Ritu Varma Biography: Age, Family, Movies, Pelli Choopulu & Latest News
Ritu Varma (born 10 March 1990) is an Indian actress who works mainly in Telugu and Tamil films. Born and raised in Hyderabad, she is an engineering graduate and former Miss Hyderabad runner-up who started with the award-winning short film Anukokunda. She won the Nandi Award and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress for Pelli Choopulu (2016), and is known for Yevade Subramanyam, Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal, Varudu Kaavalenu, Oke Oka Jeevitham and Mark Antony. In 2025 she made her web series debut with Devika & Danny, and her long-awaited Tamil film Dhruva Natchathiram with Vikram is listed for release in December 2026.
Ritu Varma Latest News (October 2026)
- Dhruva Natchathiram: Gautham Vasudev Menon’s spy thriller with Vikram, which has been delayed for years, is listed for release on 15 December 2026. The makers have not yet confirmed the date, so it could still change.
- BharataVarsha: Sankalp Reddy’s Telugu film, in which Ritu is part of the cast, is listed for release on 24 December 2026. This date is also unconfirmed.
- Gopichand 33: She is in the cast of Gopichand’s 33rd film, which is in production.
- 2025 releases: The comedy Mazaka and the JioHotstar series Devika & Danny, her first web series.
Ritu Varma Profile, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ritu Varma |
| Profession | Actress |
| Known for | Pelli Choopulu, Yevade Subramanyam, Varudu Kaavalenu, Mark Antony |
| Career | |
| Short film | Anukokunda (2012) |
| Film debut | Baadshah (2013, supporting role) |
| First lead | Prema Ishq Kaadhal (2013) |
| Breakthrough | Pelli Choopulu (2016) |
| Tamil debut | Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (2020) |
| Web series | Devika & Danny (2025) |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of birth | 10 March 1990 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 36 years |
| Birthplace | Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Nationality | Indian |
| College | Villa Marie College for Women (Intermediate); Malla Reddy Engineering College (B.Tech) |
| Pageant | First runner-up, Miss Hyderabad |
| Relationships and Family | |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Family | Father’s family is from Madhya Pradesh; she grew up in Hyderabad |
Ritu Varma Early Life, Family and Education
Ritu was born in Hyderabad. Her father’s family is from Madhya Pradesh, but she grew up in Hyderabad. She completed her intermediate education at Villa Marie College for Women and then earned an engineering degree from Malla Reddy Engineering College.
After graduation she took part in the Miss Hyderabad pageant and finished first runner-up. Around the same time, she acted in the Telugu short film Anukokunda, directed by Tharun Bhascker. The film won Best Film at the 48HR Film Project in 2012, and Ritu won the Best Actor (Female) award, which opened the door to films.
Ritu Varma Career
Early Films (2013–2015)
Ritu made her film debut in a supporting role as Pinky in Srinu Vaitla’s Baadshah (2013), starring Jr NTR. Her first lead role was in Prema Ishq Kaadhal (2013). She then played Riya in Nag Ashwin’s Yevade Subramanyam (2015), alongside Nani and Vijay Deverakonda, which earned her an IIFA Utsavam nomination.
Pelli Choopulu Breakthrough (2016)
Her big breakthrough came when Tharun Bhascker, who had directed her short film, cast her as Chitra in his debut feature Pelli Choopulu (2016), opposite Vijay Deverakonda. Ritu played an ambitious young woman who wants to run a food truck business. The small-budget romantic comedy became a sleeper hit and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. Ritu won the Nandi Award for Best Actress and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu.
Tamil Films and Telugu Leads (2020–2023)
Ritu made her mark in Tamil cinema with Desingh Periyasamy’s heist romance Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (2020), opposite Dulquer Salmaan, winning the SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut – Tamil. In 2021 she starred in Tuck Jagadish with Nani and in Varudu Kaavalenu with Naga Shaurya, where she played Bhoomi, an independent woman who is not in a hurry to marry. She played Vaishnavi in the time-travel drama Oke Oka Jeevitham (2022), opposite Sharwanand and Amala, and Ramya in Adhik Ravichandran’s Tamil hit Mark Antony (2023), with Vishal and S. J. Suryah.
Swag, Mazaka and Web Debut (2024–2026)
In Swag (2024), opposite Sree Vishnu, Ritu played a double role as Queen Rukmini Devi and Anubhuti. In 2025 she starred in the comedy Mazaka with Sundeep Kishan and made her streaming debut with the Telugu series Devika & Danny on JioHotstar. Her next films are Dhruva Natchathiram, BharataVarsha and Gopichand’s 33rd film.
