Rima Kallingal is an Indian actress and film producer who primarily works in Malayalam films.[1]
Born in Thrissur, Kerala, Kallingal began practising dancing when she was three years old.[2] A dancer by profession, she has been a part of a dance company called Nritarutya and has had performances on national and international stages.
She studied at Stanes Schools, Coonoor up to Fifth grade.[3] She completed her schooling at Chinmaya Vidyalayas, Thrissur, graduating in 2001. She holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the Christ University, Bengaluru.[4][5] She is also skilled in Taekwondo (Korean martial art), Chao (Manipuri martial art) and Kalari.[2]
She was a semi-finalist of the Asianet reality show Vodafone Thakadhimi. She moved to Bengaluru to pursue a modelling career and later participated in the Miss Kerala beauty pageant, in which she became the first runner-up, losing to Shree Thulasi in a tie-breaker.[6]
Kallingal was spotted by director Lal Jose on a magazine cover, who cast her as a goat herder role in a Tamil film Mazhai Varappoguthu.[7] The project didn't materialise, but she was offered the lead female character of Varsha by director Shyamaprasad for Ritu, which eventually marked her acting debut.[6] She was 25 when she acted in the film.[4]
In 2012, Kallingal played a nurse and rape victim in 22 Female Kottayam opposite Fahadh Faasil,[8] which had a decent run at the box office.[9][10] A critic of News18 noted, "The film belongs to Rima who sinks into the skin of the character with a spectacular performance."[11][12] The film earned her Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam and Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress.[13][14][15] After 22 Female Kottayam, she said that she had made some mistakes in her career and stated "Yes, I have done a few films I never should have, but I am determined not to repeat those mistakes".[12]
In 2013, Kallingal turned television anchor with the Mazhavil Manorama show "Midukki".[16] Following which the Kerala Film Chamber imposed a ban on her which was later revoked.[17] That year, Kallingal played a young housewife in August Club.[18] Paresh C Palicha of Rediff.com noted, "Rima as Savithri, is someone who has learnt to stifle her feelings and finding other ways to give them an outlet."[19]
Her other notable films include the 2015 film Rani Padmini alongside Manju Warrier and the 2019 film Virus alongside an ensemble cast.[20][21] Both films emerged commercial successes.[22][23] In Rani Padmini, she played a tomboy.[24] Deepa Soman was appreciative of her "knockout performance".[25] In Virus, she played a nurse battle the deadly disease.[26] Sowmya Rajendran found her performance "expressive".[27]
In the 2021 film, Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam, Kallingal played an entertainment reporter opposite Jitin Puthenchery.[28] Baradwaj Rangan found her to be "terrific".[29] The film won her Best Actress at the Diorama International Film Festival.[30]
Kallingal's roles from 22 Female Kottayam, August Club and Rani Padmini are considered among the strongest female character in Malayalam films.[31][32][33] Kallingal was named the Kochi Times Most Desirable Women in 2012.[34] In 2014, she set up her own dance institute, named Mamangam in Kochi. It was later was shut down in 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[35]
Kallingal married director Aashiq Abu on 1 November 2013, in a simple court wedding in Kochi.[36] As part of the occasion, the couple donated Rs 1 million towards the welfare of poor cancer patients at the General Hospital, Ernakulam, and Rs 25,000 to meet a day's expense of the dietary kitchen at the hospital.[37][38]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Ritu | Varsha John | Malayalam debut[35] |
| Kerala Cafe | Grand daughter | Segment : Mrityunjayam[39] | |
| Neelathaamara | Shaarath Ammini | ||
| 2010 | Happy Husbands | Diana | [40] |
| Best of Luck | Diya | [41] | |
| 2011 | City of God | Surya Prabha | [42] |
| Ko | Herself | Tamil debut Special appearance | |
| Shankaranum Mohananum | Jyotsna Mathew | [43] | |
| Yuvan Yuvathi | Nisha | Tamil film | |
| Sevenes | Aravindan's sister | ||
| Doubles | Seetha Lakshmi | Cameo appearance | |
| Indian Rupee | Beena | [44] | |
| 2012 | Orkut Oru Ormakoot | Crystal Falth Ritz | |
| Unnam | Jennifer | [45] | |
| Nidra | Ashwathy | [35] | |
| 22 Female Kottayam | Tessa Kurissuparambil Abraham | [35] | |
| Husbands in Goa | Teena | [46] | |
| Ayalum Njanum Thammil | Diya | [47] | |
| Bavuttiyude Namathil | Noorjahan | [48] | |
| 2013 | Proprietors: Kammath & Kammath | Mahalakshmi | |
| Natholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla | Annie | ||
| August Club | Savithri | ||
| Zachariayude Garbhinikal | Fathima | ||
| Escape from Uganda | Shikha Samuel | ||
| Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal | Sini Alex | ||
| 2015 | Chirakodinja Kinavukal | Sumathi | |
| Rani Padmini | Rani | [49] | |
| 2017 | Kaadu Pookkunna Neram | Maoist | |
| Clint | Chinnamma | ||
| 2018 | Aabhaasam | Passenger | [50] |
| 2019 | Virus | Nurse Akhila | also producer[51] |
| 2021 | Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam | Maria | [35] |
| Chithirai Sevvaanam | Asha Nair | Tamil film[49] | |
| 2022 | Lalanna's Song | Miriam | [52] |
| 2023 | Neelavelicham | Bhargavi | Also producer[53][54] |
| 2025 | Theatre † | TBA | [55] |
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gangster | Aashiq Abu | Associate producer |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | Dileesh Pothan | Associate producer |
| 2017 | Mayanadi | Aashiq Abu | Associate producer |
| 2018 | Ee.Ma.Yau | Lijo Jose Pellissery | Associate producer |
| 2019 | Virus | Aashiq Abu | Co-produced with Aashiq Abu |
| 2021 | Bheemante Vazhi | Ashraf Hamza | Co-produced with Chemban Vinod Jose and Aashiq Abu |
| 2022 | Naaradan | Aashiq Abu | Co-produced with Santhosh T. Kuruvilla and Aashiq Abu |
| 2023 | Neelavelicham | Aashiq Abu | Co-produced with Aashiq Abu[53] |
| Year | Program | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Midukki | Host | Mazhavil Manorama | reality show |
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Zindagi in Short | Dr. Kavya Menon | Hindi | Segment: "Sunny Side Upar" | [56] |
| 2025 | Yuva Sapnon Ka Safar | Kanya | Multilingual (mainly English) | Segment: Backstage | [57] |
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