Fathima Babu

Biography:

Fathima Babu is an Indian actress, former newsreader, and socialite based in Chennai, originally from Puducherry. She began her public career as a newsreader, working for more than 25 years with DD Podhigai, the Tamil version of Doordarshan news, and later for Jaya TV. Interestingly, she later converted to Hinduism for her husband and expanded her career into television serials, films, and theatre performances, primarily in Tamil and Malayalam languages.

Fathima’s journey began as a newsreader with DD Podhigai in the late 1980s. In 1989, there was speculation about her disappearance, but she clarified that she was filming for a television serial called “Chithirapaavai” during that period. She wanted to adhere to Doordarshan’s rule, which prohibited news anchors from working in serials.

Her film debut came in K. Balachander’s feminist movie “Kalki” (1996), where she received praise for her confident performance. She continued her career by playing supporting roles in various films, often portraying the mother of the lead characters. Additionally, Fathima established her own drama production group, Fab’s Theatre, with guidance from K. Balachander. She briefly dabbled in politics, campaigning for the AIADMK and later becoming a spokesperson for the party. However, she distanced herself from politics after Jayalalithaa’s death. In 2019, Fathima participated in the reality television show “Bigg Boss Tamil 3” on Star Vijay, although she was the first contestant to be evicted.