# Sudha Rani

Jayashree, known by her screen name Sudha Rani, is an Indian actress, voice artist and former model. She has primarily worked in Kannada films in addition to some Tamil, Telugu, Tulu and Malayalam films. As on Feb 2024, she has acted in about 150 films across industries.
As a child artist, she acted in Kiladi Kittu (1978), Kulla Kulli (1980), Anupama (1981) Bhagyavantha and Ranganayaki (1981). She debuted as a lead actress at age 13 with Anand (1986). She has won the Filmfare Awards and the Karnataka State Film Awards twice for her performances in Panchama Veda (1990) and Mysore Mallige (1992).

## Early years

Sudha Rani was born in Tumkuru district, Karnataka into "a conservative Brahmin family" of H. S. Gopalakrishna and Nagalakshmi. The family lived in the Malleswaram suburb of Bengaluru. Sudha Rani aspired to be a doctor since most of her relatives were into academics with many doctors among them. Her uncle was eminent film personality, Chi. Udaya Shankar.
Sudha Rani was educated at St. Thomas school, in its Malleswaram and Seshadripura branches, and recalled reading books being her pastime as a child. She first faced camera for an advertisement for Kwality Biscuits when she was two and a half years old. The cameraman of the advertisement recommended her name to director of the 1978 film, Kiladi Kittu, who cast her to play the younger version of Kavitha's character and her brother as the younger version of Rajinikanth's character. Her mother enrolled Sudha Rani in dance classes at age five; she would train in Kuchipudi and Bharata Natyam. At age 7, she was roped in by her brother for his short film based on children, titled as Child is Here which won an international award. She also actively participated in the children shows at the Prabhat Kalavidaru theatre troupe.

## Film career

Sudha Rani made her first appearance in television as a child in the Kwality biscuits advertisement when she was two and a half years old. She made her debut in Kannada cinema as a child artist at the age of three with the film Kiladi Kittu starring Vishnuvardhan and Rajinikanth. Sudha Rani was noticed by producer Parvathamma Rajkumar in a thread ceremony video when she was 12 and selected to be the heroine for the film Anand (1986) opposite Shiva Rajkumar and the film became a commercial success. They became a popular pair and she went on to appear in more films as Mana Mechchida Hudugi, Samara, Aasegobba Meesegobba and Midida Shruthi opposite Shiva Rajkumar. She was paired with Ramesh Aravind in over eight films, including Panchama Veda, Shrigandha, Aragini, Ganda Mane Makkalu, Varagala Bete, Balondu Chaduranga, Accident and Anuraga Sangama. Her Tamil films Annakili Sonna Kathai and Vasanthakala Paravai, proved to be commercial successes. She acted in almost 10 Tamil films and was credited as Shali.

## Personal life

Sudha Rani married a U.S.-based anesthesia specialist, Dr. Sanjay in 1996. However citing irreconcilable differences, they parted ways in 1998. Later, she married Govardhan in 2000 and has a daughter Nidhi, born in 2001.

