Punarnavi Bhupalam is born in Tenali, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh in to a well to do Brahmin family. She grew up at her grandmother’s place. Her mother is a fashion designer and runs her own boutique. She studied till her 10^th in Vijaywada and later moved to Hyderabad for her college Studies. She joined Saint Marys College in Hyderabad for her higher studies.

Punarnavi developed interest in theater during her 10^th standard when she played a little role in Julius Caesar play.  Later when she moved to Hyderabad, she expressed her desire to learn more of theater with her uncle who joined her in Samahaara theater group. She worked almost two years for that theater group. Uyyala Jampala director Viranchi and Punarnavi’s uncle are good friends. Her uncle introduced her to the movie director and thus she is auditioned and selected for the Sunita role.

The film was a blockbuster. The movie despite having a famous face, Avika Gor as the female lead, Punarnavi managed to get her credit and became very popular.