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Born: June 6, 1986 (age 26), Thrissur
Parents: Pushpa, G. Balachandran Menon
Siblings: Jayadev

Karthika Menon better known by her stage name Bhavana, is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut in Kamal's Nammal (2002), which won her critical acclaim and various honors. In a career spanning over a decade, she has appeared in over forty-five films, in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films, while winning one Filmfare and two Kerala State Film Awards.

Bhavana was born Karthika Menon in Nellangara, Thrissur, Kerala, the daughter of Pushpa and assistant cinematographer, G. Balachandra Menon. She has one brother, Jayadev, who currently lives in Vancouver, Canada. She studied at Holy Family Girls' High School, Chembukkavu, near Kerala state zoo Thrissur. Bhavana, who describes herself as a restless and a confused person and someone who's "hard to handle", states that she had grown up with a dream to become an actress.She recalls that, as a five-year-old, she used to imitate actress Amala's scenes from the Malayalam film Ente Sooryaputhrikku in front of the mirror and was even willing to jump from a building and break her arm, like Amala's character did in the film.