In the course of an acting career spanning over four decades, Annapoorna has appeared in over a hundred Telugu films, primarily in supporting roles. She made her feature film debut as a heroine in the 1975 blockbuster Swargam Naragam, where she starred alongside Mohan Babu. Annapoorna has won the Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress multiple times, for Manishiko Charithra (1982) and Maa Inti Adapaduchu (1996). Some of the actress` most memorable performances in the 1980s and 90s have come in movies like Samsaram Oka Chadarangam (1987), Trinetrudu (1988), Muthyamantha Muddu (1989) and Assembly Rowdy (1991). Besides Tollywood, Annapoorna has also been part of a handful of Tamil films. Significant acting credits in recent times include Evadaithe Nakenti (2007), Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012), Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha (2016), Rarandoi Veduka Chudham (2017) and E Ee (2017). Her 2018 releases include Srinivasa Kalyanam and Geetha Govindam.