​From Ramya Pandian to Sai Pallavi: Tamil actresses who moved away from TV and made it big in movies

No doubt that television serves as a gateway to stardom. There are many routes for an actor to make their dreams come true. Some actors step into showbiz as a models, while some begin their journey on the small screen. In fact, many notable actors start their careers in television. Here is a list of a few Tamil actresses who have moved away from the small screen and made it big on the silver screen.

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Ramya Pandian went on from anchoring small events to being a contestant in the reality show Cook with Comali, where she became the second runner-up. Ramya also made her presence felt in 'Bigg Boss Tamil'. Eventually, she stepped into movies. The actress received wide recognition for her acting skills in Joker and Aan Devathai.

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Priya Bhavani Shankar started her career as a news presenter. She then made her acting debut in the popular daily soap Kalyanam Mudhal Kadhal Varai. Priya also appeared in various shows like Jodi Number One Season 5, Super Singer Senior Season 5, and Kings of Dance Season 1. Then, she shifted her career to film. She then made her silver screen debut with the film Meyaadha Maan.

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The ravishing actress who participated as a contestant on the dance reality show 'Maanada Mayilada' later shifted her career to acting. The charming actress made her debut with the film Attakathi.

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Losliya Mariyanesan is a Sri Lankan-born actress, newsreader, and television presenter who rose to fame in the Indian entertainment industry. She became a household name after participating in Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3, hosted by Kamal Haasan. Her charm, emotional depth, and on-screen presence captured viewers' hearts throughout the season. Following her Bigg Boss stint, Losliya transitioned to the silver screen, starring in films such as Friendship, Koogle Kuttappa, and Mr. Housekeeping. Her journey from news anchoring to mainstream cinema has made her a notable figure among Tamil audiences.(PC: Instagram)

Pragathi appeared in the reality show, Super Singer Junior 3, which aired in 2011 and also became the first runner-up. Pragathi made her acting debut in the Tamil film Tharai Thappattai (2016). In 2020, she appeared in a small role in the American comedy-drama 'Never Have I Ever.'

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She began her career as a contestant in the dance show 'Ungalil Yaar Adutha Prabhu Deva,' but later switched to acting. She made her debut in the film Premam, which was the second-highest-grossing Malayalam film. She has since established herself in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films with acclaimed performances in successful films like Kali (2016), Fidaa (2017), Middle-Class Abbayi (2017), Maari 2 (2018), Athiran (2019), Paava Kadhaigal (2020), Gargi (2022) and Amaran (2025).

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The list would be incomplete without Vani Bhojan, who played the role of Sathyapriya in the show Deivamagal. The actress also participated in various reality shows. Later, Vani shifted her career to films. Vani Bhojan made her film debut with the movie Oh My Kadavule, where she acted along with actor Ashok Selvan.

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