She also appeared in a few Tamil and Telugu films, but her core fanbase remains in Kerala due to her Malayalam work.
Archana made her acting debut in 2009 with the directorial Neelathaamara (2009). In this period romantic drama, she played the role of Kunjimalu , a housemaid in an old Nair Tharavadu (ancestral home) who falls for the young master. Her performance was a standout, earning her numerous awards including the Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year and the Film Critics Award for Best Female New Face . She also appeared in a few Tamil and
Following this success, she appeared in (2010), directed by the now-famous Jeethu Joseph (of Drishyam fame), where she played the role of a rebellious teenager named Jewel. Her performance in the film earned her a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress – Malayalam . She then featured in Best of Luck (2010), which, despite high hopes, did not perform well at the box office. Her performance was a standout, earning her numerous