{{Short description|Indian actress}} {{About|the Indian actress born in 1982|the Indian actress born in 1985|Meenakshi (Malayalam actress)|other people|Meenakshi (name)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Meenakshi | image = Meenakshi (actress).JPG | alt = | caption = Meenakshi posing with a copy of the ''Thangam'' magazine | birth_name = Pinky Sarkar | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|08|06|df=y}} | birth_place = Kolkata, West Bengal, India | other_names = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 2006–2017 | known_for = }}
'''Pinky Sarkar''' (born 6 August 1982<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/05/19/stories/2007051950280300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108102605/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/05/19/stories/2007051950280300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 November 2012 |title=Meenakshi makes a mark |date=19 May 2007 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>) better known as '''Meenakshi''', is an Indian actress, who appears in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam language films. She is probably best known for her performance as Raasathi in her debut film ''Karuppusamy Kuththagaithaarar''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/171/cinema/Kollywood/.htm |title=வருஷத்துக்கு ஒரு குத்தாட்டம் : மீனாட்சியின் புது முடிவு |date=22 February 2009 |publisher=Dinamalar}}</ref>
==Career== ===Debut=== Meenakshi first appeared in two Telugu ventures, the historical fiction ''Hanumanthu''{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} and the devotional film ''Sri Satyanarayana Swamy'', under her birth name Pinky Sarkar; the latter featured her as goddess Lakshmi, with a reviewer from Indiaglitz.com writing that she "failed to emote well".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/sri-satyanarayana-swamy-telugu-movie-review-8648 |title=Sri Satyanarayana Swamy review. Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Telugu movie review, story, rating |work=IndiaGlitz}}</ref>
===Breakthrough (2007–2010)=== In 2007, she made her Tamil debut in ''Karuppusamy Kuththagaithaarar'', playing the role of Raasathi, a first year medical student.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/of-different-shades/article2271863.ece |title=Of different shades |work=The Hindu|date=22 March 2007 }}</ref> She made an impression in the film and was subsequently flooded with similar girl next door roles. Not wanting to becoming typecast, she rejected all roles, took a break from acting and completed her education before returning to Chennai.<ref name="indiatimes.com">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Meenakshi-is-in-love-with-Tamil-films/articleshow/4087491.cms |title=Meenakshi is in love with Tamil films |work=The Times of India|date=7 February 2009 }}</ref>
In 2009, she had her next Tamil release, ''TN 07 AL 4777'', which was a remake of the Hindi film ''Taxi No. 9211''. She played the role of Pooja, a "rich extrovert and party loving cosmopolitan girl",{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} for which she went in for a fashion makeover just like Sameera Reddy.<ref name="indiatimes.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/Meenakshi-joins-the-glam-brigade-imagegallery-Movies-jdwmVojcdjisi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818191913/http://www.sify.com/movies/Meenakshi-joins-the-glam-brigade-imagegallery-Movies-jdwmVojcdjisi.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 August 2015 |title=Meenakshi joins the glam brigade |work=Sify}}</ref> That year, she starred in two more Tamil films, Sundar C's ''Perumal'' and Raghava Lawrence's ''Rajadhi Raja'', besides making a special appearance in a third, Vishal's ''Thoranai'';<ref name="indiatimes.com"/> however all films were box office failures.<ref name="newindianexpress.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article289944.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103106/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article289944.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 April 2015 |title=A hopeful Meenakshi returns |work=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The following year, she was seen in Karu Pazhaniappan's ''Mandhira Punnagai'' and ''Agam Puram'',<ref name="newindianexpress.com"/> after which she did not act for over three years as she was pursuing her MBA degree and taking care of her father who was not well.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140923/entertainment-kollywood/article/%E2%80%98happy-be-part-dhanush%E2%80%99s-film%E2%80%99 |title=Happy to be a part of Dhanush's film |work=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref>
===Work after sabbatical (2014–present)=== In 2014, she took up a lead role in ''Villangam'' and a supporting role in Vetrimaaran's ''Soodhadi'' besides agreeing to perform in a special song in Ezhil's ''Vellaikaara Durai''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Meenakshi-to-make-her-comeback-with-Parthepan/articleshow/43159292.cms |title=Meenakshi to make her comeback with Parthepan |work=The Times of India}}</ref>
==Filmography== * ''All films are in Tamil; otherwise language noted.''
{|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- |2006 |''Veyil'' |Kathir and Murugesan's sister | |- | 2006<br />||''Hanumanthu''|| ||Telugu film |- | rowspan="2"|2007 || ''Sri Satyanarayana Swamy'' || Lakshmi || Telugu film |- | ''Karuppusamy Kuththagaithaarar'' || Raasathi || |- | rowspan="5"|2009 || ''TN 07 AL 4777'' || Pooja || |- | ''Perumal'' || Dr. Alamu || |- | ''Rajadhi Raja'' || Thangapazham || |- | ''Thoranai'' / ''Pistha'' || || Special appearance; also shot in Telugu |- | ''Chattambinadu'' || Dr.Lakshmi || Malayalam film |- | rowspan="2"|2010 || ''Mandhira Punnagai'' || Nandhini || |- | ''Agam Puram'' || Nadia || |- | rowspan="1"|2012 || ''Thuppakki'' || Wedding Bride || Special appearance |- | rowspan="1"|2014 || ''Vellaikaara Durai'' || || Special appearance |- | rowspan="1"|2015 || ''Naanum Rowdydhaan'' || Baby || Special appearance |- | rowspan="3"|2016||''Sowkarpettai'' || Sanya || Special appearance |- |''Thirunaal'' || Prema || |- | ''Ner Mugam'' || || |- | rowspan="1"|2017 ||''Aangila Padam'' || Meenakshi|| |- |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|nm7012715}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Meenakshi}} Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema Category:Indian film actresses Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema Category:Living people Category:Bengali actresses Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:Actresses from Kolkata Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:1988 births