# Shruti (actress)

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.
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. She was judge in a TV show Majaabharata.

## 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

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). Gowdru turned out to be her 100th release in which she played the sister of the character played by Ambareesh.
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. In 2017, she appeared as a judge in the comedy television series Majaa Bharatha.
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. 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."

## 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.

## Filmography
### Kannada films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Nambidre Nambi Bitre Bidi | | Credited as Priyadarshini |
| 1990 | Aasegobba Meesegobba | Radha | Credited as Priyadarshini |
| 1990 | Shruthi | Shruthi | |
| 1991 | Gauri Ganesha | Gowri | |
| 1991 | Nagu Nagutha Nali | | |
| 1991 | Punda Prachanda | | |
| 1991 | C. B. I. Shiva | Shruthi | |
| 1992 | Sindhoora Thilaka | | |
| 1992 | Bombat Hendthi | | |
| 1992 | Chitralekha | | |
| 1992 | Edurmaneli Ganda Pakkadmaneli Hendthi | Jayakumari | |
| 1992 | Shambhavi | | |
| 1992 | Ksheera Sagara | Chandra | |
| 1993 | Abhijith | | |
| 1993 | Kaadambari | | |
| 1993 | Alimayya | Lakshmi | |
| 1993 | Dakshayini | | |
| 1993 | Sri Durga Pooje | | |
| 1993 | Mouna Sangrama | | |
| 1993 | Ranjitha | | |
| 1993 | Kempaiah IPS | | |
| 1993 | Rupaayi Raja | | |
| 1993 | Midida Hrudayagalu | Kaveri | |
| 1993 | Muddina Maava | Lakshmi | |
| 1993 | Amruta Sindhu | | |
| 1994 | Apoorva Samsara | Raji | |
| 1994 | Rashmi | Rashmi | |
| 1994 | Rasika | Rukmini | |
| 1994 | Jaana | Lakshmi | |
| 1994 | Vijaya Kankana | Vijaya | |
| 1994 | Sammilana | | |
| 1994 | Bhuvaneshwari | | |
| 1994 | Mr. Mahesh Kumar | | |
| 1994 | Hettha Karulu | | Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada |
| 1994 | Time Bomb | Maala | |
| 1995 | Thumbida Mane | Kaveri | |
| 1995 | Maangalya Sakshi | | |
| 1995 | Kalyanotsava | | |
| 1995 | Mojugara Sogasugara | Shantha | |
| 1995 | Shubha Lagna | | |
| 1995 | Urvashi | | |
| 1995 | Satya Jwale | | |
| 1995 | Taayi Illada Tavaru | | |
| 1995 | Aagatha | Usha | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada |
| 1996 | Karpoorada Gombe | Seetha | |
| 1996 | Thavarina Thottilu | | |
| 1996 | Geluvina Saradara | | |
| 1996 | Sthree | Heera | |
| 1996 | Sowbhagya Devathe | | |
| 1996 | Minugu Thare | | |
| 1996 | Thayi Kotta Seere | | |
| 1997 | Taaliya Sowbhagya | | |
| 1997 | Shruthi Hakida Hejje | | |
| 1997 | Baalina Daari | | |
| 1997 | Kodagina Kaveri | Kaveri | |
| 1997 | Thavarina Theru | | |
| 1998 | Bhama Satyabhama | Bhama | |
| 1998 | Marthanda | | |
| 1998 | Nammura Huduga | | |
| 1998 | Goonda Mattu Police | | |
| 1998 | Jagadeeshwari | | |
| 1998 | Tavarina Kanike | | |
| 1999 | Veerappa Nayaka | | |
| 1999 | Durga Shakthi | | |
| 2000 | Soorappa | Lakshmi | |
| 2000 | Kadlimatti Station Master | Kashibai | |
| 2000 | Mahathma | | |
| 2000 | Swalpa Adjust Madkolli | | |
| 2001 | Amma Ninna Tholinalli | | |
| 2001 | Gattimela | Girija | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada |
| 2001 | Jenu Goodu | | |
| 2001 | Mahalakshmi | Mahalakshmi | |
| 2001 | Ellara Mane Dosenu | Vasantha | |
| 2002 | Annayya Thammayya | | |
| 2002 | Mutthu | Gowri | |
| 2002 | Manase O Manase | | |
| 2004 | Hendthi Andre Hendthi | | |
| 2004 | 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 |
| 2005 | Pandu Ranga Vittala | | |
| 2006 | Sirivantha | Lakshmi | |
| 2006 | Hendathi Kattida Thali | | Delayed release |
| 2008 | Navashakti Vaibhava | Saubhagya | |
| 2008 | Avva | Aane Baddi Rangavva | |
| 2008 | Nandadeepa | | |
| 2008 | Akka Thangi | Nagi | |
| 2011 | Sri Naga Shakthi | | |
| 2011 | Take It Easy | | |
| 2011 | 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 |
| 2011 | Aidondla Aidu | | |
| 2012 | Sri Kshetra Adichunchanagiri | | |
| 2012 | Rambo | Vijayalakshmi | |
| 2012 | 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 |
| 2013 | Bachchan | Lakshmi | |
| 2015 | Ond Chance Kodi | Tavare | |
| 2016 | Shivayogi Sri Puttayyajja | | |
| 2016 | 1944 | Girija | |
| 2016 | Home Stay | | |
| 2017 | Marali Manege | | |
| 2017 | Dandupalya 2 | Abhivyakthi | |
| 2017 | College Kumar | Girija | |
| 2018 | Dandupalya 3 | Abhivyakthi | |
| 2020 | ACT 1978 | Kanika Mehta | |
| 2021 | Mohandas | Putlibai | |
| 2021 | Rathnan Prapancha | Yellavva | |
| 2021 | Bhajarangi 2 | Alamelamma | |
| 2023 | Vidhi (Article) 370 | Preethi | |
| 2023 | Veeram | Saraswathi | |
| 2023 | Tatsama Tadbhava | Suman | |
| 2023 | 13 Part-1 | Saira | |
| 2023 | Kaatera | Kumari | Nominated- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress- Kannada Won - Best Supporting Actress - Chittara Star Awards 2024 Won - Best Supporting Actress - IIFA Utsavam 2024 |
| 2024 | Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi | | |

### Other language films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | Swantham Ennu Karuthi | | Malayalam | |
| 1992 | Thevar Veettu Ponnu | Saroja | Tamil | |
| 1992 | 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 | Malayalam | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 2017 | Weekend with Ramesh | Herself | |
| 2017 | Sathya Kathe | Herself | |
| 2020 | Majaa Talkies | Guest | |
| | Mareyalare | | |
| | Hejje Guruthu | | |
| 2022–2023 | Gicchi GiliGili | Judge | |
| 2023 | Bigg Boss Kannada (season 10) | Guest | |