Bhavani Sre was born as Bhavani Sri Venkatesh on June 16, 1994, in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India, present-day Chennai, and she holds Indian nationality. She belongs to a well-known artistic family rooted in music and cinema, being the daughter of music producer G. Venkatesh and acclaimed playback singer A. R. Reihana. She is the niece of legendary composer A. R. Rahman and the younger sister of composer, actor, and producer G. V. Prakash Kumar, with singer Saindhavi as her sister-in-law. Raised in Chennai, she grew up in a Tamil-speaking environment and is fluent in Tamil and English, with exposure to Hindi through her musical background. Coming from the R. K. Shekhar family lineage, her early life was closely connected to creative pursuits, particularly music, which naturally influenced her artistic interests from a young age. Bhavani Sre maintains an active presence on social media, where she shares updates related to her work and personal moments, and her Instagram account bhavanisre has over 455K+ followers, reflecting her growing popularity among audiences.
Bhavani Sre began her professional acting career with the Telugu web series High Priestess, released on ZEE5 in 2019, where she played the younger version of the lead character. Her Tamil film debut came in 2020 with Vijay Sethupathi’s social drama Ka Pae Ranasingam, in which she portrayed Maayi, earning appreciation for her realistic and restrained performance. The same year, she appeared in Sudha Kongara’s segment Thangam in the Netflix anthology Paava Kadhaigal, where her role as Sahira further highlighted her ability to handle emotionally intense characters. Alongside acting, she also showcased her musical talent by singing three songs in the anthology film Putham Pudhu Kaalai, including Oho Endhan Baby, Kulfi Kuchchi, and Kannam Adhil Vannam, reinforcing her dual identity as an actress and playback singer.
Her career reached a major milestone in 2023 when she was cast as the female lead Tamilarasi, also known as Paapa, in Vetrimaaran’s critically acclaimed film Viduthalai: Part 1. The role earned her widespread critical praise and a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil, establishing her as a serious performer in contemporary Tamil cinema. She reprised the character in a cameo appearance in Viduthalai: Part 2, released in 2024. In the same year, she appeared in Nanban Oruvan Vantha Piragu, directed by Ananth Ram, where she played Kannamma, adding another character-driven role to her filmography. Her upcoming projects indicate her continued presence in both ensemble and performance-focused films. In addition to films, she has appeared in music videos such as Po Po Yen and Kannatti, further diversifying her creative portfolio.
In her personal life, Bhavani Sre is known to keep a relatively low public profile despite her well-known family background. She often shares glimpses of her interests in music, travel, reading, and mindful living through her social platforms, reflecting a calm and introspective lifestyle. Deeply connected to music due to her upbringing, she continues to explore singing alongside acting, choosing projects that align with her artistic sensibilities rather than commercial trends alone. While she maintains privacy regarding her relationships, her public image remains grounded, thoughtful, and focused on craft, which has resonated strongly with audiences and critics alike.