| Malashri | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 10, 1973 Bangalore Karnataka |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse | Ramu |
Malashri (Kannada: ಮಾಲಾಶ್ರೀ) (sometimes credited as Malashree) is an Indian actress in the Kannada film industry, known for the dramatic lead roles. She made her debut in the all time Kannada Hit "Nanjundi Kalyana" in 1989. Her portrayal of a haughty, shrewish woman in the movie won her many accolades heralding her as the top actress of Kannada Cinema. Her next few movies were all author backed with her playing the pivotal role. All these went on to become super hits. Movies like Gajapathi Garvabhanga, Policana Hendathi, Prathap, Kitturina Huli and Tavarumane Udugore made her a household name and Malashri went on to become the highest paid Kanndada actress ever.
Malashri excelled in homely as well as tomboyish roles. She was the only Kannada heroine who could pull in the women audiences in tear jerkers (Gruha Pravesha, Mangalya, Sindoora Tilaka, Belli Kalungura, Mana Mechida Sose) and with the same ease act in comedies like Readymade Ganda, Kanasina Rani, Malashri Mamashri and Halli Rambhe Belli Bombe. She also gained immense popularity through action flicks like SP Bhargavi, Rowdy Mattu MLA, Kollura Kaala, Marana Mrudanga (in which she acted opposite the late CM of Karnataka Ramakrishna Hegde).
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Malashri first appeared in the song 'Olage Seridare Gundu', sung by Manjula Gururaj, in the movie Nanjundi Kalyana, which went on to become one of the most popular Kannada songs in decades. She was launched as a leading actress by the Rajkumar camp opposite Raghavendra Rajkumar, and went on to act in 2 other movies from Vajreshwari combines: Gajapathi Garvabhanga opposite Raghavendra Rajkumar again and Mrutyunjaya with Shivrajkumar. She took on the famous double role in Rani Maharani (immortalized earlier by Hema Malini in 'Seeta Aur Geeta' and Sridevi in 'Chaalbaaz'). With this film, she silenced her critics once and for all with a powerhouse performance. But it was not until her next film Hridaya Haadithu that she openly won all praises from the masses, elite and critics alike. Her portrayal of a young girl inflicted with cancer and her simple desires in life won her the Filmfare Best actress award in the year 1991. As she churned out hit after hit, she was soon playing opposite Vishnuvardhan, the biggest star in Kannada films at the time. Even director Ravichandran, who till then believed only in importing heroines from the film industries of other states, cashed in hugely on her popularity by casting her in Ramachari (a remake of Tamil Hit Chinna Thambi). This enabled him to come out of the financial crisis he was facing due to the debacle of Shanthi Kranthi during that time. However, in the mid-90s, Malashri had a string of less successful films like Prema Sangama, Snehada Kadalalli, Megha Mandara, Harishina Kumkuma, and Solillada Saradara. She had a few comeback hits in the new millennium with "angry woman" roles in Chamundi, Durgi and Kannada Kiran Bedi.
Malashri shot to fame with Nanjundi Kalyana in 1989 but her personal life hit an all time low the same year when her mother died in a road accident. A few years down the line when she was at the pinnacle of her extremely successful career, ill fate revisted her life, when her close friend and co-star in several movies, Sunil, was killed in a tragic road accident. She was lucky to survive the accident. She had plans to get married to him. She is currently married to producer Ramu and has a daughter, Ananya.and son. Her sister Subhashri was also an actress in south.
Shashi Kumar (Policana Hendathi, Kanasina Rani, Readymade Ganda, Kitturina Huli, Rani Maharani).
Sunil (Tavarumane Udugore, Belli Kalungura, Mangalya, Nagaradalli Nayakaru, Malashri Mamashri, Sindoora Tilaka, Halli Krishna Delhi Radha, Marana Mrudanga, Snehada Kadallali). They were her most regular co-stars and they churned out endless hits together.
Ambarish was next with hits like Rani Maharani, Hridaya Haadithu, Gandu Sidigundu and Rowdy MLA.
Sridhar was another of her popular co-stars who acted in movies like Mangalya, Hatamari Hennu, Gruha lakshmi.., etc.
Arjun Sarja acted in only one hit film Prathap with her and the rest being flops (Snehada Kadalalli, Shivanaga).
She also acted opposite other heroes like Devraj (SP Bhargavi, Gruha Pravesha), Ramesh (Belli Modagalu), Raviraj (Raja Kempu Roja), Anant Nag (Prema Sangama).