Heera Rajagopal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | India |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1991–1999 |
Heera Rajagopal is a former Indian actress who has appeared in a number of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi language films.
Heera Rajagopal | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Born | India |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1991–1999 |
Heera Rajagopal is a former Indian actress who has appeared in a number of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi language films.
As a military brat, Heera shifted to schools across different states in India every few years. [1] She later pursued a degree in psychology at Women's Christian College, Chennai. [2] During her time in college, Heera was approached to model for print magazines and she took on the opportunities for financial independence. She also briefly worked as an encyclopaedia-seller, a hotel worker and a model coordinator in her days as a student. Heera was initially not keen for a career in films and turned down initial approaches for roles by film directors. She first received a film offer on a family holiday at Gulmarg in Kashmir, where a producer had approached her to play the body double for Tina Munim. She also later rejected an offer from filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who had attended one of her modelling assignments. [3]
In 1991, soon after finishing college, Heera accepted to play the lead female role in Kathir's Tamil romantic drama film Idhayam . [3] [4] Despite her initial apprehensions, she was convinced by film producer T. G. Thyagarajan to become an actress, and she obliged, crediting the professional approach and continued determination of the film's team to sign her on. [5] She portrayed a medical student, who does not notice her classmate's love for her, throughout the entire film. The film performed well at the box office, and has since been discussed as a "cult film" in Tamil cinema. [6] Heera's second film Nee Pathi Naan Pathi (1991), was directed by Vasanth and produced by Kavithalayaa Productions. [7] She then starred in four films opposite actor Sarathkumar in quick succession, before playing a single mother in Sabash Babu (1993), written by T. Rajender. [8]
Heera was cast by Mani Ratnam in his caper film Thiruda Thiruda (1993), and portrayed a rural belle who becomes a thief on the run, alongside actors Prashanth and Anand. A critic from The New Indian Express wrote there was "a drastic change of image from her hitherto sophisticated roles" and that she enacts it "so successfully". [8] She later debuted in Bollywood through Raj Sippy's Amaanat (1994) co-starring Sanjay Dutt and Akshay Kumar. The film had a delayed release, after being impacted by Dutt's criminal litigation process. [9]
In the mid-1990s, Heera continued to act in high-profile Tamil productions, though often as one of several female lead actresses. She notably appeared in Balu Mahendra's comedy drama Sathi Leelavathi (1995), alongside an ensemble cast including Kamal Haasan, Ramesh Aravind and Raja. She portrayed a corporate manager in Agathiyan's Kadhal Kottai (1996), co-starring Ajith Kumar and Devayani. The film performed well at the box office, and went on to win several National Film Awards. She later featured in a supporting role opposite Kamal Haasan in K. S. Ravikumar's comedy drama Avvai Shanmugi (1996).
Heera opted to quit the film industry in late 1999 citing she did not want to "succumb to the inevitable pressures" to play roles that did not appeal to her intellect sensibilities. [10]
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Aparadhi | Telugu | Debut | |
| 1986 | Poojaku Panikiraani Puvvu | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | Idhayam | Geetha | Tamil | Debut |
| Nee Pathi Naan Pathi | Madhu | Tamil | ||
| 1992 | Public Rowdy | Telugu | ||
| Endrum Anbudan | Kamali | Tamil | ||
| 1993 | Dasarathan | Tamil | ||
| Munarivippu | Padma | Tamil | ||
| Band Master | Tamil | |||
| Sabash Babu | Lalitha | Tamil | ||
| Thiruda Thiruda | Rajathi | Tamil | ||
| Apoorva Jodi | Kannada | Debut | ||
| 1994 | Namma Annachi | Priya | Tamil | |
| Thaatboot Thanjavoor | Tamil | |||
| Dongala Rajyam | Telugu | |||
| Amaanat | Gita | Hindi | Debut | |
| The Gentleman | Hindi | |||
| 1995 | Sathi Leelavathi | Priya | Tamil | |
| Nirnayam | Annie | Malayalam | Debut | |
| Minnaminuginum Minnukettu | Pinky Menon | Malayalam | ||
| Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary | Indu | Malayalam | ||
| 1996 | Little Soldiers | Anitha | Telugu | |
| Sri Karam | Telugu | |||
| Krishna | Tara | Tamil | ||
| Kadhal Kottai | Neha | Tamil | ||
| Mr. Bechara | Asha Varma | Hindi | ||
| Aur Ek Prem Kahani | Kokila | Hindi | ||
