She became popular after her role in the 1959 Kannada film Abba Aa Hudugi, which co-starred Rajkumar and her sister Pandari Bai and was directed by H. L. N. Simha.

She has acted alongside other greats of Kannada cinema like Kalyan Kumar and Udaykumar, with Sivaji Ganesan in Tamil films.

Her other popular films include Kacha Devayani, Naane Bhagyavathi, Anuraadha, Annapurna, Sarvajnamurthy, Amma, Muthaide Bhagya and Obbarigintha Obbaru.

Launching "Yantra Media" in the 1980s with her sons, Mynavathi entered the television industry.

[1] Mynavathi died on 10 November 2012 at the BGS Global Hospital, Bangalore from cardiac arrest.