Shriya Saran (born September 11, 1982) is an Indian film actress. She
began her career acting in music videos, while also attending an acting
studio to follow her dream to act. After her debut in 2001 with Ishtam,
she gained Telugu cinema's attention in 2002 by playing the role of
Bhanu in Santhosham, her first major hit. Following the film she
appeared in several Telugu films with prominent actors, whilst, also
making in-roads in Bollywood as well as the Tamil film industry. In
2007, Saran became a national figure after her performance alongside
Rajinikanth in Sivaji: The Boss, after which she has signed several
Bollywood, Kollywood and also a Hollywood film.
Saran performs
predominantly in leading heroine roles in high-budget and major studio
films, ranging from romantic comedies and drama to science fiction and
action thrillers. Her most popular released films include Santhosham
(2002), Tagore (2003) and Sivaji: The Boss (2007).
Shriya's first
opportunity to appear in front of the camera came whilst she studied
her second year at the LSR College in Delhi, which she quit to
participate for the shoot. Saran's first screen appearance was in the
music video of Tirakthi Kyon Hawa by Reenu Nathan, which she was given a
chance to perform in by her dance teacher who had recommended her. The
video shot at Banaras gave her fame, prompting Ramoji Films to offer her
the lead role of Neha in their film Ishtam starring and directed by
newcomers. Saran despite wanting to only try one film eventually
catapulted to fame. Before the release of Ishtam, Saran signed three
mega-budget films; Santosham, Nuvve Nuvve and Tagore with the industry's
top heroes, Nagarjuna, Tarun and Chiranjeevi respectively.
Shreya
started her movie acting career with the Telugu film Ishtam (2001),
produced by Usha Kiran Movies. This first film didn't fare too well at
the box office, but she was noticed by many Telugu producers and
directors. Soon she signed for Nagarjuna's Santosham (2002), which was a
major hit and she didn't have to turn back since then. She was very
lucky to get the most coveted chance to act opposite none other than
Chiranjeevi at a very early point in her career. After the huge success
of Tagore she became one of the top actresses of the south Indian film
industry. Her later movies, such as Nuvve Nuvve and Bhageeratha, earned
her many accolades. She had one of the biggest hits in her career with
Chatrapati opposite Prabhas. Shriya is also endorses for large brands
like LUX and Head&Shoulders.
She made her Tamil movie debut
in Enakku 20 Unakku 18 (2003), cast along with Telugu actor Tarun,
Trisha Krishnan. The film was an average hit at box-office, but it was
more importantly a musical hit due to music composed by A. R. Rahman.
She had plenty of glamorous roles lined up for her in Tamil, but instead
continued with Tollywood for a year. She has made her comeback in
Kollywood through the film Mazhai with Jayam Ravi. The movie did well at
the box-office. She beat other top actresses for the much coveted role
with Rajinikanth in Shankar's Sivaji: The Boss which is the most
expensive Indian film till date after Dasavatharam.
Most recently she appeared opposite Vijay in Azhagiya Tamil Magan, and currently filming with Vikram in Kanthaswamy.
Saran
was born in Haridwar and spent most of her life in a small colony at
the foothills of the Shivalik range. Her father, Pushpendra Saran work
for the state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited while her mother,
Neeraja Saran was a chemistry teacher at the Delhi Public School, which
Saran had attended. Her elder brother, Abhiroop Saran is four years
older than her and currently works with an advertising firm, FCB Ulka,
in Mumbai. He is married to Aarti, who Saran describes her relationship
with her "like a house on fire".
As a kid, Saran claims to have
"pooled her pocket money that she was given over a period of time and
give it to a blind school". When Shriya was 17, her family moved to
Delhi because she was passionate to learn kathak from eminent guru,
Shovana Narayan.