Ashwathy Kurup (born 7 April 1970[1]), better known by her stage name Parvathy, is an Indian former actress, costume designer and classical dancer, who appeared in Malayalam films.

She had her primary education at Devaswom Board Higher Secondary School, Thiruvalla.

This was where she was discovered by director Lenin Rajendran, who cast her as the lead in a film that was shelved and was never released.

She then acted in her first movie Vivahitare Itihile (1986), directed by Balachandra Menon at the age of 16.

[citation needed] Parvathy met her future husband Jayaram on the set of Aparan, at Udaya Studio in Alappuzha, in 1988.