What Happened To This Actress After Her Husband Vanished 15 Days Into Their Marriage?

News18

19-05-2025

1/8
Kanaka, once a beloved name in Tamil and Telugu cinema, remains a figure shrouded in intrigue, decades after her sudden disappearance from the public eye. Rising to stardom in the late 1980s, Kanaka captured the hearts of audiences across South India, only to withdraw from the limelight at the age of 26, leaving fans to wonder what became of the gifted actress.
Born to veteran Tamil actress Devika and assistant director Devadas, Kanaka was raised solely by her mother following her parents' separation within three years of their marriage. Despite a turbulent family background, Kanaka entered the film industry with confidence, making a sensational debut in Karakattakaran (1989), a surprise box office hit that catapulted her to fame.
3/8
Following the film's runaway success, Kanaka became a fixture in Tamil cinema, starring alongside stalwarts such as Rajinikanth, Vijayakanth, Karthik, Prabhu, Mammootty, and Ramarajan. Her talent and screen presence earned her a steady stream of roles, not just in Tamil films but also in Telugu cinema. Her career, however, came to an abrupt halt with the release of Viralukketha Veekkam (1999), her final film, co-starring comedian Vivek, when she was just 26 years old.
The reasons behind her sudden exit from the industry remain unclear, though it followed a period of personal upheaval. Her mother, Devika, described by Kanaka as her anchor and closest confidante, died unexpectedly in 2002 at the age of 59, leaving Kanaka devastated and increasingly reclusive.
In 2007, reports emerged that Kanaka had married an engineer from California. However, in a 2010 interview, she disclosed that her husband vanished merely 15 days after their wedding, and has not been seen or heard from since. The mystery surrounding her personal life was compounded by false rumours of her death, which compelled Kanaka to appear in a television interview to confirm she was alive.
Afterwards, she withdrew from public life entirely. A rare photograph taken a few years ago with actress Kutty Padmini revealed a visibly changed Kanaka, having gained significant weight and looking markedly different from her glamorous on-screen image. Since then, no updates have emerged about her current circumstances.