Meghana Raj

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In this Indian name, the name Sundar Raj is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Meghana.

Meghana Raj
Raj in 2016
Born
Meghana Sundar Raj

Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Alma materChrist University
Years active2009–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2018; died 2020)​
Children1
Parents
RelativesDhruv Sarja (brother-in-law)
Arjun Sarja (uncle)
Aishwarya Arjun (sister-in-law)

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] She is the widow of Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja.

Early life[edit]

Meghana 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[edit]

2009–11: Debut, breakthrough and setback[edit]

Meghana 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[edit]

Meghana 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[edit]

Meghana 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[edit]

Raj at the presentation of the film ‘Allama’, during the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI-2016), in Panaji, Goa on 26 November 2016, along with the cast of the film

Post 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[edit]

After 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[edit]

Public image[edit]

Meghana'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]

  1. ^ "Prescription for laughter" Archived 9 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu. 3 July 2009.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Web's Most Searched Questions | Google Q&A | Meghana Raj. 27 January 2023. Event occurs at 1:28. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Nature Indoors". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Meghana Raj arrives – Kannada Movie News". IndiaGlitz. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Vinayan's Yakshiyum Njanum - An eerie love story". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  8. ^ "'Beautiful' is a milestone in Malayalam cinema". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "I am obsessed with workouts". The Times of India. TOI. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Meghana Raj roped in for Kurukshetra Archived 28 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine. www.newindianexpress.com (25 November 2017). Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  13. ^ "Chiranjeevi and Meghana Raj got engaged". Deccan Herald. 22 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "Chirranjeevi Sarja's wife Meghana Raj blessed with baby boy". The Indian Express. 22 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Meghana Raj and son test positive for coronavirus". The Indian Express. 9 December 2020.
  20. ^ a b "The Kochi Times Film Awards 2011". 23 June 2012. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  21. ^ Sudhish, Navamy (31 July 2012). "Director Revathy S Varma, on 'Mad Dad'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "Exclusive! Meghana Raj to play detective Samantha D'Souza in 'Buddhivantha 2'". The Times of India. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Meghana Raj is now a permanent judge of Dancing Champion show". The Times of India. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Meghana Raj Official Facebook". Archived from the original on 16 December 2019 – via Facebook.
  26. ^ Prakash, Asha (27 April 2016). "Kochi Times most desirable woman 2015". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016.
  27. ^ "Bangalore Times Most Desirable Women 2015". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018.

External links[edit]

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