Lakshmi Priya is an Indian actress, who predominantly works in the Malayalam entertainment industry.
Wiki/Biography
Lakshmi Priya was born as Sabeena Abdul Latheef Monday 11 March 1985 (age 37 years; as of 2022) in Kayamkulam, Alappuzha district of Kerala. She was brought up in Nooranadu, Kerala. After the divorce of her parents when she was two-and-a-half years old, Lakshmi Priya was raised by her paternal uncle Latheef at her father’s ancestral home. Despite growing up in a big family with five uncles, she suffered from the emotional distress of not having her parents’ love and care. She met her estranged father at the age of 5. And the next time she met him, Lakshmipriya was a thirteen-year-old girl. By that time, her father already had another family. She spent her childhood under the impression that her mother was dead. At the age of 14, she meet her mother for the first time and discovered that she was alive. However, meeting her estranged mother did not fulfil Lakshmi Priya as the love and care had already faded away with time. In an interview, she said,
I am someone who grew up believing that my mother was dead. When I was 14, I went alone to meet my mother, expecting that she would shower me with the love and care that she had been holding back for all these years. However, it was nothing like I expected. I realized that such things happen only in the movies.”
A loner throughout her childhood, she finally sought solace in acting. She did her schooling at St. Mary’s LPS Charummoodu, CBMHS Nooranad, and PUM Vocational Higher Secondary School, Pallickal. When she was in twelfth standard, she dropped out of her school. After her marriage, she relocated to Kakkanad, Kochi. Although she was intrigued by acting since childhood, she ventured into the Malayalam film industry after her marriage to Jayesh. It was her father-in-law who introduced her to numerous prominent directors in the industry, which kickstarted her career.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 7″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Balck
Family
Parents & Siblings
Lakshmi Priya’s father’s name is Kabir. Her parents divorced when she was just two-and-a-half years old. She has two sisters.
Husband & Children
In a Hindu wedding ceremony on 21 April 2005, Lakshmi Priya got married to Jayesh Purushothaman (also known as P. Jayesh), who is the son of renowned playback singer Pattanakkad Purushothaman. Together, they have a daughter named Mathangi Jai.
Lakshmi Priya with her husband and daughter
Religion
Lakshmi Priya was born into a Muslim family. She converted to Hinduism at 19 when she got married to P. Jayesh.
Address
Cyber Heights, Flat No. 12B, Asset Homes, VSNL Road, Kakkanad P. O., Ernakulam District, Pin-682030
Career
She started her journey in the entertainment industry at the age of 16 as a professional theatre artist.
Television (Malayalam)
In 2005, Lakshmi Priya made her acting debut with Jeevan TV’s show ‘Sthreedhanam in which she played the role of Sari’s sister. She played one of the lead roles in Kairali TV’s ‘Ayyadi Maname’ (2005).
Lakshmi Priya in Ayyadi Maname (2005)
From 2005 to 2006, she starred in Surya TV’s show Indumukhi Chandramathi. Other Surya TV’s show in which she appeared include ‘Kaanakkinavu’ and ‘Abhinetri.’ In 2010, she starred in Amrita TV’s Aranazhika Neram, which bagged nine awards in the Kerala State Television Awards. From 2015 to 2026, she appeared on Nirupama Fans, which was telecast on Flowers TV. She also featured in Flowers TV’s Seetha (2018) and Pulival (2020). Apart from daily soaps, Lakshmi Priya has appeared in various reality TV shows like Aram + Aram = Kinnaram, Laughing Villa, and Badai Bungalow.
Lakshmi Priya in Aram + Aram = Kinnaram
She appeared on the cookery show ‘Taste Time,’ a telecast on Asianet. She also hosted Little Kitchen, a cookery competition for kids on TV. In 2022, she came into the limelight after appearing as a contestant in the popular reality TV show Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 4).
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7X0Bomg7lk[/embed]
Film (Malayalam)
In 2005, she made her film debut with the action drama film ‘Naran’ in which she played the role of Kelappan’s elder daughter named Pushpa.
