Anarkali Marikar is an Indian singer and actress who predominantly works in the Malayalam film industry. Anarkali made her debut in the Malayalam film industry with Ganesh Raj’s Aanandam in 2016.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Anarkali Marikar was born on Saturday, 8 February 1997 (age 27 years; as of 2024) in Kochi, Ernakulam, Kerala. Her zodiac sign is Aquarius. In 2015, the actress completed her schooling at The Choice School, Thrippunithura, Ernakulam, Kerala. She pursued a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism, Mass Communication, and Video Production at Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, between 2015 and 2018. Later, Anarkali pursued a one-year course in fashion design.
A childhood picture of Anarkali Marikar with her elder sister
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 54″
Weight (approx.): 60 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Body Measurements (approx.): 32-28-32
Family
Parents & Siblings
Her father, Nias Marikar, is a photographer. Her mother, Lali P. M. (also known as Lali Ramla Muhammed), is an actress and social activist. In 2019, Lali made her debut in the Malayalam film industry with Madhu C. Narayanan’s directorial Kumbalangi Nights. She has an elder sister, Lakshmi Marikar. Lakshmi, a former child actress in the Malayalam film industry, later worked as an assistant director.
Anarkali Marikar’s mother
In 2020, after thirty years of marriage, her parents filed for divorce and started leaving separately. One year after getting divorced, her father got married again on 10 June 2021. His second wife, Sumi Nias Marikar, hails from Kannur, Kerala. The actress and her sister, Lakshmi Marikar, attended the marriage function and posted pictures of the wedding ceremony on social media.
A photograph of Anarkali Marikar (extreme left) with his father, sister (extreme right) and stepmother
Following her father’s decision to get married again, many people reportedly reached out to her mother, Lali P. M., under the impression that she was affected by her former husband’s remarriage; however, both Lali and her daughters brushed off the rumours and stated that they were happy with Nias Marikar’s decision. Later, Anarkali went live on Instagram to address her father’s second marriage and her mother’s decision not to marry again and stated that both she and her sister wanted their father to be remarried and even searched for suitable partners for him; however, she pointed out that he was able to find a partner on his own.
Anarkali Marikar with her father and elder sister
She added that they were happy because Nias met someone who loved him; she calls her stepmother ‘kochamma’ and welcomed her to the family. Marikar pointed out that her mother wanted to live on her own and was not interested in finding a partner immediately after her divorce. Lali, who made her debut in the Malayalam film industry in 2019 with Kumbalangi Nights, became busy in the Malayalam film industry following her divorce.
A snippet of an article written by Lali P. M. about her divorce and its aftermath
According to Anarkali, many people misinterpreted her mother as a person and pointed out that there were rumours that she abandoned her mother following the divorce; however, Anarkali denied all of them and stated that her mother was not in any way depressed or broken by Nias’s choice to be remarried and brushed off the people’s accusations that there was a rift between her and Lali. Marikar added that if her mother, Lali, has not entirely put off the idea of marrying someone else.
Husband
Anarkali Marikar is unmarried.
Relationships/Affairs
While speaking about her relationship status, in an interview, the actress pointed out that she was in a relationship; however, she refrained from revealing her partner’s identity.
Religion
Anarkali Marikar follows Islam.
Signature
Anarkali Marikar’s signature
Career
Film
In 2016, Anarkali made her debut in the Malayalam film industry with Aanandam directed by Ganesh Raj. Marikar was cast as Darshana Maliakal in the coming-of-age film; she was also the narrator of the film. In an interview, the actress spoke about Aanandam; Anarkali revealed that she landed the role of Darshana because of her sister’s friend Anend C. Chandran who worked as the cinematographer for Aanandam. She added that Chandran suggested trying out for the film’s audition after he saw her pictures, and later the actress was cast as Darshana.
A photograph of Anarkali Marikar with her co-artists from the set of the Malayalam film Aanandam
In 2017, she played the role of Gouri, the lead actress’ daughter, in the Malayalam-language drama film Vimaanam directed by debutant director Pradeep M. Nair. Her third film was the trilingual psychological thriller Amala which started shooting in 2017; however, the release was postponed multiple times, and some reports suggested the movie will be released in theatres in June 2023.
A still of Anarkali Marikar and Prithviraj Sukumaran from the Malayalam-language film Vimaanam
Marikar played the role of ‘Devika’ in Vijesh Vijay’s Malayalam-language romance film ‘Mandharam’ alongside Asif Ali, who played the lead role. While speaking about acting opposite Asif, in an interview, the actress pointed out that Asif Ali was her celebrity crush and added that it was fun acting opposite him.
