Bhanupriya's entry into the film industry was facilitated by her father, who was a film producer. She made her debut in the 1985 film "Chidambara Peetham," a Tamil drama directed by G. R. Moorthy. Although the film didn't fare well at the box office, Bhanupriya's performance caught the attention of critics and industry insiders. Her breakthrough role came in 1987 with the film "Pallu Padama Paathuka," a comedy-drama directed by A. Jagannathan. The film's success marked the beginning of Bhanupriya's successful career in Tamil cinema.