Chandini Chowdary Biography: Age, Short Films, Colour Photo, Gaami, Santhana Prapthirasthu & Latest News
Chandini Chowdary is an Indian actress who works in Telugu films and web series. Born on 23 October 1993 in Visakhapatnam, she studied mechanical engineering in Bengaluru and became popular through Telugu short films such as The Blind Date and Madhuram before moving to feature films. She won praise for Manu (2018) and Colour Photo (2020), which earned her a Filmfare nomination, and has since led the web series Jhansi and films like Gaami and Yevam. Her most recent film is the family comedy Santhana Prapthirasthu (2025), and in 2026 she appeared in ETV Win’s anthology Katha Sudha.
Chandini Chowdary Latest News
- Katha Sudha (2026): Chandini starred in the “Digital Death” segment of Katha Sudha, an anthology series on ETV Win.
- Santhana Prapthirasthu on OTT: Her comedy Santhana Prapthirasthu, which released in theatres on 14 November 2025, began streaming on Amazon Prime Video and JioHotstar on 19 December 2025. She plays Kalyani, opposite Vikranth Reddy, in the film about a young couple facing male infertility.
- Turned 33: Chandini celebrated her 33rd birthday on 23 October 2026.
Chandini Chowdary Profile, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Chandini Chowdary |
| Profession | Actress |
| Date of Birth | 23 October 1993 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 33 years |
| Birthplace | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Mother Tongue | Telugu |
| Education | |
| College | Global Academy of Technology, Bengaluru |
| Degree | Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) |
| Career | |
| Active Since | 2012 |
| Known Short Films | The Blind Date, Madhuram (2013) |
| Lead Debut | Ketugadu (2015) |
| Known For | Manu, Colour Photo, Jhansi, Gaami |
| Tamil Debut | Saba Nayagan (2023) |
| Nominations | Filmfare Award South – Best Actress, Telugu (Colour Photo) |
| Personal | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
Early Life and Education
Chandini Chowdary was born on 23 October 1993 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, into a Telugu family. She moved to Bengaluru for higher studies and earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Global Academy of Technology.
While she was still an engineering student in Bengaluru, she began acting in Telugu short films made for YouTube, which were hugely popular with young audiences in the early 2010s.
Chandini Chowdary Career
Short Films (2012–2014)
Chandini first gained attention in the Telugu short film scene. The Blind Date, in which she co-starred with Raj Tarun, who later became a film hero, made her a recognisable face online. Her 2013 short film Madhuram was another success and caught the attention of filmmakers Mullapudi Vara and K. Raghavendra Rao, leading to her casting in Kundanapu Bomma.
Around the same time, she made brief uncredited appearances in the feature films Life Is Beautiful (2012) and Prema Ishq Kaadhal (2013).
First Lead Roles (2015–2018)
Chandini played her first lead role in Ketugadu (2015). She followed it with Kundanapu Bomma (2016), the ensemble crime drama Shamanthakamani (2017) and Howrah Bridge (2018).
In 2018 she starred in Manu, a crowdfunded mystery drama directed by Phanindra Narsetti. Its unusual, slow-burning style drew a strong cult following, and critics praised her performance.
Web Series (2019–2021)
Chandini was one of the early Telugu actresses to embrace streaming. She appeared in ZEE5’s Gods of Dharmapuri (2019) and won praise for Aha’s Masti’s (2020), an anthology-style drama set around a bar. She also made a guest appearance in Shit Happens (2020) and starred in Disney+ Hotstar’s Unheard (2021).
Colour Photo (2020)
Chandini’s breakthrough film was Colour Photo (2020), directed by Sandeep Raj and released directly on Aha during the pandemic. Set in the 1990s, the romantic drama follows a dark-skinned engineering student, played by Suhas, and the girl he falls in love with, played by Chandini, and deals with colour prejudice. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and Chandini’s performance earned her nominations for Best Actress (Telugu) at the Filmfare Awards South and SIIMA.
Sammathame, Gaalivaana and Jhansi (2022–2023)
In 2022 she starred opposite Kiran Abbavaram in the romantic drama Sammathame. On streaming, she appeared in ZEE5’s thriller series Gaalivaana (2022) and in both seasons of Disney+ Hotstar’s action series Jhansi (2022–2023), led by Anjali. In 2023 she made her Tamil debut with Saba Nayagan.
Gaami, Music Shop Murthy and Yevam (2024)
2024 brought Chandini her most ambitious project yet: Gaami, directed by Vidyadhar Kagita, an adventure drama about an Aghori, played by Vishwak Sen, on a journey to the Himalayas. Partly crowdfunded and made over several years, the film was praised for its visuals. She also starred in Music Shop Murthy, with Ajay Ghosh, and played a police officer in the crime thriller Yevam.
