Meghana Sundar Raj Sarja is an Indian actress who primarily works in Malayalam and Kannada films along with a few Telugu and Tamil films. She made her acting debut in the 2009 Telugu film Bendu Apparao R.M.P.[1] She has won Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Iruvudellava Bittu, a 2018 Kannada film.[2]
Meghana Raj | |
|---|---|
 Raj in 2016 | |
| Born | Meghana Sundar Raj |
| Alma mater | Christ University |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Dhruv Sarja (brother-in-law) Arjun Sarja (uncle) Aishwarya Arjun (sister-in-law) |
Early life
editMeghana Raj was born as the only daughter to film actors Sundar Raj, a Tamilian,[3] and Pramila Joshai, a Kannadiga. Her father Sundar has acted in more than 180 films, predominantly in Kannada language,[4] while her mother Pramila also a noted Kannada film [citation needed] producer.[citation needed] She completed her schooling from Baldwin Girls' High School and holds Bachelor's degree in psychology at Christ University, Bangalore.[5]
Acting career
edit2009–11: Debut, breakthrough and setback
editMeghana Raj debuted as a theatre artist, when she was a child, acting alongside her father in the play Jokumaraswamy. During the audio launch function of the Tamil film Poi in February 2006, she was invited by its director K. Balachander to pursue an acting career, starring in one of his forthcoming films. Accepting his offer, she was given the lead female role in the Tamil film Krishnaleelai, a Balachander production, directed by Selvan.[citation needed] However, despite continuing shooting throughout 2008, which was completed in early 2009, the film got stuck in production hell, and its release got delayed for various reasons.
Even before the release of that film, she commenced shooting for a Telugu film Bendu Apparao R.M.P, which would eventually be her first feature film release. She played the character of a school teacher in the comedy entertainer, starring Allari Naresh and Kamna Jethmalani as well, which released in October 2009 and went on to become highly successful at the box office.[6] She debuted in the Kannada films by enacting the female lead role in Punda, a remake of the 2007 Tamil film Polladhavan.[5] Meghana's next release was her debut Tamil film, the Boopathy Pandian-directed Kaadhal Solla Vandhen, while she also signed up her first Malayalam project, the horror film Yakshiyum Njanum under Vinayan's direction, which was released in August 2010.[7] Although the film was just an average grosser, its glamorous and sensual songs on Meghana was a hit among the youth and made her an instant favorite among the youth. During that time she also acted in two more projects, Nanda Nanditha, which is a remake of the 2008 Kannada film Nanda Loves Nanditha and the Tamil film Kalla Siripazhaga.
2011–13: Beautiful and commercial success
editMeghana starred in the Malayalam film Beautiful which was released in December. The film was a success both commercially and critically, with critics regarding it as one of the best Malayalam movies of 2011.[8] Meghana's portrayal of Anjali, a home nurse in the film won her very good reviews. Since getting noticed with Beautiful, Meghana got a lot of Malayalam films offers[9] and was briefly the most sought out actress in Malayalam.[9]
It was during this time when Meghana started to undergo a total physique revamp by going through a strict diet and exercise regime.[10]
Her 2012 Malayalam film Namukku Parkkan did a decent business at the box office. Subsequent films Mullamottum Munthiricharum, Banking Hours 10 to 4, Maad Dad, Madirasi and Red Wine failed to perform. However, her next film Memories opposite Prithviraj Sukumaran opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews and was a box office success.
2013–15: Second wind in Sandalwood and continuing success
editMeghana Raj returned to Kannada films in late 2013 with the film Raja Huli, followed by Bahuparak; her performances in both films were well appreciated.[11] Meghana's next Kannada movie Aatagara was released in late August 2015 to both critical and commercial acclaim [citation needed]. Her next film was Vamshodharaka.
2016 onwards
editPost 2016 Meghana Raj starred in Hallelooya, Lakshmana, Bhujanga and Allama. Meghana was recently chosen to portray princess Bhanumati in the Kannada magnum opus Kurukshetra.[12]
Personal life
editAfter a 10-year relationship with fellow Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja, Meghana got engaged to him on 22 October 2017.[13] They got married on 2 May 2018.[14] Sarja died on 7 June 2020 from cardiac arrest when Meghana was expecting their first child.[15][16] Their son, Raayan Raj Sarja, was born on 22 October 2020.[17][18][19]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Bendu Apparao R.M.P | Gayatri | Telugu | |
| 2010 | Punda | Megha | Kannada | Suvarna Film Award for Best Debut Actress in Kannada |
| Kaadhal Solla Vandhen | Sandhya Panchacharam | Tamil | ||
| Yakshiyum Njanum | Aathira | Malayalam | ||
| 2011 | August 15 | Lakshmi | ||
| Raghuvinte Swantham Rasiya | Rasiya | |||
| Uyarthiru 420 | Iyal | Tamil | ||
| Pachuvum Kovalanum | Sukanya | Malayalam | ||
| Beautiful | Anjali/Annie | The Kochi Times Film Award for Promising Newcomer [20] Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam | ||
| Ponnu Kondoru Aalroopam | ||||
| 2012 | Nanda Nanditha | Nandhitha | Tamil Telugu |
|
| Achante Aanmakkal | Meera | Malayalam | ||
| Namukku Parkkan | Renuka | |||
| Mullamottum Munthiricharum | Suchitra | |||
| Banking Hours 10 to 4 | Revathy | |||
| Lucky | Janaki | Telugu | ||
| Poppins | Malayalam | |||
| Madirasi | Maya | |||
| 2013 | Maad Dad | Annamma | [21] | |
| Red Wine | Ann Mary | |||
| Up & Down: Mukalil Oralundu | Deepa | |||
| Memories | Teena | |||
