Kalyani Priyadarshan, born on April 5, 1993, is an Indian actress who primarily appears in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films. She was born in Chennai to filmmaker Priyadarshan and actress Lissy. Kalyani began her career behind the scenes before transitioning to acting. She worked as an assistant production designer for the Hindi film Krrish 3 (2013) and as an assistant art director for the Tamil film Iru Mugan (2016). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Parsons School of Design in New York. Before her film debut, she also attended the Adishakti Theatre Workshop in Pondicherry.

Kalyani made her acting debut in the Telugu film Hello (2017), opposite Akhil Akkineni. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South for her performance. She then expanded her career into Tamil cinema with Hero (2019) and Malayalam cinema with Varane Avashyamund (2020). For Bro Daddy (2022), she won the SIIMA Award for Best Actress – Malayalam.

Now, Kalyani is receiving widespread attention for her role in Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, released on August 28, 2025. The film is directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is planned as the first installment in the Lokah Cinematic Universe. The film has been dubbed in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi.

In Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, Kalyani plays Chandra, who some are calling Malayalam cinema's first female superhero. The film revolves around Chandra, who arrives in Bengaluru with a mission, re-imagining a popular folktale. She crosses paths with three aimless young men and a harsh police officer, finding herself in trouble despite trying to maintain a low profile. Kalyani reportedly practiced martial arts for the film.

Critics have praised Kalyani's performance in Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra. One reviewer noted that Kalyani is terrific as Chandra, both in terms of her body language and in the action sequences, acting as the film's backbone. Another critic stated that the film is Malayalam cinema's first mythic universe, where Kalyani's Chandra embodies folklore, fire, and neon spectacle in a world still finding its full shape.

Following the release of Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, some fans have drawn comparisons between Kalyani Priyadarshan and Gal Gadot, with some calling her "India's very own Wonder Woman". This comparison seems to stem from Kalyani's portrayal of a strong, superhero-like character in Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra.

Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra has been a box office success. After five days, the film grossed ₹31.5 crore in the domestic market. The film had earned approximately ₹24.4 crore in its opening weekend. As of September 1, 2025, the film had grossed over ₹65 crore worldwide.

Looking ahead, Kalyani is set to appear in the Tamil film Genie, opposite Ravi Mohan. She also has Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira in the works, opposite Fahadh Faasil.

Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is expected to be released on OTT platforms by the end of September, with a potential release date of September 26. Netflix has reportedly shown interest in acquiring the digital rights to the film.