Rukmini Vasanth, the rising star celebrated for her compelling performance in "Kantara: Chapter 1," carries a legacy of courage and creativity, with her father, Colonel Vasanth Venugopal, being a posthumous recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
Born on December 10, 1996, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Rukmini Vasanth comes from a Kannada-speaking family with deep roots in both service and the arts. Her father, Colonel Vasanth Venugopal, was Karnataka's first recipient of India's highest peacetime military decoration, the Ashoka Chakra. He was martyred in action in 2007 while preventing heavily armed infiltrators from crossing the India-Pakistan border in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. This sacrifice and his extraordinary bravery deeply influenced Rukmini's discipline, resilience, and determination.
Rukmini was only ten years old when she lost her father in a counter-insurgency fight on July 31, 2007. Despite being critically wounded, Colonel Vasanth continued to fight and protect his men until his last breath. His exemplary courage and sacrifice led to him being posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra.
Her mother, Subhashini Vasanth, is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer and the founder of the Vasantharatna Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting war widows in Karnataka. After her husband's death, Subhashini established the foundation to care for widows of war and their families in Karnataka. Rukmini believes that her father's values and presence accompany her in her work, both on and off-screen.
Rukmini received her early education at Army School, Air Force School, and Centre for Learning in Bangalore. Later, she pursued her passion for acting by earning a degree from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London.
Rukmini made her film debut in the 2019 Kannada film "Birbal Trilogy Case 1: Finding Vajramuni". However, she gained widespread recognition for her role as Priya in the 2023 romantic drama "Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side A and Side B," for which she won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Kannada. In 2025, she ventured into Tamil cinema with "Ace" and "Madharaasi," and starred in "Kantara: Chapter 1,". Her portrayal of Princess Kanakavathi in "Kantara: Chapter 1" has been widely appreciated, with many praising her performance. She underwent rigorous physical and emotional training to embody the character, including perfecting body language, sword fighting, horse riding, and traditional dance.
"Kantara: Chapter 1" has been a box office success, earning ₹61.85 crore on its first day and crossing the ₹100 crore mark in just two days. Audiences have lauded not only Rishab Shetty's direction and writing but also Rukmini Vasanth's performance.
Looking ahead, Rukmini is set to appear in Yash's upcoming film, "Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups". Her journey reflects a blend of artistic talent and a strong connection to her family's legacy of service and sacrifice.
