She was married to film director Amritham who had directed her in films like Hudugaatada Hudugi, the couple have one son Abhisekh and one adopted daughter Abhinaya. She belonged to a prominent lingayat family, her father Shivanna was a police sub inspector.
Manjula was born in Honenahalli, a village in Tumkur district on 5 April 1951 to Shivanna and Deveramma.
