Girija known by her screen name Shruti, is an Indian actress, television personality and politician. She is the Winner of Bigg Boss Kannada Season 3, as an actress, she predominantly appears in Kannada film industry. She is currently serving as chief secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party's women's wing in its Karnataka cadre.

Shruti
Shruti in 2016
Chairperson, Karnataka Women’s Development Corporation
In office
2008 – June 2009
Succeeded byD. S. Aswath
Chairperson, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation
In office
January 2020 – July 2021
Personal details
Born
Girija

Hassan, Karnataka, India
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
(2008–13, 2014–present)
Other political
affiliations
Karnataka Janata Paksha
(2013–14)
Spouses
(m. 1998; div. 2009)
(m. 2013; div. 2014)
RelativesSharan (brother)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • politician

In addition to Kannada, Shruti has appeared in a handful of Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. She was among the leading actresses in Kannada cinema during the 1990s and has won three Karnataka State Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards South in her career spanning over 25 years. She is known for performance in films such as Gauri Ganesha (1991), Aagatha (1995), Kalki (1996), Gowdru (2004), Akka Thangi (2008) and Puttakkana Highway (2011). She is sister of actor Sharan. In 2016, she won the third season of the reality television show Bigg Boss Kannada.[1]

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. Shruti, over the years has been considered one of the prolific actresses of Kannada cinema and a household name with her regular appearances as a judge for reality shows and films. She was judge in a TV show Majaabharata[citation needed].

Early life

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Born in a Kannada speaking family in Karnataka, Shruti's birth name is Girija. She was credited as Priyadarshini in her first Kannada movie Aasegobba Meesegobba. She was named Shruti by the actor-director Dwarakish who introduced her in a leading role for his film Shruthi in 1990.

Career

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Shruti in 2011 Kannada film Sri Naga Shakthi
(L–R) Shruti in an interview in 2016, 2023

Shruthi was in Puttur in her early ages of life. Shruti started her cinema career in Malayalam film Swantham ennu karuthi. Kannada movie Aasegobba Meesegobba as Shivarajkumar's sister role. Later in the year 1990, she acted as heroine in the movie Shruthi directed and produced by Dwarakish. This movie was successful completing 25 weeks. Some of her popular and successful Kannada movies include Shruti, Taayi Illada Tavaru, Veerappa Nayaka, Gauri Ganesha, Bombat Hendthi, Muddina Maava, Mr. Mahesh Kumar and Midida Hrudayagalu. At the peak of her career Shruti was stereotyped for tear jerking roles.

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).[2][3] Gowdru turned out to be her 100th release in which she played the sister of the character played by Ambareesh.[4]

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.[5] In 2017, she appeared as a judge in the comedy television series Majaa Bharatha.[6]

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.[7] 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."[8]

Personal life

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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.[9]

Filmography

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Kannada films

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Nambidre Nambi Bitre Bidi Credited as Priyadarshini
Aasegobba Meesegobba Radha
Shruthi Shruthi
1991 Gauri Ganesha Gowri
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 Rashmi Rashmi
Rasika Rukmini
Jaana Lakshmi
Vijaya Kankana Vijaya
Sammilana
Bhuvaneshwari
Mr. Mahesh Kumar
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 [10]
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
Take It Easy
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 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[11]

Won - Best Supporting Actress - Chittara Star Awards 2024 Won - Best Supporting Actress - IIFA Utsavam 2024

2024 Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi

Malayalam films

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 Swantham Ennu Karuthi
1997 Oral Mathram Devika Menon
1998 Kottaram Veettile Apputtan Ambili
2004 C. I. Mahadevan 5 Adi 4 Inchu Dr. Lakshmi

Tamil films

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Thevar Veettu Ponnu Saroja
1996 Kalki Kalki Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress
Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil
1999 Annan Thangachi Sarasu

Telugu films

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Pellaniki Premalekha Priyuraliki Subhalekha Keerthi
1994 Parugo Parugu Saroja

Television

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  • All shows are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted.
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 [12]
2017 Weekend with Ramesh Herself [citation needed]
2017 Sathya Kathe Herself [13]
2020 Majaa Talkies Guest [14]
Mareyalare
Hejje Guruthu
2022–2023 Gicchi GiliGili Judge [15]
2023 Bigg Boss Kannada (season 10) Guest

References

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  1. ^ "Actress Shruthi wins Bigg Boss Kannada season 3". Daily News and Analysis. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Shruthi's 100th film". Deccan Herald. 16 November 2003. Archived from the original on 3 March 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Navashakthi Vaibhava". Sify. Archived from the original on 6 December 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  4. ^ Deepak, S. N. (18 July 2004). "Gowdru". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 25 August 2004. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Shruthi wins Bigg Boss!". The Times of India. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Shruthi, Narayan turns judge for Majaa Bharatha". The Times of India. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  7. ^ Reddy, Y. Maheswara (27 February 2023). "Vidhi (Article) 370 Movie Review: Too happening, but nothing happens". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  8. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (10 April 2023). "Veeram Movie Review: This run-of-the-mill actioner brings back Prajwal Devaraj in a mass avatar". Cinema Express. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Kannada star Shruthi marries at Kollur Temple". Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  10. ^ Moviebiz. "Review: Muthu". Sify. Archived from the original on 11 January 2005. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  11. ^ Sharadhaa, A (29 December 2023). "'Kaatera' movie review: Darshan wields his finest weapon yet". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Shruthi, Narayan turns judge for Majaa Bharatha". The Times of India. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Shruti to host new show Sathya Kathe". The Times of India. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Yesteryears stars Sudha Rani and Shruthi to feature in Majaa Talkies". The Times of India. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Gicchi Gili Gili: Contestants gear up for the grand finale". The Times of India. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
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Preceded by Bigg Boss Kannada Winner
(Series 3) 2015
Succeeded by
Pratham (2016)