Mynavthi made her first screen appearance as an actor in the 1955 Kannada film Santa Sakhu and acted in over 100 Kannada films. She was the younger sister of another popular Kannada actress Pandari Bai. She became popular after her role in the 1959 Kannada film Abba Aa Hudugi, which co-starred Rajkumar and her sister Pandari Bai and was directed by H.L.N. Simha.