A photograph of Asif Ali and Anarkali Marikar from the set of the Malayalam-language film Mandharam
Anarkali Marikar won critical appreciation for her role as Sariya D’Costa in the 2019 Malayalam-language thriller film Uyare, directed by debutant director Manu Ashokan. In 2022, Anarkali was cast as Jia in the Malayalam-language comedy-drama film Priyan Ottathilanu directed by Antony Sony.
A photograph of Anarkali Marikar and Parvathy Thiruvothu from the set of the Malayalam-language film Uyare
In April 2023, Anarkali was cast as Ziya, a transman, in the Malayalam-language film B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, directed by debutant director Shruthi Sharanyam; the film received critical appreciation. Later, the actress played the role of an alien in Gaganachari, a Malayalam-language dystopian sci-fi comedy directed by Arun Chandu. Some reports suggested that the film was selected at 12 international film festivals and received critical praise and multiple accolades.
Anarkali Marikar in the poster of the Malayalam-language film Gaganachari
Controversies
Accused of promoting racism for featuring as goddess Kaali in a photoshoot!
A series of the actress’ pictures from a photoshoot as goddess Kaali went viral on social media in July 2020. Soon after that many people berated Anarkali for doing the photoshoot. According to some reports, she was said to have promoted racism and discrimination on skin colour by limiting the opportunities of dark-skinned actors in the Malayalam film industry. Later, the actress issued an official apology through a post shared on her social media. In her social media post, Anarkali revealed that the team approached her first with another theme for the photoshoot; however, later, they were forced to come up with another theme because of some unforeseen difficulties.
A picture of Anarkali Marikar from the photoshoot as goddess Kaali
Reportedly, when the shooting team informed Marikar that the new idea for the photo shoot was for her to feature as goddess Kaali, the actress was in a situation in which she was forced to go ahead with the photoshoot. In her apology letter posted on social media, she stated that she would welcome all the positive criticism and assured that she would be cautious in the future not to repeat any such incidents; the actress went on to announce that she informed the producer of the photoshoot that she would not promote the photoshoot in any manner.
Bike Collection
Anarkali Marikar owns a Hero XPulse 200 motorbike.
Anarkali Marikar with her Hero XPulse 200 motorbike
Favourites
- Food: Idiyappam
- Actress: Grace Antony
- Malayalam Films: Thanmathra, Bhramaram, Bridge, and Makal. (Note: Bridge and Makal were part of the Malayalam-language anthology film Kerala Cafe which was released in 2009.)
Facts/Trivia
- In an interview, Anarkali Marikar pointed out that emotional drama was her favourite movie genre.
- Some reports suggested that the actress was considered for the titular role in the Malayalam-language film Nee-Na directed by Lal Jose, which was released in May 2015; however, the actress, a then-twelfth-standard student, doubted whether or not she could pull such an intense character and walked away from the offer.
- While speaking about her spending and savings from her acting career, in an interview, Marikar pointed out that she bought an Apple Macbook Air with the remuneration she received for the Malayalam film Aanandam which was released in 2016. Later, she purchased a Hero XPulse 200 bike.
A photograph of Anarkali Marikar with her Hero XPulse 200 motorbike
- On 18 March 2019, she posted a picture of her in a swimsuit on her social media account. Many people trolled the actress for sharing the photograph. Many suggested that the image was vulgar and wanted her to remove it from her account; however, a group of people supported her and lambasted the moral policing and negative comments about her attire.
A snippet of the post shared by Anarkali Marikar on social media
- She follows a non-vegetarian diet.
- In an interview, she revealed that the Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran was her first celebrity crush.
A screenshot of the post about Prithviraj Sukumaran shared by Anarkali Marikar on social media
- In December 2019, the actress was part of the widespread Citizenship (Amendment) Bill protests.
A photograph of Anarkali Marikar during the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill protests
- Anarkali Marikar and her mother participated in the Malayalam musical game show Parayam Nedam, which was telecasted on Amrita TV in August 2021.
- In November 2021, the actress was cast as Irene Joseph in the Malayalam-language short film Succour.
A still of Anarkali Marikar from the Malayalam-language short film Succour
- The actress, who is also a singer while speaking about her career, in an interview, revealed that she has learned music and sang a song titled Pathiye Nombaram in the unreleased Malayalam-language film Shubhadinam. Later, she sang the cover song for the Malayalam-language film Amala, which will be released in June 2023; Gopi Sundar composed the music.