| Avvai Shanmugi | Ratna | Tamil | ||
| 1997 | Aahvaanam | Telugu | ||
| Kalavida | Kannada | |||
| Chelikadu | Telugu | |||
| 1998 | Aavida Maa Aavide | Jhansi | Telugu | |
| Sundara Pandian | Ramya | Tamil | ||
| Poothiruvathira Ravil | Aswathy | Malayalam | ||
| Yaare Neenu Cheluve | Diana | Kannada | ||
| Anthahpuram | Dancer | Telugu | Special appearance in a song | |
| Padutha Thiyaga | Telugu | |||
| Yuvaratna Rana | Telugu | |||
| Pooveli | Shalini | Tamil | ||
| 1999 | Thodarum | Meera | Tamil | |
| Peddamanushulu | Bhanumathi | Telugu | ||
| Alludugaaru Vachcharu | Shalini | Telugu | ||
| Suyamvaram | Indiran's girlfriend | Tamil |
Kamal Haasan is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, playback singer, television presenter, social activist and politician who works mainly in Tamil cinema. Besides Tamil, he has also appeared in some Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali films. Considered as one of the finest actors in Indian cinema, Haasan is also known for introducing many new film technologies and film making techniques to the Indian film industry. He has won numerous accolades, including Four National Film Awards, Nine Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Four Nandi Awards, One Rashtrapati Award, Two Filmfare Awards and 17 Filmfare Awards South. He was awarded the Kalaimamani Award in 1984, the Padma Shri in 1990, the Padma Bhushan in 2014 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) in 2016.
Gautami Tadimalla is an Indian actress and politician from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. She has worked mainly in Tamil and Telugu, in addition to Malayalam, Hindi, and Kannada films. She was one of the leading South Indian actresses from 1987 to 1998. She is also a television actress, television host, the founder of Life Again Foundation, and a costume designer in Films.
Prashanth Thiagarajan, known professionally as Prashanth, is an Indian actor and businessman, known for his works predominantly in Tamil cinema. Besides Tamil films, he has also appeared in few Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam films. At the peak of his career in the late 1990s, Prashanth was one of the popular actors in South India. He has won a Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu. The son of actor-director Thiagarajan, Prashanth began his career at 17 by appearing in the Tamil film Vaigasi Poranthachu (1990) and went on to feature in other films including Balu Mahendra's Vanna Vanna Pookkal (1992), R. K. Selvamani's Chembaruthi (1992), K. Rushendra Reddy's Tholi Muddhu (1993), and Mani Ratnam's action-comedy Thiruda Thiruda (1993). Prashanth rose to stardom with Shankar's romantic comedy Jeans (1998) in which he played a dual role alongside Aishwarya Rai. The success of Jeans saw him garner opportunities to work in bigger film projects and in the late 1990s, he featured in a series of breakthrough films such as Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998), Kaadhal Kavithai (1998), Jodi (1999) and Parthen Rasithen (2000).
Thiruda Thiruda is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language black comedy caper film directed by Mani Ratnam written along with Ram Gopal Varma. The film stars Prashanth, Anand, Anu Aggarwal and Heera Rajagopal while S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Salim Ghouse play supporting roles. The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by A. R. Rahman while the cinematography was handled by P. C. Sriram. In 1994, the film premièred at the Toronto International Film Festival. It also won the National Film Award for Best Special Effects.This is the one and only film that Anu Aggarwal has acted in Tamil.
Suhasini Rajaram Naidu, known professionally as Sneha, is an Indian actress who works primarily in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films in lead roles to supporting roles.
Dasavathaaram is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language science fiction action-thriller film directed by K. S. Ravikumar. It stars Kamal Haasan, who also wrote the script, in ten distinct roles, along with Asin, Jaya Prada, Mallika Sherawat, K. R. Vijaya, Rekha, Nagesh, P. Vasu, Raghuram, Napoleon and M. S. Bhaskar in subsidiary roles. The film focuses on scientist Govind, who's forced to steal a vial containing a deadly virus from his corrupt boss who intended to sell it to a terrorist nation, all the while he's hunted by an American mercenary named Christian Fletcher, an Indian police inspector named Balram Naidu and a set of dark events. Several other people also get involved in the process and all their stories connect after the striking of 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, thus bringing philosophical views into the picture.
