Kovai Sarala Biography: Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Boyfriend, Films, Awards, Political Party

Kovai Sarala is an Indian actress and comedian who first drew widespread attention with her supporting performance in the Tamil film Velli Ratham (1979) when she was still in ninth grade.

Over the decades, she has become known for bringing levity to a wide range of roles across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema, most notably earning acclaim for her comedic turns in Sathi Leelavathi (1995) and the horror-comedy Kanchana (2011).

Profile

• Full name: Sarala
• Nickname: Kovai Sarala
• Date of birth: 7 April 1962
• Age: 63 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
• State of origin: Tamil Nadu
• Nationality: Indian
• Profession: Comedian, Actress, Television presenter, Politician
• Height: 5′4″ (163 cm)
• Weight: 64 kg
• Eye color: Black
• Hair color: Black
• Parents: Mother: Shakthi Illam
• Siblings: Four sisters and one brother
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: Unmarried
• Religion: Hinduism
• Ethnicity: Malayali
• Net worth: ₹25 Crores+ INR

Early Life and Education

Sarala was born on 7 April 1962 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, into a Malayali family. Her mother, Shakthi Illam, and her father, an officer in the Indian Army, supported her early interest in performance and helped her take her first steps into cinema. She completed her schooling up to Class 10 in Coimbatore.

Personal Life

Sarala remains unmarried and has no biological children. As the eldest of five, she took on many family responsibilities early, arranging her sisters’ weddings and helping care for younger relatives as though they were her own.

Career

Kovai Sarala began her screen career in 1979 with Velli Ratham, acting alongside Vijayakumar and K. R. Vijaya while still in ninth grade. Early roles included a supporting turn in the Malayalam film Thaliritta Kinakkal (1980) and a bold performance as a pregnant woman in Mundhanai Mudichu (1983) at age 21.

She then took on the challenging role of a matriarch in Chinna Veedu (1985), despite being in her early twenties. Over her career, she has appeared in more than 300 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, often cast as the go-to comic relief alongside stars such as Vadivelu and Brahmanandam.

In television, she has hosted Paasa Paravaigal and Chellame Chellam, and judged shows including Asatha Povathu Yaaru? and Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam. In March 2019, she joined Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam political party.

Awards

• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian – Sathi Leelavathi (1995)
• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian – Poovellam Un Vasam (2001)
• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian – Uliyin Osai (2008)
• Nandi Award for Best Female Comedian – Ayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary (2000)
• Nandi Award for Best Female Comedian – Ori Nee Prema Bangaram Kaanu (2003)
• Vijay Award for Best Comedian – Kanchana (2011)
• JFW Achievers Award (2022)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, The Galatta Crown (2022)

Net worth

Kovai Sarala’s net worth is approximately ₹25 Crores, accumulated through her prolific work in film, television hosting, and brand endorsements.

Social Media

• Instagram: N/A
• Twitter: @KovaiSarala_

Filmography

• Velli Ratham (1979)
• Thaliritta Kinakkal (1980)
• Mundhanai Mudichu (1983)
• Chinna Veedu (1985)
• Sathi Leelavathi (1995)
• Poovellam Un Vasam (2001)
• Kanchana (2011)
• Kanchana 2 (2015)
• Vedalam (2015)
• Aranmanai 2 (2016)
• Viswasam (2019)
• Kanchana 3 (2019)
• Sembi (2022)
• Aranmanai 4 (2024)
• Kanguva (2024)