Ritu Varma Movies List
| Year | Film / Series | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Anukokunda | Short film; Best Actor (Female) |
| 2013 | Baadshah | Pinky; debut |
| 2013 | Prema Ishq Kaadhal | First lead |
| 2015 | Yevade Subramanyam | Riya |
| 2016 | Pelli Choopulu | Chitra; Nandi Award |
| 2020 | Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal | Meera (Tamil) |
| 2021 | Tuck Jagadish | With Nani |
| 2021 | Varudu Kaavalenu | Bhoomi |
| 2022 | Oke Oka Jeevitham | Vaishnavi |
| 2023 | Mark Antony | Ramya (Tamil) |
| 2024 | Swag | Rukmini Devi / Anubhuti |
| 2025 | Mazaka | Meera |
| 2025 | Devika & Danny | Web series, JioHotstar |
| 2026 | Dhruva Natchathiram | Tamil; listed for 15 December |
| 2026 | BharataVarsha | Telugu; listed for 24 December |
Awards and Honours
- Nandi Award for Best Actress for Pelli Choopulu.
- Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu for Pelli Choopulu.
- SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut – Tamil for Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal.
- Best Actor (Female), 48HR Film Project, for Anukokunda (2012).
- Nominations at Filmfare, SIIMA and IIFA Utsavam.
Ritu Varma Personal Life
Ritu is unmarried and keeps her personal life away from the media. She is known for her simple, natural style both on screen and off it. She is active on Instagram, where she shares fashion shoots, travel and behind-the-scenes moments from her films.
Ritu often chooses roles of independent, career-focused women, from the food-truck entrepreneur in Pelli Choopulu to the self-assured Bhoomi in Varudu Kaavalenu. These roles have shaped her image as an actress who prefers realistic characters.
Ritu Varma and Vijay Deverakonda
Ritu and Vijay Deverakonda first worked together in Yevade Subramanyam (2015), where both had supporting roles. A year later they played the leads in Pelli Choopulu, which launched Vijay as a hero and made Ritu an award-winning actress. The film is still remembered as one of the best Telugu romantic comedies of its decade.
Ritu Varma in Dhruva Natchathiram
Dhruva Natchathiram is a stylish spy thriller directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, starring Vikram as a secret agent. The film began shooting several years ago but has been delayed many times because of financial problems, which has made it one of the most-awaited Tamil releases. Ritu is part of the cast, and the film is now listed for release on 15 December 2026. If it releases on that date, it will be her first Tamil film since Mark Antony (2023) and her first with Vikram.
Why Ritu Varma Stands Out
Ritu came into films without any industry background, through a short film and a pageant. She has built a career on strong, realistic characters rather than glamour roles, and she has worked across Telugu and Tamil cinema with directors such as Nag Ashwin, Tharun Bhascker, Gautham Vasudev Menon and Adhik Ravichandran.
Lesser-Known Facts About Ritu Varma
- She has an engineering degree.
- She was first runner-up at Miss Hyderabad.
- Her short film Anukokunda and her breakthrough Pelli Choopulu were both directed by Tharun Bhascker.
- She played a double role for the first time in Swag (2024).
- Devika & Danny (2025) was her first web series.
Related Biographies
- Vijay Deverakonda Biography – co-star in Pelli Choopulu
- Nani Biography – co-star in Yevade Subramanyam and Tuck Jagadish
- Jr NTR Biography – star of her debut film Baadshah
- Raashii Khanna Biography
- Krithi Shetty Biography
- More stars: Tollywood biographies
Ritu Varma FAQs
How old is Ritu Varma?
Ritu Varma was born on 10 March 1990, so she is 36 years old as of 2026.
Is Ritu Varma married?
No. Ritu Varma is not married.
What was Ritu Varma’s first movie?
Her first film was Baadshah (2013), in a supporting role. Her first lead role was in Prema Ishq Kaadhal (2013).
Which award did Ritu Varma win for Pelli Choopulu?
She won the Nandi Award for Best Actress and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu for Pelli Choopulu (2016).
What is Ritu Varma’s latest movie?
Her latest film is Mazaka (2025). Her web series Devika & Danny also released in 2025, and Dhruva Natchathiram is listed for release in December 2026.
Where is Ritu Varma from?
Ritu Varma was born and raised in Hyderabad. Her father’s family is from Madhya Pradesh.
What did Ritu Varma study?
She has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Malla Reddy Engineering College, Hyderabad.
Which Tamil movies has Ritu Varma acted in?
Her Tamil films include Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (2020) and Mark Antony (2023). Dhruva Natchathiram is upcoming.
Who directed Pelli Choopulu?
Pelli Choopulu was directed by Tharun Bhascker, who had earlier directed Ritu in the short film Anukokunda.
Who is Ritu Varma’s co-star in Pelli Choopulu?
Her co-star in Pelli Choopulu (2016) was Vijay Deverakonda.
What is Devika & Danny?
Devika & Danny is a 2025 Telugu web series on JioHotstar. It was Ritu Varma’s first web series.