azhagu Kutti Chellam | Saravanan's wife | |
2016 | Anjala | Anjala | Title role |
2016 | Oru Naal Koothu | Susheela | |
2016 | Kabali | Meena | Directed by Pa. Ranjith |
2016 | Enakku Veru Engum Kilaigal Kidayathu | Dhivya | |
2016 | Iru Mugan | Kidnapped girl | Cameo |
2018 | Onaaigal Jakkiradhai | Anjali | |
2018 | Torchlight | Kavitha | |
2019 | Sigai | Bhuvana | Released on ZEE5 |
2019 | Nethra | Jessie | |
2019 | Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu | Tanya | |
2020 | Walter | Padmavathi | |
2021 | 4 Sorry | Selvi | |
2022 | Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal | Kayal | |
2022 | Cadaver | Priya | |
2022 | Aadhaar | Thulasi | |
2023 | Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir | Kannigai | |
2023 | 800 | Angammal | |
2023 | Odavum Mudiyadhu Oliyavum Mudiyadhu | Geetha | |
2024 | Yaavarum Vallavare | Revathy | |
2024 | Deepavali Bonus | Geetha | |
2025 | Eleven | Meera and Tara | Dual role; Tamil-Telugu bilingual |
2025 | DNA | Dr. Punithavathi Rajasekhar | Directed by Nelson Venkatesan |
2025 | Thandakaaranyam | Devi | Directed by Athiyan Athirai |
Television
Year | Show | Role | Channel |
2018 | Bigg Boss Tamil 2 | Contestant (winner) | Star Vijay |
2019 | Bigg Boss Tamil 3 | Guest | Star Vijay |
2022 | Thavamai Thavamirundhu | Lawyer Eswari (guest appearance) | Zee Tamil |
Web series
Year | Series | Role | Platform |
2021 | Navarasa | Anbu | Netflix |
Awards
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
2015 | 62nd Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress (Tamil) | Madras | Won |
2015 | 9th Vijay Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Madras | Nominated |
2015 | 4th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Tamil) | Madras | Nominated |
FAQ
Who is Riythvika?
Riythvika Panneerselvam is a Tamil film actress from Chennai, known for supporting roles in Madras and Kabali and for winning Bigg Boss Tamil 2 in 2018.
Which film was Riythvika's debut?
Paradesi (2013), directed by Bala, in which she played the plantation worker Karuthakanni.
Did Riythvika win an award for Madras?
Yes. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress (Tamil) in 2015 for playing Mary, and was nominated at the Vijay Awards and SIIMA for the same role.
Did Riythvika win Bigg Boss Tamil?
Yes. She won the second season of Bigg Boss Tamil on Star Vijay on 30 September 2018, with Aishwarya Dutta as runner-up.
What role did Riythvika play in Kabali?
She played Meena, a young woman recovering from drug addiction who becomes the adopted daughter of Rajinikanth's character.
What is Riythvika's latest film?
Thandakaaranyam, released on 19 September 2025, in which she played Devi. Earlier in 2025 she appeared in Eleven and DNA.
