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Vyjayanthimala Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth13 August 1936

Age88 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceTriplicane, Madras Presidency, British India (now Tamil Nadu, India)

ProfessionIndian Actress, Dance Choreographer and Parliamentarian

NationalityIndian

Marital statusWidow

SpouseChamanlal Bali (m. 1968–1986)

FamilyMother: Vasundhara Devi; Father: M. D. Raman; Son: Suchindra Bali; Raised by maternal grandmother Yadugiri Devi; Maternal uncle: Y. G. Parthasarathy

Net worth$5 Million

Vyjayanthimala Biography

Vyjayanthimala is an Indian actress, classical dancer and former parliamentarian whose film career began in the late 1940s. Trained in Bharata Natyam and a

Early life and background
Vyjayanthimala Bali was born on 13 August 1936 in Triplicane in the Madras Presidency of British India (now in Tamil Nadu). She grew up in Chennai and received her early schooling at Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School. Her mother, Vasundhara Devi, was an actress, and Vyjayanthimala was raised in a family with deep ties to the performing arts; she was also primarily raised by her maternal grandmother, Yadugiri Devi.

From childhood she trained in classical performing arts. She studied Bharata Natyam under Guru Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai and learned Carnatic music from Manakkal Sivaraja Iyer. At seven years old she performed a classical dance before Pope Pius XII at the Vatican in 1940, an early public appearance that reflected her training and stage presence.

Career
Vyjayanthimala made her film debut in Tamil cinema with Vazhkai (1949). She moved into Telugu films the following year with Jeevitham (1950) and entered Hindi cinema with Bahar (1951). Over the next decade she became a leading actress in Indian films, noted for her dance skills as well as acting.

Her 1954 film Nagin, in which she co-starred with Pradeep Kumar, was a major commercial success and was the highest-grossing Indian film of that year. In 1960 she worked on the film Sangam, a high-profile project that drew significant attention during production.

Beyond her work in front of the camera, Vyjayanthimala is credited as a dance choreographer, bringing her classical technique into film choreography and stage work. Her showmanship and classical background established her reputation as one of the era’s accomplished performers.

Public profile
Vyjayanthimala earned recognition across multiple fields. She received numerous awards and nominations over the course of her life; the available record notes she received 18 awards and 19 nominations. In 2024 she was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.

Her personal life and public image have often been subjects of curiosity. She married Chamanlal Bali, a physician, in 1968; he died in 1986. They had a son, Suchindra Bali. Public accounts and contemporary press reports linked her professionally and personally with prominent co-stars during her career, though she later addressed those reports in her writing.

Vyjayanthimala follows a Vaishnavite devotional practice and is a strict vegetarian. She has spoken about invoking the blessings of the Tamil saint Aandaal before performances. Outside of performing she has enjoyed hobbies such as playing golf and listening to devotional songs.

Politics and later activities
In 1984 Vyjayanthimala entered electoral politics. She contested the South Chennai seat in Tamil Nadu as a candidate of the Indian National Congress during that year’s general elections. Before and after her political involvement she continued to be recognized for her contributions to dance and cinema.

Latest updates
In 2024 Vyjayanthimala was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, a high civilian honour that acknowledged her lifetime contributions to the arts and public life.
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Recent Work

Sangam

High-profile Hindi film production in which she worked during 1960.

1964
Nagin

1954 film that became the highest-grossing Indian movie of that year.

1954
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted in Tamil cinema with Vazhkai (1949) and in Hindi with Bahar (1951)
  2. Trained Bharata Natyam dancer and Carnatic singer who brought classical technique to film choreography
  3. Starred in Nagin (1954), the top-grossing Indian film of that year
  4. Contested the South Chennai parliamentary seat in 1984 as an Indian National Congress candidate
  5. Awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2024
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Net Worth

$5 Million

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Vyjayanthimala born?

13 August 1936

What is Vyjayanthimala known for?

Indian Actress, Dance Choreographer and Parliamentarian

What is Vyjayanthimala’s marital status?

Widow

Who is Vyjayanthimala married to?

Chamanlal Bali (m. 1968–1986)

What is Vyjayanthimala’s net worth?

$5 Million