Daaku Maharaaj and Santhana Prapthirasthu (2025)
In January 2025 Chandini appeared in Bobby Kolli’s action film Daaku Maharaaj, starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, with Pragya Jaiswal among the cast. Later that year she played the lead in Santhana Prapthirasthu (14 November 2025), directed by Sanjeev Reddy. She plays Kalyani, who secretly marries a shy software engineer, Chaitanya, against her father’s wishes; when the couple try to start a family, they discover he has a low sperm count. Critics welcomed the film’s light-hearted handling of male infertility.
About Colour Photo
Colour Photo was produced on a modest budget and released directly on the Telugu streaming platform Aha in 2020, when cinemas were shut because of the pandemic. Directed by debutant Sandeep Raj, it tells the story of an engineering student from a poor family who falls in love with a classmate, and of the prejudice he faces because of his dark skin. Suhas, until then known for comic supporting parts, played the lead, with Chandini as the woman he loves and Sunil as a menacing villain.
The film’s honest look at colourism struck a chord with audiences and critics, and it went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. For Chandini, it was the film that turned her from a familiar web and short-film face into a recognised leading actress.
About Santhana Prapthirasthu
Directed by Sanjeev Reddy, who co-wrote it with Sheik Dawood G, Santhana Prapthirasthu is a family comedy about a newly married couple trying to have a baby. Chandini plays Kalyani and Vikranth Reddy plays her husband, Chaitanya, with Vennela Kishore, Tharun Bhascker, Abhinav Gomatam and Aamani in supporting roles. Reviewers praised the film for discussing male infertility openly and with humour.
Chandini Chowdary Movies and Web Series List
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Ketugadu | Film |
| 2016 | Kundanapu Bomma | Film |
| 2017 | Shamanthakamani | Film |
| 2018 | Howrah Bridge | Film |
| 2018 | Manu | Film |
| 2019 | Gods of Dharmapuri | Web series (ZEE5) |
| 2020 | Masti’s | Web series (Aha) |
| 2020 | Colour Photo | Film |
| 2021 | Unheard | Web series |
| 2022 | Sammathame | Film |
| 2022 | Gaalivaana | Web series (ZEE5) |
| 2022–2023 | Jhansi | Web series |
| 2023 | Saba Nayagan | Film (Tamil) |
| 2024 | Gaami | Film |
| 2024 | Music Shop Murthy | Film |
| 2024 | Yevam | Film |
| 2025 | Daaku Maharaaj | Film |
| 2025 | Santhana Prapthirasthu | Film |
| 2026 | Katha Sudha (“Digital Death”) | Anthology series (ETV Win) |
Awards and Nominations
- Filmfare Awards South 2022 – Best Actress, Telugu nomination (Colour Photo)
- SIIMA 2021 – Best Actress, Telugu nomination (Colour Photo)
Personal Life
Chandini is unmarried and keeps her personal life private. She is active on Instagram, where she shares photos from her shoots.
Why Chandini Chowdary Stands Out
Chandini is one of the best examples of a Telugu actress who rose from YouTube short films to feature films and streaming lead roles. Rather than chasing only big commercial films, she has picked content-driven projects such as Manu, Colour Photo, Gaami and Santhana Prapthirasthu, and she was among the first Telugu actresses to take web series seriously.
Lesser-Known Facts About Chandini Chowdary
- She is a mechanical engineer by qualification.
- She acted in short films with Raj Tarun before either of them became film stars.
- She had uncredited roles in two films before her first lead role.
- Colour Photo won the National Film Award for Best Telugu Feature Film.
- Manu and Gaami, two of her best-known films, were both partly crowdfunded.
Related Biographies
FAQs About Chandini Chowdary
How old is Chandini Chowdary?
Chandini Chowdary was born on 23 October 1993, so she is 33 years old in 2026.
Where is Chandini Chowdary from?
She is from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and studied engineering in Bengaluru.
How did Chandini Chowdary start her career?
She started in Telugu short films such as The Blind Date and Madhuram while studying engineering, before moving to feature films.
Which film made Chandini Chowdary famous?
Colour Photo (2020), opposite Suhas, made her widely known and earned her a Filmfare Best Actress (Telugu) nomination.
What is Chandini Chowdary’s latest movie?
Her latest film is Santhana Prapthirasthu (November 2025), opposite Vikranth Reddy, now streaming on Prime Video and JioHotstar.
Which web series has Chandini Chowdary acted in?
Her web series include Masti’s, Gaalivaana, Jhansi and the 2026 anthology Katha Sudha.
Is Chandini Chowdary married?
No, Chandini Chowdary is not married.
What did Chandini Chowdary study?
She has a degree in mechanical engineering from Global Academy of Technology in Bengaluru.
Did Chandini Chowdary act in Gaami?
Yes. She starred alongside Vishwak Sen in Vidyadhar Kagita’s adventure drama Gaami (2024).