Where Is Rambha Today? The Untold Story of the ‘Judwaa’ Actress

The film industry – a world of glitter, fame, and unpredictable fate. Here, someone can become a star overnight, while others fade away into obscurity just as quickly. Some celebrities remain in the spotlight despite average performances, while others who once ruled the box office simply disappear from public memory.

Today, let’s revisit the life of one such actress – Rambha – whose beauty, charm, and dance captivated millions, yet whose life took turns no one expected.

Born as Vijayalakshmi on June 5, 1976, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, she belonged to a Telugu-speaking family. During her school days, when she was in seventh grade, she performed the role of Amma Varu (Mother Goddess) in an annual function. Coincidentally, the chief guest was filmmaker Hariharan, who was so impressed that he asked her family to bring her for a look test.

Soon, his team arrived at her home, and Vijayalakshmi was overjoyed. Until then, she had only watched actors on screen – now she was about to become one. She debuted in the Malayalam film Sargam at just 15 years old. On the posters, her name was changed from Vijayalakshmi to Amrutha because the producers felt it suited her better. Sargam became a popular success, winning the Kerala State Film Award and the National Award for Best Popular Film. However, Amrutha never attended the award ceremonies as she had no idea what they meant at that young age.

Realising her passion for films, she soon left school after the seventh grade to focus entirely on acting. Director E.V.V. Satyanarayana noticed her and cast her opposite Rajendra Prasad in the Telugu film Adugu Jaadalu Kadhu Aapu. Her character in the film was named Rambha, a name she adopted permanently from then on.

Although she was working in Telugu films, Rambha lived in Chennai. Tamil audiences rarely watched Telugu films, so to build her fan base, she decided to enter Tamil cinema as well. In no time, she conquered both industries with her beauty, innocence, and energetic dance performances.

In 1995, Rambha entered Bollywood with Jallaad opposite Mithun Chakraborty. However, true recognition came in 1997, when she starred opposite Salman Khan in the superhit Judwaa, playing Roopa. This role catapulted her to national fame. Soon, she worked with other top Bollywood heroes including Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Govinda, and Suniel Shetty.

Despite these big opportunities, Rambha was often typecast in similar glamour-oriented roles. She longed to break out of this mold, but fresh roles never came her way. Gradually, after the 2002 film Jaani Dushman, she distanced herself from Bollywood. Reports suggest she was offered mostly item numbers due to her increasing weight, which she did not prefer, leading to her exit.

By then, however, she had already appeared in nearly 100 films across Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, and Bhojpuri. Some of her notable Hindi films included Judwaa, Kahar, Gharwali Baharwali, Because I Don’t Lie, and Jaani Dushman.

In 2003, Rambha ventured into production with the film Three Roses, starring herself. She and her brother invested heavily, borrowing ₹25 lakhs from a financier by mortgaging their bungalow papers. Unfortunately, the film flopped disastrously, leaving her in massive debt. Unable to repay the loan, she was sued for bounced cheques and eventually had to sell her Chennai home to clear dues.

Facing severe financial troubles, Rambha shifted focus to Bhojpuri and Bengali films for a while. During her Bhojpuri stint, she was rumoured to have developed feelings for co-star Ravi Kishan. Alongside acting, she also appeared as a judge on various reality shows, sustaining her career despite her Bollywood exit.

In a life-changing turn, Rambha became the brand ambassador for a bathroom fittings company. Its CEO, Indrakumar Pathmanathan, a Sri Lankan Tamil businessman based in Canada, fell in love with her. The two married on April 8, 2010, and she moved to Toronto.

However, marital life was not smooth. During their honeymoon, Rambha discovered that Indrakumar was previously married and had divorced his first wife before marrying her. Although this revelation sparked conflicts, they reconciled and continued their marriage.

Rambha gave birth to a daughter a year later. However, she later revealed that her in-laws began torturing her. At one point, Indrakumar filed a case against her in court. Eventually, after apologies and court interventions, they reunited, and she gave birth to another daughter.

But troubles resurfaced over custody disputes. In 2016, Rambha left Canada, filed for divorce, and demanded ₹5 lakh monthly for child support, stating that Indrakumar earned over ₹25 lakh per month. Simultaneously, another legal shock came when her sister-in-law filed a dowry harassment case against Rambha and her brother.

For someone who was once a top actress, this phase was extremely humiliating – frequenting courts instead of movie sets. Yet, as they say, love finds a way. After multiple conflicts, Rambha and Indrakumar reconciled once again, choosing to rebuild their family life.

Today, Rambha lives in Toronto with her husband, two daughters, and a son. She has left behind the lights of the film world for a peaceful family life. Her social media reflects a happy, balanced existence, filled with children’s activities and family moments, with no sign of any return to films.

Rambha’s story is a testament to the unpredictable nature of fame. She ruled South cinema and Bollywood in the 90s, dancing alongside megastars and being adored by millions. Yet, at the peak of her success, personal and professional challenges forced her to take a different path.

She remains a powerful figure – not just as an actress, but as a strong woman, wife, and mother, who faced life’s cruelest challenges with courage. Whether or not she returns to films, Rambha’s legacy as Judwaa’s Roopa and the beautiful, smiling face of countless 90s blockbusters will always hold a special place in the hearts of her fans.

Do you remember Rambha? Which of her films or songs remains close to your heart even today? Tell us in the comments. For more such inspiring and real stories, keep following our channel.