Sanusha Santhosh became a familiar face in Malayalam cinema long before she entered adulthood. Known to audiences as Baby Sanusha, she earned recognition through several popular films and won praise for her performances as a child artiste. However, transitioning from a successful child actor to a leading lady proved more challenging, prompting her to explore different roles, take breaks from Malayalam cinema and eventually pursue higher education.
Today, Sanusha’s story extends beyond the film industry. Alongside her acting career, she has spoken about her mental health struggles and completed postgraduate studies in Global Mental Health and Society at the University of Edinburgh. Her journey reflects the challenges of growing up in the public eye and the possibility of building a meaningful path beyond the entertainment industry.
Sanusha Santhosh: The Child Star Malayalam Cinema Remembered
Born in Pallikkunnu, Kannur, Sanusha began acting at a young age. She made her film debut in the Mammootty-starrer Dada Sahib (2000), directed by Vinayan, and gradually became one of the familiar young faces in Malayalam cinema.
Her performances in films such as Meesa Madhavan (2002), Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum (2003), Manjupoloru Penkutti (2004), Maampazhakkaalam (2004) and Chotta Mumbai (2007) helped establish her reputation as a promising child artiste.
Sanusha received Kerala State Film Awards for Best Child Artist for her performances in Kaazhcha (2004) and Soumyam (2005). In Kaazhcha, she played Mammootty’s daughter, while Maampazhakkaalam featured her as Mohanlal’s stepdaughter.
Her performance in Kaazhcha, along with the popularity of the song “Dup Dup Janaki”, further strengthened her connection with audiences. At the time, some observers even viewed her as a potential future leading actress in Malayalam cinema.
Why Sanusha Stepped Away from Child Roles
Despite her success, Sanusha understood that continuing to play child characters would eventually limit her opportunities. After appearing in Chotta Mumbai, she took a break from acting to concentrate on her education and prepare for the next stage of her career.
In a 2012 interview with Mangalam, she explained that the decision was deliberate. Having started acting in kindergarten, she felt that it was time to move beyond the child-artist label.
Her decision reflected a challenge many former child actors encounter: audiences may continue to associate performers with the characters they played when they were young, even after those performers have grown up.
For Sanusha, stepping away offered an opportunity to focus on her studies while considering how she wanted to approach acting as an adult.
Sanusha’s Transition to Lead Roles
Sanusha began exploring adult roles with Tamil films, including Naalai Namadhe (2009), Renigunta (2009), Eththan (2011) and Nandhi (2011).
She subsequently made her debut as a lead actress in Malayalam cinema with Mr Marumakan (2012), starring opposite Dileep. The film attracted criticism for its portrayal of women and gender stereotypes, and it did not establish Sanusha as a leading star on the scale some had anticipated.
However, her career included performances that attracted attention. One notable example was Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013), in which she played a pregnant woman and received appreciation for her role.
She later appeared in films such as Sapthamashree Thaskaraha (2014), Mili (2015), Nirnayakam (2015), Vettah (2016), Santheyalli Nintha Kabira (2016), Kodiveeran (2017), Jersey (2019) and Jaladhara Pumpset Since 1962 (2023).
Although these projects allowed her to continue working across different film industries and genres, her adult acting career developed differently from the success she experienced as a child performer.
Why Sanusha Took a Break from Malayalam Cinema
Sanusha has clarified that her absence from Malayalam films did not mean she had completely stepped away from acting. During an interview with Onmanorama around the release of Jaladhara Pumpset Since 1962, she explained that she had continued working in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema.
She said her break from Malayalam cinema was intentional because she wanted to wait for roles that appealed to her. At the same time, she acknowledged missing the Malayalam film industry.
Her experience illustrates how an actor’s career can evolve through periods of reduced visibility, selective projects and work across regional industries rather than following a straightforward path towards stardom.
Sanusha Santhosh Opened Up About Her Mental Health Struggles
Sanusha also spoke publicly about a difficult period during the COVID-19 lockdown, when she experienced depression, anxiety and panic attacks. In interviews, she described struggling emotionally and finding it difficult to explain what she was experiencing to the people around her.
She said she eventually recognised the seriousness of her condition and sought a way to move forward. Speaking about the experience, she described how spending time with a friend in Wayanad and being close to nature helped her during that period.
Sanusha also revealed that she had experienced suicidal thoughts. Her account highlighted the importance of acknowledging emotional distress and seeking support rather than facing it alone.
Her experience should not be viewed simply as another chapter in a celebrity’s personal life. It is a reminder that mental health challenges can affect people regardless of their professional achievements, public recognition or personal circumstances.
Sanusha’s Account of the 2018 Train Harassment Incident
In 2018, Sanusha reported being harassed while travelling on a train to Thiruvananthapuram. In an interview with Asianet, she described waking up after feeling someone touch her lips and seeing a passenger on an opposite berth attempting to touch her.
According to reports at the time, railway police arrested the accused after Sanusha filed a complaint.
The incident drew attention to the importance of taking complaints of harassment seriously and ensuring that passengers can travel safely. Sanusha’s decision to report what happened also brought public attention to an issue that many people experience but may hesitate to discuss.
Sanusha Pursued Higher Education Beyond Acting
One of the most significant developments in Sanusha’s life has been her commitment to education. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from SN College in Kannur and a Master’s degree in Sociology from St Teresa’s College in Ernakulam.
In 2023, she completed an MSc in Global Mental Health and Society at the University of Edinburgh.
The qualification marked a notable step beyond her work in entertainment, giving her an academic background in a field closely connected to mental health, society and human behaviour.
Sanusha has spoken about wanting to use the knowledge and experience she gained in the United Kingdom to contribute to society after returning to India.
She has expressed an interest in helping people understand how social and biological factors influence behaviour from childhood and how greater awareness can support individual well-being.
Her stated ambitions suggest that education and mental health awareness have become important parts of the future she envisions for herself.
What Lies Ahead for Sanusha Santhosh?
Sanusha’s career has not followed the trajectory that many predicted during her years as a child star. While she has continued to appear in films, she has also made choices that place education, personal well-being and broader social interests alongside acting.
Her journey demonstrates that success does not always mean maintaining constant visibility or achieving leading-star status. For some performers, it can involve reassessing priorities, exploring new disciplines and finding different ways to contribute.
Whether Sanusha returns to Malayalam cinema with more substantial roles or pursues opportunities connected to mental health and society, her experience represents a life that extends well beyond her early screen image.
Sanoop Santhosh Also Made His Mark as a Child Actor
Sanusha’s younger brother, Sanoop Santhosh, also became known for his work as a child actor. He earned recognition for films such as Philips and the Monkey Pen (2013), Bhaskar the Rascal (2015), Jo and the Boy (2015) and Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol (2017).
Like his sister, Sanoop received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist for his performance in Philips and the Monkey Pen.
Both siblings experienced early recognition in Malayalam cinema, although their careers have developed along different paths.
Sanusha’s story ultimately goes beyond the familiar narrative of a child star struggling to become an adult lead actor. It is also about personal resilience, education, the importance of mental health and the freedom to redefine success on one’s own terms.
