Lakshmi Sharma, mononymously known as Lahari (in the Telugu film industry), is an Indian actress.[1] After debuting as supporting to character roles in Telugu cinema, she made her official lead role in Malayalam cinema in 2006 with Palunku. She has also acted in few Kannada films as well.[2]
She hails from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.[3] She was born into a Brahmin family to a Telugu father and a Kannada mother.[3]
After her parents' retirement, the family settled in Hyderabad. She wanted to become an actress in the Telugu film industry and debuted in a supporting role in E. V. V. Satyanarayana's Ammo! Okato Tareekhu (2000).[3] She went on to lead roles in the films Manamiddaram and Vacchina Vaadu Suryudu, which failed, before she got a role in the Chiranjeevi film Indra (2002). Her role as the niece of Chiranjeevi's character in the film was noted. She said that other than that film she hadn't "any moment of luck or happiness" in the industry. Disappointed with the response in Telugu, she moved to the Malayalam film industry where she rose to fame.[3]
She made her Malayalam debut in Palunku in 2006.[4] Although the film did not do well, she was continuously offered roles and was one of the busiest and most prolific actresses in Malayalam cinema by 2009 though she was mocked for her poor performances and eventually faded out.[5]