Malashri

Malashri, 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 hit film Nanjundi Kalyana in 1989. Her portrayal of a haughty, shrewish woman in the movie won her many accolades heralding her as the top actress in 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 Kannada 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 Pravesa, 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).

Career

Malashri started her career in films as a child actor after being roped in by the directors of her mother's films. She appeared in 34 films as a child actor, out of which she played the role of a boy in 26.^[1] As a leading actress, she was launched by the Rajkumar camp opposite Raghavendra Rajkumar, and went on to act in 2 other films from Vajreshwari combines namely Gajapathi Garvabhanga opposite Raghavendra Rajkumar again and Mrutyunjaya with Shivrajkumar.

She took on the famous double role in Rani Maharani (immortalized earlier by Vanisri in Ganga Manga/Rani Vani 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 Hrudaya Haadithu that she openly won all praises from the masses, elite and critics alike. Her portrayal of a young girl inflicted with heart problem and her simple desires in life won her the Filmfare Best actress award in the year 1991. As she churned out hit after hit. Even director V. 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 Ramachaari (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 Shanti Kranti during that time.

However, in the mid-90s, Malashri had a string of less successful films like Prema Khaidi, 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.

Personal life

Malashri was born and brought up in Madras (now Chennai).^[2] She 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. She had an affair with actor Sunil, her co-star in many films.^[3] But in 1994 she met with a car accident when her car got hit by a truck. While Malashree suffered multiple injuries, Sunil died within an hour. It was rumoured that they even had plans of getting married.^[4] She is currently married to film producer Ramu and they have a daughter Ananya . Her sister Subhashri was also an actress, who appeared in South Indian films.

Filmography

Awards

References

External links

• Malashri at the Internet Movie Database
• Malashri Filmography