Debut and early success (2002–2004)

At age 16, she debuted in the Malayalam film Nammal (2002), taking the stage name Bhavana with newcomers Jishnu Raghavan, Sidharth Bharathan and Renuka Menon.^[7] The film was a commercial success.^[8] She portrayed the role of Parimalam,^[9] a slum dweller who talks in Thrissur slang and received the Kerala State Special Jury Mention for the film.^[10] She once said, that she felt almost unrecognizable in the film, and people who knew her didn’t realize that it was her who played Parimalam.^[11]

The following year she had six releases. She had a cameo role in the Dileep and Kavya Madhavan starrer Thilakkam. In her next film, Chronic Bachelor, she played the sister of Mammootty. The film was a commercial hit.^[12] She starred with Dileep in C.I.D. Moosa, which turned out to be one of the best slapstick comedies in Malayalam cinema and a financial success. She had a significant part in the ensemble romantic comedy Swapnakoodu, co-starring with Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kunchacko Boban, Jayasurya and Meera Jasmine. Ivar and Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu failed at the box office.

In 2004, she appeared in a dance number with Dileep in Runway. Youth Festival, Parayam and Amritam were box office failures. She starred in Chathikkatha Chanthu alongside Navya Nair and Jayasurya which became a commercial success.

Established actress (2005–2010)

In 2005, she appeared in Rajesh Pillai's directorial debut Hridayathil Sookshikkan which opened to a negative reception. Also appeared in Police, directed by V. K. Prakash^[13] and in Banglavil Outha. Her next film, Daivanamathil directed by Jayaraj^[14] met with critical acclaim. She played the role of Samira, the girl who tries to change her husband and ends up in jail for his extremist activities.^[15] She received the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for the film.^[16] She then appeared in Chanthupottu, which was a commercially successful film. Her next film, Naran starring Mohanlal was also a commercial success.^[17] She starred alongside Mammootty in Bus Conductor. The film opened to mixed reviews but was a box office hit^[18] and also appeared in Udayananu Tharam.

In 2006, she made her debut in Tamil cinema with the release of Chithiram Pesuthadi with Narain.^[19] The film initially failed to attract an audience due to its low key release. The word of mouth helped the film regain its momentum and eventually have a re release that was well received by the audience, which led to the film's box office success.^[20] She received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for her portrayal of Charumathi, an NGO worker who battles injustice.^[21] She then starred in Chinthamani Kolacase,^[22] directed by Shaji Kailas and starring Suresh Gopi, which became a commercial success.^[23][24] Kisan directed by Sibi Malayil became a failure.^[25] Her next film starring Dileep was Chess,^[26] and despite having mixed reviews^[27] it became a box office hit.^[28] Her Tamil film Kizhakku Kadalkarai Salai with Srikanth was poorly received.^[29] She then starred in Veyil alongside Bharath.^[30] The film was critically acclaimed, and it went on to win numerous awards.^[31] Her first Tamil film was supposed to be Koodal Nagar^[32] but it was released a year later and received praise for her role.

In 2007, she co starred with Jayam Ravi in Deepavali which opened to mixed reviews.^[33] Critics wrote, "Bhavana takes full charge of this movie with her effervescence and prowess at handling emotional scenes".^[34] She then played Parakkum Latha, an enthuastic autorikshaw driver^[35] in Chotta Mumbai alongside Mohanlal.^[36] The film was a commercial success. Her next film was Aarya, alongside Madhavan, and it opened to a mixed reception.^[37] She appeared in Rameswaram with Jeeva.^[38]

In 2008, her film Vaazhthugal garnered poor reviews.^[39] She debuted in Telugu cinema with Ontari^[40] and also appeared in Hero.^[41] Her next film, Jayamkondaan opened to a positive reception.^[42] Her malayalam releases of the year were the ensemble Twenty:20 playing a significant role and Lollipop with Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kunchacko Boban and Jayasurya.

She starred in Amal Neerad's Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded starring Mohanlal, becoming a disappointment despite high expectations.^[43] She appeared in the horror flick Winter with Jayaram, regarded as one of the best horror films in Malayalam cinema.^[44] She played Shyama, the wife of Dr. Ramdas, played by Jayaram, whose family ends up in an abandoned house and experiences paranormal activities.^[45] She appeared in Robin Hood which received positive reviews from critics and was a box office success. Her Telugu film Mahatma with Srikanth also became a financial success.^[46]

Her film, Happy Husbands featuring an ensemble cast directed by Saji Surendran became a box office hit. She starred alongside Ajith in Aasal,^[47] playing the wife of Protagonist Shiva, Sulabha Pillai, which despite getting mixed reviews became a box office success.

Debut in Kannada cinema and beyond (2010–2021)

In 2010, she starred in her first Kannada film alongside Puneeth Rajkumar, Jackie which was a commercial success, with praise for her role.^[48] Her film, Marykkundoru Kunjaadu with Dileep, met with critical acclaim and became a commercial success.^[49] Her other films, Doctor Love, Kudumbasree Travels and The Metro^[50] were failures, with Oru Marubhoomikkadha starring Mohanlal becoming a box office hit. Her film, Vishnuvardhana with Sudeep opened to a mixed response,^[51] and became a decent hit, also receiving a nomination for the SIIMA Awards for Best Actress – Kannada.

In 2012, she appeared in Nippu^[52] and then starred in Romeo with Ganesh which opened to a positive response and accolades for her performance. Critics described her as, "Bhavana is a real scene stealer"^[53] and continued her success in Kannada cinema.^[54][55] She then appeared in the Malayalam film Ozhimuri^[56] alongside Asif Ali to widespread critical acclaim.^[57] The film went on to win numerous awards and was listed among the 25 best Malayalam films of the decade.^[58] She appeared in Trivandrum Lodge.^[59] Her next film of the year Yaare Koogadali, directed by Samuthirakani and starring Puneeth Rajkumar had a successful run at the box office.^[60] Critics described her as saying, "Bhavana has once again proved that she is a fantastic actress in emotional sequences".^[61]

In 2013, she appeared in two Kannada films Topiwala and Bachchan, with the latter getting positive reviews from critics. Her Malayalam films were Honey Bee^[62] and Ezhamathe Varavu, with Honey Bee emerging as a box office success.^[63] She appeared in films such as Polytechnic, Koothara, Angry Babies in Love, Hello Namasthe and Kuttikalundu Sookshikkuka, all of which were poorly received. She played Roshni Mathew, a single mother employed in an IT company, in Shyamaprasad's Ivide, a crime thriller based on the serial killing of IT techies in major US cities.^[64]

In 2017, she appeared in the ensemble kannada language drama Chowka.^[65] She reprised her role as Angel in Honey Bee 2: Celebrations. The film could not achieve the success of its earlier part.^[66] She then appeared in Adventures of Omanakuttan and Vilakkumaram which had a limited release.^[67] Adam Joan, starring Prithiviraj Sukumaran was her last malayalam release before a hiatus from Malayalam cinema.^[68]

In 2018, she starred alongside Shiva Rajkumar in Tagaru, which met critical acclaim,^[69] garnering praise for her role^[70] and later receiving a nomination for the SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She starred in 99, a remake of 96 with Ganesh opened to mixed reviews.^[71][72]

In 2021, she appeared in a series of Kannada films, Inspector Vikram, SriKrishna@gmail.com, Govinda Govinda and Bhajarangi 2, starring Shiva Rajkumar.^[73]

Return to Malayalam cinema (2023–present)

In 2022, it was announced that Bhavana would return to Malayalam cinema with Ntikkakkakkoru Premondarnn^[74] and the film was released in 2023.^[75]