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Padmaja Rao

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Padmaja Rao
Padmaja Rao in 2022
Born
Mysore, Karnataka, India
CitizenshipIndian
Occupations
  • Actress
  • television director
  • television producer
  • presenter
Years active1996–present
SpousePrakash
Children1

Padmaja Rao is an Indian actress, television soap director and producer known for her work Kannada television and Kannada cinema.[1][2][3][4][5] She is a versatile actor known for playing a wide variety of character roles in various film genres. Some of the notable films of Padmaja Rao as an actress include Hatavadi (2006) Mungaru Male (2006), Gaalipata (2008), Ugramm (2014). She has also forayed into tulu film industry with the blockbuster Chaali Polilu (2014). Rao has been a part of more than 100 Kannada films and many serial/soaps in Kannada.[1]

Career

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Rao first began as an assistant to writer and director T. N. Narasimhan in the mid-1990s. It was then that she was "exposed... to all faculties of film-making — right from acting, handling a camera, up to working in the direction department. He was like an university for me." She also started out as an actress in his television serials such as Gorur Kathaloka, Ille Swarga, Katha Sangama and Sathilla. She was then introduced to popular serial director T. S. Nagabharana who worked with DD Chandana during the time. Rao hosted the show Bhagini on the network. She turned producer next and had Nagabharana direct a children-based talent show, Prachanda Pratibhegalu. Urged by him, she would go on to direct an eight-episode series Raja Maaja, a talk show based on gender equality and social justice titled Samarekhegalu and a 13-episode series Naayi Baala. She then made a reality singing show Sangeeta Sambhrama, which completed 68 episodes. However, Rao'spopularity grew when she compered another show Streeloka, besides acting in Mayamruga and Sadhane. She has also acted in Nagabharana's Joku Joke and as a mistress in O Nanna Belake.[6]

In 2006, Rao made the teleserial Moodala Mane directed by Vaishali Kasaravalli which garnered popularity across Karnataka. This was followed by Preethi Illada Mele which had Achyuth Kumar, Anant Nag and Yash playing prominent roles.[7]

Rao made her Kannada film debut as an actress with V.Ravichandran's Hatavadi (2006). She received recognition for her role in Mungaru Male wh released the same year. She was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress three times.[1]

Personal life

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Padmaja Rao was born in Mysore. Her family shifted to Mumbai where she did her schooling. Growing up in Mumbai, she was fluent in Hindi and Marathi, apart from her mother-tongue Kannada and acted in play staged in these languages during her formative years. Rao's family settled in Bangalore when she was 15, where she completed her pre-university course.[6]

Rao was first married at a young age, which resulted in a divorce.[8] She had a son, Sanjeev from the first marriage. He is a herpetologist, conservationist and animal activist.[1] Rao stated in an interview that the first marriage proved to be an "escape" for which let her pursue her passion of acting.[9]

Rao then married Prakash, a software engineer.[6]

Selected filmography

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Television

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Game shows

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Short films

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  • Chocolate (Kannada)
  • Me too (English)
  • Oofie (English)
  • Ondu Giftina Kathe[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Driven by a dream". Deccan Herald. India: Deccan Herald. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  2. ^ Belgaumkar, Govind D. (7 November 2014). "I do not want be slotted in the 'mother' role, says actress Padmaja Rao". The Hindu. India. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Kannada Movie/Cinema News - MARCH 22 COMPLETE NEW PATH CINEMA - Chitratara.com". chitratara.com. Karnataka, India: chitratara.com. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Ragini bonds with Padmaja Rao on the set of Veera Ranachandi - Times of India". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  5. ^ "'Crazy Star Ravichandran offered me Hatavaadhi after he watched me in the serial Moodala Mane' - Times of India". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Srinivasa, Srikanth (21 April 2002). "An eye for the camera". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 25 April 2002. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  7. ^ "Kannada Tv Serial Preethi Illada Mele Synopsis Aired On Colors Kannada Channel". nettv4u.
  8. ^ Devadiga, Yashaswi (3 April 2026). "Padmaja Rao: ಆ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಪತಿಗೆ ವಿಚ್ಛೇದನ ಕೊಟ್ಟೆ; ಹಿರಿಯ ನಟಿ ಪದ್ಮಜಾ ರಾವ್‌ ಮುಕ್ತ ಮಾತು" [Padmaja Rao: I divorced my husband for that reason; Veteran actress Padmaja Rao speaks openly]. ವಿಶ್ವವಾಣಿ (in Kannada). Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  9. ^ Rapid Rashmi (1 April 2026). From Iconic Roles to Real-Life Struggles: Padmaja Rao’s Journey Beyond the Screen (Podcast) (in Kannada). Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  10. ^ "Movie Review: Sidlingu 2: A clean family entertainer - Bangalore Mirror". Bangalore Mirror. 15 February 2025.
  11. ^ Govind, Ranjani (30 April 2020). "Padmaja Rao's 'Ondu Giftina Kathe' is a light hearted film about love". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
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