## Filmography
### Kannada films

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | Kiladi Kittu | Geetha | Credited as Baby Jayashree |
| 1980 | Kulla Kulli | Young Chitra | Credited as Baby Jayashree |
| 1981 | Ranganayaki | Young Ranganayaki | Credited as Baby Jayashree |
| 1981 | Anupama | Young Anupama | Credited as Baby Jayashree |
| 1981 | Bhagyavantha | Young Tara | Credited as Baby Jayashree |
| 1982 | Baadada Hoo | Usha | Credited as Sudha |
| 1986 | Anand | Mala | Debut as lead actor |
| 1987 | Manamecchida Hudugi | Gowri | |
| 1987 | Vijayotsava | | |
| 1988 | Devatha Manushya | Seetha | |
| 1988 | Ranaranga | Shashikala | |
| 1988 | Ganda Mane Makkalu | Kamala | |
| 1988 | Sambhavami Yuge Yuge | | |
| 1989 | Krishna Nee Kunidaga | Radha | |
| 1989 | Manmatha Raja | Rathi | |
| 1989 | Avane Nanna Ganda | Mangala | |
| 1990 | Panchama Veda | Rukmini | |
| 1990 | Aasegobba Meesegobba | Urmila | |
| 1990 | Ashoka Chakra | Asha | |
| 1990 | Halliya Surasuraru | Gowri | |
| 1990 | Prathap | Shanthi | |
| 1990 | Shabarimale Swamy Ayyappa | Parvati | |
| 1990 | Thrinethra | Asha | |
| 1991 | Varagala Bete | | |
| 1992 | Mysore Mallige | Padma | |
| 1992 | Midida Shruthi | Sujatha | |
| 1992 | Mannina Doni | Sowbhagya/Padmavathi | |
| 1992 | Jeevana Chaitra | Lakshmi | Extended special appearance |
| 1992 | Sapthapadi | Sudha | |
| 1992 | Belliyappa Bangarappa | Herself | Cameo |
| 1992 | Hosa Raaga | | |
| 1993 | Munjaneya Manju | Meera | |
| 1993 | Mane Devru | Janaki | |
| 1993 | Bhagawan Sri Saibaba | Parvati | |
| 1993 | Hrudaya Bandhana | Dr. Asha | |
| 1993 | Ananda Jyothi | Jyothi | |
| 1993 | Kumkuma Bhagya | Mary | |
| 1993 | Chinnari Mutha | Marisha | Special appearance in song Maarisha Maarisha |
| 1994 | Mahakshathriya | Priyadarshini/Lakshmi | Double role |
| 1994 | Swathi | Swathi | |
| 1994 | Gold Medal | Usha | |
| 1994 | Vijaya Kankana | Nayana | |
| 1994 | Curfew | Sudha | Cameo |
| 1995 | Srigandha | Arundathi | |
| 1995 | Aragini | Rani | |
| 1995 | Kona Edaithe | Vishnu's wife | Cameo |
| 1995 | Mister Abhishek | Kiran | |
| 1995 | Anuraga Sangama | Kasthuri | |
| 1995 | Samara | Usha | |
| 1995 | Kavya | Kavya | |
| 1996 | Simhadri | | |
| 1996 | Vasantha Kavya | Kavya | |
| 1996 | Stunt Master | Pooja | |
| 1999 | Naanenu Maadlilla | Chitra | |
| 2000 | Sparsha | Radha | |
| 2001 | Sri Manjunatha | Bhoodevi | Cameo |
| 2001 | Chandana Chiguru | Bharathi | |
| 2002 | Thrishakthi | Jahnavi | |
| 2003 | Badri | | Cameo |
| 2003 | Preethi Prema Pranaya | Jyothi | |
| 2003 | Khaaki | Tulasi | |
| 2004 | Bimba | Dolly | |
| 2004 | Talikattuva Shubhavele | Jyothi | |
| 2005 | Namma Basava | Basava's sister-in-law | |
| 2005 | Anna Thangi | | |
| 2005 | Thunta | Sudha | |
| 2005 | Auto Shankar | Geetha | |
| 2005 | Magic Ajji | Nirmala Devi | |
| 2005 | Abhinandane | Kamala | |
| 2006 | Tirupathi | District Commissioner Margaret | |
| 2006 | O Priyathama | Vasu | |
| 2006 | Mandya | Gayatri | |
| 2007 | Thamashegagi | Ramya | |
| 2007 | Ee Preethi Yeke Bhoomi Melide | Chikkayya's wife | Cameo |
| 2008 | Accident | Suguna Shankar | Cameo |
| 2008 | Mr. Garagasa | Gauri | |
| 2008 | Prachanda Ravana | Mandodari | |
| 2008 | Navashakthi Vaibhava | Sharadamba | |
| 2009 | Maleyali Jotheyali | Lucky's mother | Cameo |
| 2009 | Ghauttham | Rajeswari | |
| 2009 | Bhagyada Balegara | Unnamed | Special appearance in song "Ghallu Ghallenutha" |
| 2009 | Eshtu Nagthi Nagu | | |
| 2009 | Huchchi | | |
| 2009 | Ishwar | | |
| 2010 | Kaanana | Basanthi | |
| 2010 | Thamassu | Munavar's mother | Cameo |
| 2011 | Jolly Boy | Indramma Gopalaswamy | |
| 2012 | Jeevana Joke-alli | Amrutha | |
| 2012 | Indina Satya | | |
| 2012 | Dandupalya | Bharathi | |
| 2012 | Guru | Tejaswini | |
| 2013 | Bharath Stores | Bharathi | |
| 2014 | Vasundhara | | |
| 2014 | Sachin! Tendulkar Alla | | |
| 2014 | Bahaddur | Doctor | |
| 2014 | Belli | Nidhi | |
| 2015 | Siddhartha | | |
| 2015 | Vaastu Prakaara | Vandana | |
| 2015 | Rebel | | |
| 2015 | Billa | | |
| 2015 | Luv U Alia | Kiran's mother | |
| 2015 | Plus | Samarthana | |
| 2015 | Sharpshooter | | |
| 2016 | Siganduru Chowdeshwari Mahime | Chowdeshwari Devi | |
| 2016 | July 22, 1947 | | |
| 2017 | Happy New Year | Varalakshmi | |
| 2017 | Dada is Back | | |
| 2017 | Vismaya | Dr. Prema | |
| 2017 | Bharjari | | |
| 2018 | Life Jothe Ondh Selfie | Thulsi | |
| 2019 | Padde Huli | Sampath's mother | |
| 2019 | Premier Padmini | Spandana | |
| 2019 | Amar | Amar's mother | |
| 2019 | Chitrakatha | Samaya | |
| 2019 | Geetha | Geethanjali | |
| 2019 | Vrithra | | |
| 2019 | Kannad Gothilla | Commissioner of Police | |
| 2020 | Mayabazar 2016 | Usha | |
| 2020 | Law | Dr. Vimala Pathak | |
| 2021 | Yuvarathnaa | Professor | |
| 2022 | Trikona | Seetha | |
| 2022 | Avatara Purusha Part 1 | Yashodha | |
| 2022 | Thurthu Nirgamana | Nurse | |
| 2022 | Vasanthi Nalidaga | Madhu | |
| 2023 | Prajarajya | Vagdevi | |
| 2024 | Juni | Juni's Mother | |
| 2024 | Yuva | Girija | |
| 2024 | Avatara Purusha Part 2 | Yashodha | |
| 2024 | Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi | | |
| 2024 | Bagheera | | |

