Rima Kallingal


Rima Kallingal is an Indian actress and film producer who primarily works in Malayalam films.

Early life and work

Born in Thrissur, Kerala, Kallingal began practicing dancing when she was three years old. A dancer by profession, she has been a part of a dance company called Nritarutya in Bengaluru and has had performances on national and international stages. She is the daughter of Ashokan Kallingal.
Kallingal studied at Stanes Anglo-Indian School in Coonoor up to fifth grade. She then completed her schooling at Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Thrissur, graduating in 2001. She holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Christ University, Bengaluru. She is also skilled in taekwondo, chao, and kalari.
She was a semi-finalist of the Asianet reality show Vodafone Thakadhimi. She moved to Bengaluru to pursue a modeling 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.

Career

Kallingal was spotted by director Lal Jose on a magazine cover, who cast her as a goat herder role in Tamil film Mazhai Varappoguthu. 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. She was 25 when she acted in the film.
In 2012, Kallingal played a nurse and rape victim in 22 Female Kottayam opposite Fahadh Faasil, which had a decent run at the box office. A critic of News18 noted, "The film belongs to Rima who sinks into the skin of the character with a spectacular performance." The film earned her Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam and Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress. 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".
In 2013, Kallingal turned television anchor with the Mazhavil Manorama reality TV show "Midukki", following which the Kerala Film Chamber imposed a ban on her which was later revoked. That year, Kallingal played a young housewife in August Club. 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."
Her other notable films include the 2015 film Rani Padmini alongside Manju Warrier and the 2019 film Virus alongside an ensemble cast. Both films emerged commercial successes. In Rani Padmini, she played a tomboy. Deepa Soman was appreciative of her "knockout performance". In Virus, she played a nurse battle the deadly disease. Sowmya Rajendran found her performance "expressive".
In the 2021 film, Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam, Kallingal played an entertainment reporter opposite Jitin Puthenchery. Baradwaj Rangan found her to be "terrific". The film won her Best Actress at the Diorama International Film Festival.

Media image

Kallingal's roles from 22 Female Kottayam, August Club and Rani Padmini are considered among the strongest female character in Malayalam films. Kallingal was named the Kochi Times Most Desirable Women in 2012. 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.

Personal life

Kallingal married director Aashiq Abu on 1 November 2013, in a simple court wedding in Kochi. 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.

Filmography

As actress

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009RituVarsha JohnMalayalam debut
2009Kerala CafeGrand daughterSegment : Mrityunjayam
2009NeelathaamaraShaarath Ammini
2010Happy HusbandsDiana
2010Best of LuckDiya
2011City of GodSurya Prabha
2011KoHerselfTamil debut
Special appearance
2011Shankaranum MohananumJyotsna Mathew
2011Yuvan YuvathiNishaTamil film
2011SevenesAravindan's sister
2011DoublesSeetha LakshmiCameo appearance
2011Indian RupeeBeena
2012Orkut Oru OrmakootCrystal Falth Ritz
2012UnnamJennifer
2012NidraAshwathy
201222 Female KottayamTessa Kurissuparambil Abraham
2012Husbands in GoaTeena
2012Ayalum Njanum ThammilDiya
2012Bavuttiyude NamathilNoorjahan
2013Proprietors: Kammath & KammathMahalakshmi
2013Natholi Oru Cheriya MeenallaAnnie
2013August ClubSavithri
2013Zachariayude GarbhinikalFathima
2013Escape from UgandaShikha Samuel
2013Ezhu Sundara RathrikalSini Alex
2015Chirakodinja KinavukalSumathi
2015Rani PadminiRani
2017Kaadu Pookkunna NeramMaoist
2017ClintChinnamma
2018AabhaasamPassenger
2019VirusNurse Akhilaalso producer
2021Santhoshathinte Onnam RahasyamMaria
2021Chithirai SevvaanamAsha NairTamil film
2023NeelavelichamBhargaviAlso producer
2025TheatreMeera

As producer

Television

Web series

Short film

Accolades