Shruti | |
---|---|
![]() Shruti in 2016 | |
Chairperson, Karnataka Women’s Development Corporation | |
In office 2008 –June 2009 | |
Succeeded by | D. S. Aswath |
Chairperson,Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation | |
In office January 2020 –July 2021 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Girija 18 September 1975 Hassan,Karnataka,India |
Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party (2008–13,2014–present) |
Other political affiliations | Karnataka Janata Paksha (2013–14) |
Spouses | |
Relatives | Sharan (brother) |
Occupation |
|
Shruti (born Girija; 18 September 1975), is an Indian actress, television personality and politician. She is known for her work predominantly in Kannada language films and in a few Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam films. She has appeared in over 100 films and has won three Karnataka State Film Awards, one Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards South in her career spanning over 35 years.
Shruti was among the leading actresses in Kannada cinema during the 1990s and early 2000s who featured in the lead roles in several commercially successful and critically acclaimed films such as Shruthi (1990), Muddina Maava (1993), Aagatha (1995), Karpoorada Gombe , Kalki (both 1996), Gowdru (2004), Rama Shama Bhama (2005), Akka Thangi (2008) and Puttakkana Highway (2011). In the later years, she switched to character roles and won laurels for her performances in Kalpana (2012), Gombegala Love (2013), Rathnan Prapancha , Bhajarangi 2 (both 2021), Kaatera (2023) and Maadeva (2025).
Shruti is the sister of actor Sharan. In 2016, she won the third season of the reality television show Bigg Boss Kannada. [1] She has continued to appear in Television as a judge for reality shows such as Majaa Talkies and Kwaatle Kitchen.
Shruti joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2008. She was made the chairperson of the Karnataka Women and Child Development Corporation before being removed in 2009. In 2013, she joined the Karnataka Janata Paksha which eventually merged in 2014 with BJP. She is currently serving as chief secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party's women's wing in its Karnataka cadre.
Shruti was born as Girija on 18 September 1975 into a family of Kannada theatre artists in Hassan, Karnataka, India. Her father J. V. Krishna owned a theatre company and married twin sisters Radha and Rukmini who had joined his troupe as artists. Shruti's elder brother Sharan is a leading actor in Kannada cinema, while her sister Usha is younger to her. Since they have two mothers, the subject about who is their biological mother has generated curiosity among the media and public over the years. However, both Sharan and Shruti have asserted that they consider both to be their biological mother. [2] Shruti spent most of her early life in Puttur where she pursued her basic schooling.
At the age of 14, Shruti landed in her first film in a supporting role in S. Umesh's romantic comedy film, Nambidre Nambi Bitre Bidi, released in 1990. She was credited as Priyadarshini by the makers so as not to be confused with another actress Girija Lokesh. Her next role came through another comedy film, Aasegobba Meesegobba released in the same year where she played sister to actor Shiva Rajkumar. However, her breakthrough came in the same year with the film Shruthi , which was directed by Dwarakish who rechristened her name as Shruti. [3] She played the titular role of a struggling singer who is aided by four men to achieve her dreams. The film, which was a remake of Tamil film, Pudhu Vasantham , had a successful theatrical run of over 25 weeks.
Following this, Shruti featured in a series of comedy films out of which Gauri Ganesha , Punda Prachanda (both 1991), Bombat Hendthi , Edurmaneli Ganda Pakkadmaneli Hendthi (both 1992) were successful projects. She expanded into Tamil and Telugu cinema in 1992 with Devar Veettu Ponnu and Pellaniki Premalekha Priyuraliki Subhalekha respectively. She followed this by playing second lead roles in films such as C. B. I. Shiva , Sindhoora Thilaka , Shambhavi, Ksheera Sagara and Dakshayini. She later took up family drama films such as Alimayya , Sri Durga Pooje, Midida Hrudayagalu and Muddina Maava , all released in 1993.
In 1994, she appeared in two films opposite V. Ravichandran, Rasika , directed by Dwarakish, and Jaana . Her other notable performance came through Rashmi in the same year. She went on to win her first Filmfare Award for her performance in the drama film, Hettha Karulu. She won her first Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for Aagatha (1995) directed by Suresh Heblikar.