K. S. Ravikumar is an Indian film director, film producer, screenwriter and actor, primarily working in Tamil cinema.
Avvai Shanmugi is a 1996 Indian Tamil-language slapstick comedy film directed by K. S. Ravikumar and co-written by Crazy Mohan. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Meena, with Gemini Ganesan, Nagesh, Heera, Manivannan, Nassar, Delhi Ganesh and Ann in supporting roles. It is an unofficial remake of the American film Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). The film revolves around a divorcé who disguises as a nanny to be close to his daughter, whose custody is only with his ex-wife.
Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language neo-noir action thriller film written and directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Jyothika, and Kamalinee Mukherjee in prominent roles, while Prakash Raj, Daniel Balaji, and Salim Baig played supporting roles. It revolves around DCP Raghavan, who tries to track down two serial killers.
Sathi Leelavathi is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed, co-written, photographed and edited by Balu Mahendra. The film stars Ramesh Aravind, Kalpana and Heera, with Kovai Sarala and Kamal Haasan in supporting roles. It revolves around Arun (Aravind) who, unhappy with his wife Leelavathi's (Kalpana) plain looks and weight, engages in an extramarital affair with Priya (Heera).
Abhirami is an Indian actress, television host and reality show judge. She has acted predominantly in Tamil and Malayalam films and few credits in Telugu and Kannada films.
Nee Pathi Naan Pathi is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by Vasanth and produced by Kavithalayaa Productions. The film stars Rahman, Gautami and Heera. The music was composed by M. M. Keeravani under the pseudonym Maragathamani. The film's title is based on a song from Keladi Kanmani. It was an average success, though Gautami won numerous accolades for her performance.
Idhayam is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by Kathir in his directorial debut. It stars Murali and Heera Rajagopal in her debut role; while Chinni Jayanth, Janagaraj, Manorama, and Vijayakumar play supporting roles. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film was released on 6 September 1991.
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Helen Nelson, better known professionally by her stage name Oviya, is an Indian actress who works in the Tamil and Malayalam films. She made her breakthrough as an actress in Sarkunam's rural romantic comedy Kalavani (2010), before appearing in other films including Pandiraj's Marina (2012), Moodar Koodam (2013) and Madha Yaanai Koottam (2013). Oviya has also enjoyed box office success through her roles in Sundar C's Kalakalappu (2012) and the horror comedy Yaamirukka Bayamey (2014). In 2017, Oviya appeared on the reality series Bigg Boss Tamil 1.
Vishwaroopam is a 2013 Indian action spy film co-written, directed and produced by Kamal Haasan, who also enacts the lead role. The film also stars Rahul Bose, Shekhar Kapur, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Nassar and Jaideep Ahlawat in supporting roles. The film's script was written by Kamal Hassan, Chakri Toleti and Atul Tiwari. In the film, Nirupama, an ambitious woman studying in the US, marries a coward classical dancer, Viswanathan. On being suspicious of his behaviour, she hires a detective, who reveals his true identity and past.
Idhayam Thiraiarangam is a 2012 Tamil language romantic drama film directed by Ramki Ramakrishnan, starring Anand and Swetha in the lead roles. The film had a below average box office run.
Sanam Prasad Shetty is an Indian actress and model, who has worked predominantly in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films.In 2020, she was a contestant on the reality series Bigg Boss 4 Tamil.
Uttama Villain is a 2015 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film directed by Ramesh Aravind and written by Kamal Haasan. The film was presented by N. Lingusamy in association with Kamal Haasan and produced by S. Chandrahasan for Raaj Kamal Films International and N. Subash Chandrabose for Thirupathi Brothers Film Media. It features an ensemble cast that includes Kamal Hassan, K. Viswanath, K. Balachander, Jayaram, Andrea Jeremiah, Pooja Kumar, Nassar, Parvathy Thiruvothu and Urvashi in prominent roles. This is the posthumous film of actor and director, K. Balachander following his death in December 2014.
The following is a list of unproduced Kamal Haasan projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, Indian film actor-director Kamal Haasan has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his acting commitments or direction. Some of these projects fell into development hell or were officially cancelled.
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