Medha Raghunath is a former Indian model, video jockey and socialite from Chennai. She began her career by hosting Tamil television shows before competing in beauty pageants and working as a model.[1][2]

Medha Raghunath
Born1991/1992 (age 30-31)
Chennai, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesMedha Raghunathan
OccupationModel
Years active2000–2010

Career

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Medha began her career in the entertainment industry as a video jockey through Sun TV's dance show Thillana Thillana and also hosted Ilayaganam on the Sri Lankan channel, Shakthi TV. Her appearance on the show led her to being cast in Mani Ratnam's romantic drama Alaipayuthey (2000), where she featured as a software engineer and friend of the character portrayed by Madhavan.[3] In 2000, Medha participated and finished second in the Miss Chennai beauty pageant, finishing behind winner Pooja Nair.[4]

As a 20-year-old, Medha took part in the Miss India 2002 contest and ended up in top 13, and was notably featured as one of the lead interviewees in the British documentary Bitches & Beauty Queens: The Making of Miss India (2002).[5][6] Medha then participated as India's representative in the 2003 World Miss University held in Daegu, South Korea. Medha finished the competition in third place after the representatives from Miss Nepal and Miss Maldives, while also winning the title of Miss Health. For her stage performances, she performed yoga, the dance form of Bharatanatyam and the martial art form Kalari.[7]

Soon after her appearance on the pageants, Medha proceeded to take part in fashion shows in India and abroad. She was involved in a litigation case against the organisers of an event in London during 2003, who had allegedly attempted to assault her.[8][9][10]

In the mid-2000s, Medha signed up to portray a leading role in R. K. Selvamani's police drama film Pulan Visaranai 2 opposite Prashanth. However, owing to production delays, there was a change in the cast and Medha eventually did not feature.[11] She continued work as a print model, notably featuring in a bikini shoot for two Tamil magazines, Ananda Vikatan and Kumudam.[12] She later returned to work as a video jockey on Tamil television, notably appearing on Kalaignar TV in the late 2000s.[13][14]

Medha quit the entertainment and fashion industry after her marriage to doctor Deepu Rajkamal Selvaraj, the son of gynecologist Kamala Selvaraj and grandson of actor Gemini Ganesan.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "An adrenaline rush! | Hindi Movie News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  2. ^ Ram, Arun (25 June 2001). "Watch company Swatch opens new store in Chennai with dazzling ramp show". India Today.
  3. ^ "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry". m.rediff.com.
  4. ^ "Participate in Miss Chennai, Chennai Man, Miss Chennai Winners".
  5. ^ "Last Night's TV: Bitches And Beauty Queens (C4)". The Northern Echo.
  6. ^ Simon, Jane (25 July 2002). "SPICE GIRLS ARE INDIAN WINNERS". mirror.
  7. ^ "Nostalgia for historic city of Gyeongju". 25 March 2009.
  8. ^ "Model complains of assault by co-ordinator | undefined News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  9. ^ "Dailynews - "I was tortured sexually" - Exclaims Medha!". 19 November 2003. Archived from the original on 19 November 2003.
  10. ^ "Dailynews - Rape Attempt on Actress Medha!". 19 November 2003. Archived from the original on 19 November 2003.
  11. ^ "Tamil movies : No heroine. But the shoot is going on". www.behindwoods.com.
  12. ^ "HOT Photo Feature of Chennai Model Medha Ragunath - 24 Photos Inside". APHerald [Andhra Pradesh Herald].
  13. ^ "HOT Photo Feature of Chennai Model Medha Ragunath - 24 Photos Inside". APHerald [Andhra Pradesh Herald].
  14. ^ "Keeping the faith! | undefined News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  15. ^ "Kamala Selvaraj and Medha pose together during the launch of Radhika hair studio in Chennai - Photogallery".