Real Name: Amala Paul Birth Place: October 26, 1991 Ernakulam, Kerala, India Father Name: Paul Varghese Mother Name: Annice Paul Amala was born in 1991 in Ernakulam, Kerala to Christian Malayali parents, Paul Varghese and Annice Paul. After completing her Plus Two examinations, she took a sabbatical to begin a career in films, but has since joined St. Teresa's College in Kochi, to pursue further education and is currently in her second year. Her father had been strictly against Amala pursuing a acting career, but was forced to accept her decision with her brother strongly backing her ambition. Amala had changed her on-screen name to Anaka, On director Samy's insistence, who cited that another actress, Amala had already made her name popular. However, after the failure of Sindhu Samaveli, she reverted to her birth name since she felt that the replacement had brought her bad luck.