Naran (2005)
She played the role of Sobha Gopinath in the 2006 language political action thriller film ‘Lion.’ She played the role of Radha in the romantic drama film ‘Nivedhyam’ (2007) and Sofia in the romantic comedy-drama film ‘Bhagyadevatha’ (2009) She was immensely appreciated for playing the role of Mallika in the 2010 drama film ‘Kadha Thudarunnu.’ In 2012, she played the role of a biology teacher in the film ‘Last Bench.’
Lakshmi Priya as Biology teacher in Last Bench (2012)
Another prominient film of her career was ‘Molly Aunty Rocks!’ (2012) in which she played the role of Usha.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K9vk0GjDbA[/embed]
In 2015, she starred in the political drama film ‘Campus Diary.’ The film revolves around a student named Nikhil, who, as part of an NSS camp, wants to bring about social changes. In the same year, she starred in the film ‘Ithinumappuram’ as Devu.
Ithinumappuram (2015)
In 2019, she appeared in the film ‘Safe’ as Aamina. The film revolves around an IPS officer named Shreya, who faces troubles while investigating a sexual abuse case.
Lakshmi Priya as Aamina in Safe (2019)
Others
In 2017, she garnered immense for starring in the Malayalam theatrical production ‘Hidimbi.’ While Lakshmi Priya played the role of old Hidimbi (from Mahabharata), Geethu Das played the modern-age Hidimbi.
In 2019, she authored the autobiographical book ‘Kathayum Kathapathrangalum Sankalpikamalla.’
Kathayum Kathapathrangalum Sankalpikamalla (2019)
Lakshmi Priya made her debut as a scriptwriter with the Malayalam drama film ‘Aarattu Mundan,’ directed by her husband, P Jai Dev. The film narrates the story of Murali, a politician who serves the society without any benefit to his own house or family, and his four friends.
Political Inclination
During the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections, Lakshmi Priya claimed that she is a staunch supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). (HinduPost)) She said,
I will be with the movement no matter who leaves it for victory or defeat. Although I do not have a single seat like the one I did, I am one of the tens of thousands who will definitely vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party. “
Favourites
- Book(s): Randamoozham (1984), Mattathi (2016), Samudrasíla (2019)
- Writer(s): M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Sarah Joseph, Madhavikutty, Subash Chandran
Facts/Trivia
- Questions regarding caste and religion prompted her to officially change her name from Sabeena Abdul Latheef to Lakshmi Priya in 2021.
- Ever since she became a practising Hindu, she has been targeted by angry orthodox Islamists who often slam her on social media.
- A trained dancer in classical dances like Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali and Ottanthullal, Lakshmi was awarded the ‘Kalathilakam’ title during her school days.
- She actively works alongside two social service groups Disha and Koottu, which instil leadership qualities in children and also promote organic farming.
- She was named Sabeenajayesh on her PAN Card and Sabeena Jayesh on her Driving Licence.
Lakshmi Priya’s Gazette
- In an interview, Lakshmi Priya revealed that before getting married to P. Jayesh she was scheduled to marry a lawyer, but she broke the marriage as the groom’s family demanded a dowry of 101 gold coins. She also revealed that when she got married to P. Jayesh the only gold that she wore was her mangalsutra.
- She has been a featured model on the cover of various Malayalam magazines.
- Lakshmipriya is a voracious reader.
- Lakshmipriya says that Indian film director Sathyan Anthikad appreciated her excellent sense of language and insisted her to try a hand at writing.
- In an interview, she revealed that she has gone through abortion twice. Finally, when she got pregnant at the age of thirty she had to face various complications. It was discovered that the umbilical cord was lying on the baby’s neck. Therefore, she delivered her baby in the sixth month of her pregnancy via cesarean section.
- The role in her first serial, Sthreedhanam, was offered to her sister-in-law initially. However, she could not take it up as the production team wanted someone with long hair. Consequently, the role was passed on to Lakshmipriya.