### Other language films

| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
| 1989 | Annakili Sonna Kathai | Gowri | Tamil | |
| 1990 | Master Kapuram | Geeta | Telugu | credited as Gayatri |
| 1990 | Irugillu Porugillu | | Telugu | |
| 1991 | Vasanthakala Paravai | Uma | Tamil | Credited as Shali |
| 1992 | Vasanthakala Malargal | Shanthi | Tamil | Credited as Shali |
| 1992 | Mouna Mozhi | Kasthuri | Tamil | Credited as Shali |
| 1992 | Sugamana Sumaigal | | Tamil | Credited as Shali |
| 1993 | Thangakkili | Swathi | Tamil | Credited as Shali |
| 1993 | Bangar Patler | | Tulu | |
| 1995 | Aadyathe Kanmani | Ambika | Malayalam | |
| 2017 | Nibunan | Dr. Prema | Tamil | |
| 2019 | Jessie | Dr. Aradhya | Telugu | |

### Voice-over

| Year | Film | Actress |
| 1999 | Premotsava | Roja |
| 2002 | Simhadriya Simha | Meena |
| 2004 | Maurya | Roja |
| 2004 | Monalisa | Sadha |
| 2012 | Prasad | Madhuri Bhattacharya |
| 2014 | Maanikya | Ramya Krishnan |
| 2022 | K.G.F: Chapter 2 | Raveena Tandon |

### Television

* Aramane (Udaya TV)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
| 1987 | Mana Mechchida Hudugi | BR Panthulu Award | Best Actress | Won |
| 1991 | Panchama Veda | Karnataka State Film Awards | Best Actress | Won |
| 1992 | Mysore Mallige | Karnataka State Film Awards | Best Actress | Won |
| 1992 | Mysore Mallige | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Won |
| 2000 | Sparsha | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Won |
| 2015 | Vaastu Prakaara | Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress – Kannada | Won |
| 2019 | Life Jothe Ondh Selfie | Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress – Kannada | Nominated |
| 2023 | Thurthu Nirgamana | Chandanavana Film Critics Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won |