| Good Bad & Ugly | Kavya | |||
| Raja Huli | Kaveri | Kannada | ||
| 2014 | Bahuparak | Sneha / Preethi | ||
| 100 Degree Celsius | Revathy | Malayalam | Also playback singer for song "Pacha Manja" | |
| The Dolphins | Mridula | |||
| 2015 | Aatagara | Sakshi | Kannada | |
| Vamshodharaka | ||||
| 2016 | Hallelooya | Dr. Meera Menon | Malayalam | |
| Lakshmana | Anjali | Kannada | [citation needed] | |
| Bhujanga | Rachana | |||
| 2017 | Allama | Maya | ||
| Noorondu Nenapu | Shruthi Aras | |||
| Jindaa | ||||
| 2018 | MMCH | Megha | ||
| Iruvudellava Bittu | Poorvi | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress[2] Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada Nominated – Filmibeat Award for Best Actress – Kannada | ||
| 2019 | Onti | Paaru | ||
| Kurukshetra | Bhanumati | |||
| 2022 | Selfie Mummy Googl Daddy | Shalini | ||
| 2023 | Tatsama Tadbhava | Arika | [22] | |
| Buddhivanta 2† | Samantha D’Souza | Completed[23] |
As singer
edit| Year | Song | Film | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Simple Preeti | Bahuparak | Kannada | Sung with Srinagar Kitty |
| 2014 | Pacha Manja | 100 Degree Celsius | Malayalam | |
| 2019 | What a Beautifullu Hudugi | Sinnga | Kannada | Sung with Naveen Sajju |
| 2020 | Allondhu Neeli Bhanu | Shivarjuna | Sung with Sanjith Hegde |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Dancing Champion | Judge | Colors Kannada | [24] |
Awards and nominations
editThis section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (February 2023) |
- 2011: The Kochi Times Film Award for Promising Newcomer – Beautiful[20]
- 2011: Suvarna Film Award for Best Debut Actress in Kannada – Punda
- 2012: Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam – Beautiful
- 2018: Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress – Iruvudellava Bittu[2]
- 2019: Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada – Iruvudellava Bittu
- 2019: Nominated – Filmibeat Award for Best Actress – Kannada – Iruvudellava Bittu
Public image
editMeghana's official Facebook page has received more than 2.5 million likes.[25][non-primary source needed] She was ranked No.19 in Kochi Times' 'Most desirable Woman 2015' poll[26] was ranked No.10 in Bangalore Times' 'Most desirable Women 2015'.[27]
References
edit- ^ "Prescription for laughter" Archived 9 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu. 3 July 2009.
- ^ a b c "Karnataka State Film Awards 2018: Raghavendra Rajkumar and Meghana Raj bag top honours; check out all winners". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ Web's Most Searched Questions | Google Q&A | Meghana Raj. 27 January 2023. Event occurs at 1:28. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "Nature Indoors". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Meghana Raj arrives – Kannada Movie News". IndiaGlitz. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Bendu Appa Rao RMP is a hit – Teluguc inema trade report". Idlebrain.com. 21 October 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Vinayan's Yakshiyum Njanum - An eerie love story". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "'Beautiful' is a milestone in Malayalam cinema". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ a b Sreekumar, Priya (21 December 2011). "Beautiful time of Meghana Raj's life". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ "I am obsessed with workouts". The Times of India. TOI. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018.
- ^ Meghana Raj gets into the skin of a dancer for a period film Archived 5 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Sify.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ Meghana Raj roped in for Kurukshetra Archived 28 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine. www.newindianexpress.com (25 November 2017). Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Chiranjeevi and Meghana Raj got engaged". Deccan Herald. 22 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Kannada Actors Meghana Raj And Chiranjeevi Sarja Get Married". NDTV. 3 May 2018. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ Bharadwaj, Aditya (7 June 2020). "Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja passes away at 39". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Chiranjeevi Sarja and Meghana Raj were eagerly awaiting an addition to their family when tragedy struck". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "Happy Memories: Chiranjeevi Sarja's Love Story With Wife Meghna Raj In Pictures". thehansindia. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ "Chirranjeevi Sarja's wife Meghana Raj blessed with baby boy". The Indian Express. 22 October 2020.
- ^ "Meghana Raj and son test positive for coronavirus". The Indian Express. 9 December 2020.
- ^ a b "The Kochi Times Film Awards 2011". 23 June 2012. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ Sudhish, Navamy (31 July 2012). "Director Revathy S Varma, on 'Mad Dad'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Tatsama Tadbhava: Meghana Raj Sarja to return to big screens; Collaborates with Pannaga Bharana for her next". PINKVILLA. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Exclusive! Meghana Raj to play detective Samantha D'Souza in 'Buddhivantha 2'". The Times of India. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Meghana Raj is now a permanent judge of Dancing Champion show". The Times of India. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Meghana Raj Official Facebook". Archived from the original on 16 December 2019 – via Facebook.
- ^ Prakash, Asha (27 April 2016). "Kochi Times most desirable woman 2015". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016.
- ^ "Bangalore Times Most Desirable Women 2015". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018.