Annie (Malayalam actress)
Chitra Shaji Kailas, better known by her birth name Annie, is an Indian television host and former actress from Kerala, who appears in Malayalam television and films. Her film career spanned three years from 1993 to 1996 with a total of 16 films in Malayalam cinema, she retired from acting post-marriage and returned as a television host in 2015.
She debuted as an actress in 1993 in the film Ammayane Sathyam directed by Balachandra Menon. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for her role in Mazhayethum Munpe. Her other most noted films include Parvathy Parinayam directed by P. G. Viswambharan, Rudraksham, Tom & Jerry, Puthukkottayile Puthumanavalan, and Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran.
Early life
Annie hails from Pala and was raised in Thiruvalla. She was born to Jobbie and Mariamma in 1975. She has three older sisters, Lissy, Mary, and Tessy. Her mother died when she was in eighth grade.Though she was from Pala, her family was settled at Thiruvananthapuram due to her father's job. She did her schooling at the Holy Angel's Convent School in Thiruvananthapuram and then joined All Saints College for higher studies. It was during this time that she began acting in movies.
Annie is married to Shaji Kailas. She converted to Hinduism three months after her marriage and changed her name to Chitra. The couple has three sons: Jagan, Sharon, and Rushin.
Awards
- 1996 - Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for Mazhayethum Munpe
- 2016 - Vayalar Awards - Best Television Host