Remember child actor who got kidnapped in Hera Pheri?

Hera Pheri completed 20 years in 2020, and while fans fondly remember characters like Raju and Baburao, many forget the kidnapped girl Rinku, played by Ann Alexia Anra. Now 30, Ann looks completely unrecognizable in her recent photos.Early Life and Acting CareerAnn Alexia Anra, born and raised in Chennai, began her acting career at a young age. She appeared as a child artist in several notable films across Bollywood and Kollywood. Among her most memorable roles are the kidnapped girl in Hera Pheri and the daughter of Kamal Haasan and Meena in the Tamil classic Avvai Shanmugi.Limited Filmography and Family DecisionsDespite her early success, Ann Alexia Anra acted in only four films — Avvai Shanmugi, Hera Pheri, Thaayin Manikodi, and Hathyara.

She once revealed that while her parents supported her work in advertisements, they were hesitant about film roles due to the time commitment involved. They allowed her to do Hera Pheri only because it was filmed during her summer vacation. After that, they decided she should step away from acting — a decision she continues to respect to this day.Memories from the Set of Hera PheriIn an interview celebrating 20 years of Hera Pheri, Ann Alexia Anra fondly recalled her time on set. She shared memories of the fun atmosphere, Akshay Kumar’s playful pranks, and an incident where Paresh Rawal scolded her for getting too close to the camera.

She also remembered happily accepting sweets and chocolates from the stars. At the time, Annie admitted she wasn’t familiar with the film industry or aware of the big names she was working with, which actually helped her feel more at ease during the shoot.After stepping away from acting, Ann Alexia Anra shifted her focus to academics. She received a French government scholarship that enabled her to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in France.

Upon returning to India, she began her professional journey, first working at an advertising agency and later at a software company. Today, she has carved out a successful career as a social media and digital marketing expert.Annie’s Current Stance on ActingAnnie considers herself an ex-actress and has no plans to return to films. Though she still takes up the occasional commercial offer, she feels she was more suited to acting as a child.

She has expressed that coming back to the film industry would require more effort than she’s willing to put in now.The Covid-19 Lockdown and Hera Pheri’s ResurgenceDuring the Covid-19 lockdown, classic films like Hera Pheri and Avvai Shanmugi saw a resurgence in popularity. With easy access to films online, many viewers revisited these iconic titles. Memes from Hera Pheri in particular made a strong comeback on social media, bringing the beloved trio of Baburao, Raju, and Shyam back into the spotlight and winning over a new generation of fans.

While the memes were capturing hearts on social media, audiences also grew curious about the film’s characters. One standout was ‘Rinku,’ the kidnapped girl from Hera Pheri, sparking the trending question, “Who is she?” Likewise, Tamil viewers revisited Avvai Shanmugi, fueling similar interest in its cast.