Shruti (actress)

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

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

    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.

    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.

    Early life

    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

    (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

    Shruti was married to film director S. Mahendar for 11 years and they divorced in 2009. 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

    Kannada films

    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
    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
    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 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
    2025 Maadeva

    Other language films

    Year Title Role Language Notes
    1989 Swantham Ennu Karuthi Malayalam
    1992 Thevar Veettu Ponnu Saroja Tamil
    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

    Television

    • All shows are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted.
    Year Title Role Notes Ref.
    2005 Sthreetvam Malayalam series
    2012–2013 Karthigai Pengal Charu Tamil series
    2015 Super Minute Contestant
    2015–2016 Bigg Boss Kannada (season 3) Contestant Winner
    2017 Majaa Bharatha Judge [12]
    2017 Weekend with Ramesh Herself
    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

    1. ^ "Actress Shruthi wins Bigg Boss Kannada season 3". Daily News and Analysis. 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2 November 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. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
    6. ^ "Shruthi, Narayan turns judge for Majaa Bharatha". The Times of India. 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
    7. ^ Reddy, Y. Maheswara (27 February 2023). "Vidhi (Article) 370 Movie Review: Too happening, but nothing happens". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
    12. ^ "Shruthi, Narayan turns judge for Majaa Bharatha". The Times of India. 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
    13. ^ "Shruti to host new show Sathya Kathe". The Times of India. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
    14. ^ "Yesteryears stars Sudha Rani and Shruthi to feature in Majaa Talkies". The Times of India. 19 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
    15. ^ "Gicchi Gili Gili: Contestants gear up for the grand finale". The Times of India. 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.