first appeared as a child actor in Kamal's film Pookkalam Varavayi (1991) at the age of seven.

Subsequently, she was offered parts in other projects such as Pavam IA

Ivachan (1994), Parassala Pachan Payyannur Paramu (1994) by P. Venu and Azhakiya
Ravanan (1996), directed by Kamal. She was offered the female lead in Chandranudikkunna
Dikhil, also starring Dileep, in 1999.[3] After the success of Chandranudikkunna Dikhil, Kavya and
Dileep became a popular pairing in Malayalam cinema, and they worked together in 21
movies.[4] Some of their movies are Thenkasipattanam (2000), Darling
Darling (2000), Dhosth (2001), Meesa Madhavan (2002) which was one of biggest grosser of the
year and was directed by Lal Jose, Mizhi Randilum (2003) in which she played a double
role, Sadanandante Samayam (2003), Thilakkam (2003) directed by Jayaraj, Runway (2004)
directed by Joshiy, Kochi Rajavu (2005), Lion (2006) again directed by Joshiy, Chakkara
Muthu (2006), Inspector Garud (2007), Paappi Appacha (2010), Vellaripravinte Changathi (2011)
and Pinneyum (2016). Most of their movies were in the romantic comedy genre.
She also acted in films with Mammootty and Mohanlal, and in movies with several stars, such
as Ee Pattanathil Bhootham, Christian Brothers and China Town.
She got critical acclaim for her performance of the role of Ganga in Perumazhakkalam for which
she won 2004 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and for the role of Ashwati
in Gaddama where she played a housemaid working in Saudi Arabia. The movie was based on a
feature by K. U. Iqbal, published in Bhashaposhini.[5] The movie was directed by her
mentor Kamal, and she got her second Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for 2011. She
won the 2011 Kerala Film Critics Awards for Best Actress, Amrita-FEFKA Film Awards for Best
Actress, Best Actress-Malayalam cinema in 59th Filmfare Awards South and Best Actress
in Thikkurissy Foundation Awards.[6] She was nominated in National film award for Best Actress
but lost out in the final round. She was part of big grossers like Christian Brothers and China
Town in 2011 and was selected as Top Star (Female) 2011 in Malayalam.[7]
She was cast in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Naalu Pennungal in which she played a supporting role.
Though she had many offers from Tamil cinema, she was very reluctant to act due to her busy
schedule in Malayalam. Her first was Kasi (2001) which was the remake
of Vinayans Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum. She went on to act in En Mana
Vaanil and Sadhu Miranda and enjoyed moderate success.[citation needed]
She wrote lyrics for the song "En Khalbillulloru Pennaanu" for the film One Way Ticket (2008)
and for Aka