In a career spanning three decades, she has acted with all the leading Kannada heroes of her time - Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Tiger Prabhakar, Shiva Rajkumar, Shashikumar, Ramesh Aravind, Jaggesh, Devaraj, Sunil, Abhijeeth and Ram Kumar. Navashakthi Vaibhava (2008) was Shruti's 100th film (filmed in 2003). [4] [5] Gowdru turned out to be her 100th release in which she played the sister of the character played by Ambareesh. [6]
She made her debut in Telugu with Parugo Parugu opposite Rajendra Prasad and went on to act with him in a few more. Her Tamil film Kalki (1996) directed by the ace director K. Balachander won her the Filmfare Award and also the Tamil Nadu State Award for Best Actress.
Shruti made her small screen debut in the Malayalam serial Sthreethvam aired on Surya TV during 2005. Also, her Tamil daily serial, Karthigai Pengal aired on Sun TV from July 2012. Shruti was a contestant in the reality television show Bigg Boss Kannada 3, winning the season, in January 2016. [7] In 2017, she appeared as a judge in the comedy television series Majaa Bharatha. [8]
In Vidhi (Article) 370, set in the backdrop of terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir, her first release of 2023, Shruti played Preethi, the wife of an army officer who needs a heart transplant. [9] In Veeram, she played Saraswathi, the protective sister of the protagonist played by Prajwal Devaraj. The reviewer for Cinema Express wrote: "Shruti's role brings that emotional connection among siblings and all the sentiment is brought through her." [10]
Shruti was married to film director S. Mahendar for 11 years and they divorced in 2009.[ citation needed ] Post her divorce she was linked with Chakravarthy Chandrachud, a journalist-turned-director. They got married in June 2013 and divorced a year later. [11]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Nambidre Nambi Bitre Bidi | Credited as Priyadarshini | |
Aasegobba Meesegobba | Radha | ||
Shruthi | Shruthi | ||
1991 | Gauri Ganesha | Gauri | |
Nagu Nagutha Nali | |||
Punda Prachanda | |||
C. B. I. Shiva | Shruthi | ||
1992 | Sindhoora Thilaka | ||
Bombat Hendthi | |||
Chitralekha | |||
Edurmaneli Ganda Pakkadmaneli Hendthi | Jayakumari | ||
Shambhavi | |||
Ksheera Sagara | Chandra | ||
1993 | Abhijith | ||
Kaadambari | |||
Alimayya | Lakshmi | ||
Dakshayini | |||
Sri Durga Pooje | |||
Mouna Sangrama | |||
Ranjitha | |||
Kempaiah IPS | |||
Rupaayi Raja | |||
Midida Hrudayagalu | Kaveri | ||
Muddina Maava | Lakshmi | ||
Amruta Sindhu | |||
1994 | Apoorva Samsara | Raji | |
Rashmi | Rashmi | ||
Rasika | Rukmini | ||
Jaana | Lakshmi | ||
Vijaya Kankana | Vijaya | ||
Sammilana | |||
Bhuvaneshwari | |||
Mr. Mahesh Kumar | Soumya | ||
Hettha Karulu | Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada | ||
Time Bomb | Maala | ||
1995 | Thumbida Mane | Kaveri | |
Maangalya Sakshi | |||
Kalyanotsava | |||
Mojugara Sogasugara | Shantha | ||
Shubha Lagna | |||
Urvashi | |||
Satya Jwale | |||
Taayi Illada Tavaru | |||
Aagatha | Usha | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada | |
1996 | Karpoorada Gombe | Seetha | |
Thavarina Thottilu | |||
Geluvina Saradara | |||
Sthree | Heera | ||
Sowbhagya Devathe | |||
Minugu Thare | |||
Thayi Kotta Seere | |||
1997 | Taaliya Sowbhagya | ||
Shruthi Hakida Hejje | |||
Baalina Daari | |||
Kodagina Kaveri | Kaveri | ||
Thavarina Theru | |||
1998 | Bhama Satyabhama | Bhama | |
Marthanda | |||
Nammura Huduga | |||
Goonda Mattu Police | |||
Jagadeeshwari | |||
Tavarina Kanike | |||
1999 | Veerappa Nayaka | ||
Durga Shakthi | |||
2000 | Soorappa | Lakshmi | |
Kadlimatti Station Master | Kashibai | ||
Mahathma | |||
Swalpa Adjust Madkolli | |||
2001 | Amma Ninna Tholinalli | ||
Gattimela | Girija | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada | |
Jenu Goodu | |||
Mahalakshmi | Mahalakshmi | ||
Ellara Mane Dosenu | Vasantha | ||
2002 | Annayya Thammayya | ||
Mutthu | Gowri | [12] | |
Manase O Manase | [ citation needed ] | ||
2004 | Hendthi Andre Hendthi | ||
Gowdru | Gowri | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress; Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada | |
2005 | Rama Shama Bhama | Shanti | Vatika Chalana Chitra Award for Best Comedian; Nominated—Udaya film Award for Best Comedian; Nominated—Udaya Film Award Best Supporting Actress; Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada |
Pandu Ranga Vittala | |||
2006 | Sirivantha | Lakshmi | |
Hendathi Kattida Thali | Delayed release | ||
2008 | Navashakti Vaibhava | Saubhagya | |
Avva | Aane Baddi Rangavva | ||
Nandadeepa | |||
Akka Thangi | Nagi | ||
2011 | Sri Naga Shakthi | ||
Puttakkana Highway | Puttakka | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada Nominated—TV9 Film Award for Best Supporting Actress - Kannada; Nominated—Innovative Award for Best Supporting Actress - Kannada; Nominated—Sandalwood Star Award for Best Supporting Actress; Nominated—Udaya Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress; Nominated—Suvarna Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress | |
Aidondla Aidu | |||
2012 | Sri Kshetra Adichunchanagiri | ||
Rambo | Vijayalakshmi | ||
Kalpana | Janaki | Nominated—Sandalwood Star Award for Best Comedian; Nominated—Udaya Film Award for Best Comedian; Nominated—Suvarna Film Award for Best Comedian; Nominated—Udaya Film Award for Best Supporting Actress; Nominated—Suvarna Film Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
2013 | Gombegala Love | Panju's mother | Karnataka Vanijya Mandali Award for Best Supporting Actress |
Bachchan | Lakshmi | ||
2015 | Ond Chance Kodi | Tavare | |
2016 | Shivayogi Sri Puttayyajja | ||
1944 | Girija | ||
Home Stay | |||
2017 | Marali Manege | ||
Dandupalya 2 | Abhivyakthi | ||
College Kumar | Girija | ||
2018 | Dandupalya 3 | Abhivyakthi | |
2020 | ACT 1978 | Kanika Mehta | |
2021 | Mohandas | Putlibai | |
Rathnan Prapancha | Yellavva | ||
Bhajarangi 2 | Alamelamma | ||
2023 | Vidhi (Article) 370 | Preethi | |
Veeram | Saraswathi | ||
Tatsama Tadbhava | Suman | ||
13 Part-1 | Saira | ||
2023 | Kaatera | Kumari | Nominated- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress- Kannada [13] Won - Best Supporting Actress - Chittara Star Awards 2024 Won - Best Supporting Actress - IIFA Utsavam 2024 |
2024 | Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi | Krishna's mother | |
2025 | Maadeva | Kamalakshi | |
Ekka | Ratna | ||
Just Married | Gangamma | ||
Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Thevar Veettu Ponnu | Saroja | Tamil | Credited as Priyadarshini |
Pellaniki Premalekha Priyuraliki Subhalekha | Keerthi | Telugu | ||
1994 | Parugo Parugu | Saroja | Telugu | |
1996 | Kalki | Kalki | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil |
1997 | Oral Mathram | Devika Menon | Malayalam | |
1998 | Kottaram Veettile Apputtan | Ambili | ||
Bobbili Vamsham | Telugu | |||
1999 | Annan Thangachi | Sarasu | Tamil | |
2004 | C. I. Mahadevan 5 Adi 4 Inchu | Dr. Lakshmi | Malayalam | |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Sthreetvam | Malayalam series | ||
2012–2013 | Karthigai Pengal | Charu | Tamil series | [ citation needed ] |
2015 | Super Minute | Contestant | ||
2015–2016 | Bigg Boss Kannada (season 3) | Contestant | Winner | |
2017 | Majaa Bharatha | Judge | [14] | |
2017 | Weekend with Ramesh | Herself | [ citation needed ] | |
2017 | Sathya Kathe | Herself | [15] | |
2020 | Majaa Talkies | Guest | [16] | |
Mareyalare | ||||
Hejje Guruthu | ||||
2022–2023 | Gicchi GiliGili | Judge | [17] | |
2023 | Bigg Boss Kannada (season 10) | Guest | ||
2025 | Kwaatle Kitchen | Judge | ||