Rima Kallingal

Rima Kallingal is an Indian model and film actress, predominantly appearing in Malayalam cinema.

After being named First Runner-up in the Miss Kerala 2008 contest, she went on to pursue a career in acting. She made her film debut in 2009 through the film Ritu and later appeared in Neelathaamara (2009) and continues to work in Malayalam films. Her notable roles include roles in City of God (2011), Indian Rupee (2011), Nidra (2012), 22 Female Kottayam (2012), August Club (2013), and Rani Padmini (2015).

Born in1984 Thrissur, Rima Kallingal began practising dancing when she was three years old. A dancer by profession, she has performed on national and international stages. She studied in Stanes Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor up to Fifth grade. She completed her schooling from Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Thrissur, passing out in 2001. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Christ University, Bangalore. She is also skilled in Taekwondo (Korean martial art), Chao (Manipuri martial art) and Kalari.

She was a semi-finalist of the Asianet reality show Vodafone Thakadhimi. She moved to Bangalore to pursue a modelling career and later participated in the Miss Kerala beauty pageant, in which be she became the first runner-up, losing to Shree Thulasi in a tie-breaker.

She was spotted by director Lal Jose on a magazine cover, who cast her for a goat herder role in a Tamil film Mazhai Varappoguthu. The project didn't materialise, but she was offered the lead female character of Varsha by director Shyamaprasad for Ritu, which eventually marked her acting debut. She was 25 when she acted in the film.

In 2012, she acted in the film 22 Female Kottayam which became a big success, commercially as well as critically. She received praises and won many awards for her portrayal of Tessa. She also won the Kerala State Government award for Best Actress. After 22 Female Kottayam she told that she had made some mistakes in her career and stated "Yes, I have done a few films I never should have, but I am determined not to repeat those mistakes".

In 2013, Rima turned television anchor with the Mazhavil Manorama show "Midukki". Following which the Kerala Film Chamber imposed a ban on her which was revoked later.

Rima got married to director Aashiq Abu on 1 November 2013, in a simple ceremony held in Kakkand Registration office, Kochi in the presence of their close relatives and friends. Aashiq and Rima, dressed in a simple way, came with their family and friends to register their marriage. Aashiq and Rima's brothers signed the witness column of the marriage register and thus officially they became husband and wife. After the function, they had arranged a small feast for their well-wishers.

Rima has said that she would continue to act in films post marriage. "I do not mix my personal and professional life. I will continue to act," she said. Rima said on a social networking site prior to her wedding that she would not be wearing any gold for the function as a protest against the dowry system.

On 31 October 2013, a day before marriage, they donated Rs 1 million towards the welfare of poor cancer patients at the general hospital, Ernakulam and on marriage day they gave Rs 25,000 to meet a day's expense of the dietary kitchen at the hospital. The couple had then said that they did not want any gala wedding celebrations and instead used the money for charity.